It's a given that the best self-promoters aren't always the best writers and vice versa. ("Are you vice-versatile, Mildred Piercings?") But I've noticed that the golden ones -- the writers everyone likes as people and, by extension, as talents -- are the ones who seem to listen and be supportive to strangers and are at least competent stylists and have distinctive voices. I've got friends like that and it turns out they're not putting on an act. They really are that fun to be around. Sometimes they even wish they weren't, imagining their agreeability and pleasantness to be some kind of blandness.
The rest of us just have to get better at not letting things get to us. The worst thing we can do is to react when some other member of a forum says something negative. We think we're being proactive when all we're really doing is showing the world we take ourselves too seriously.
Things didn't used to be that way. Then again, I couldn't have friended my favorite writers on Facebook back then and eventually had a drink with them either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan
I still get that impression now, especially when spending time on online sites (like this one). I am continually reminded that no one really wants to hear my views on a given subject, especially if it contradicts their own; I, the author, am expected to be a smiling Ken doll, waving blandly and repeating, "That guy is so right! Thanks for all you do! God bless you all!"
But when I try to actually promote myself, I get the "crappy indie author" treatment... I've seen friendlier attitudes to bums on the street.
Of course, one of the reasons authors spend time on websites is specifically to get others to do your promotion for you; having others spread the word through conversation, social media and emails that "This guy is great! You should check out his books!" But if you're spending your time avoiding anything that'll give you the "crappy indie author" treatment, it's kind of hard to distinguish yourself enough to encourage others to promote you.
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