Sigh.
Mar
15
2009

Dear author who used a book networking site and an author loop to invite everyone on planet earth to vote for her book in an upcoming contest: You may want to rethink inviting authors also in that category to vote for you (here’s a tip, I’m not going to vote for you). I might be the only one who finds this rude, but I do. You might also, if you’re going to troll for votes in the first place, consider saying something like, “If you’ve read my book and you enjoyed it I’d appreciate your vote” instead of just asking for blind votes because you’re you. It’s a far more polite way of calling attention to your nomination.

Contests and awards are fun and it’s always really awesome to find your name in the nominee category. It’s also, frankly, a pretty big honor to be among the company you find yourself in in these contests (I know I look at the list and totally get blown away to be included with authors like Joey Hill, Megan Hart and Beth Kery). Of course it’s nice to win stuff, I’m not denying it. But I think there’s a way of alerting people to the contest without full on begging for votes – especially on a site that isn’t yours. It’s bad enough on a personal blog, but on author loops and sending invites to your whole friendslist at social networking sites is rude.

Oh there’s one contest I consider an exception: American Title, because it’s about getting people out to read and then vote, and I’ve seen most people handle American Title really well. It’s part of the process with that particular contest and you can read the entries right there at the site.

Anyhoodle, I suppose I’m just being cranky here, but seeing the same person do it twice just drove me to say something.

8 comments to “Sigh.”

  1. Susan
    March 15th, 2009 at 10:50 am · Link

    I find myself having a very hard time voting for someone who does that, even if their book is terrific. Wonder if they ever thought of the fact that they could be turning people off. 😕



  2. Collette
    March 15th, 2009 at 10:55 am · Link

    Nope, I’m with you. Asking people to sign up just to vote for you is way different than telling them about the contest and asking them to take a look, and, if they feel it’s appropriate, checking out your category. Yep, people are a little goofy. (And by goofy, I mean tacky.)

    But you are in some great company! And congrats sweetie!



  3. Jaci Burton
    March 15th, 2009 at 11:02 am · Link

    Dude…you so need to email me with deets.



  4. azteclady
    March 15th, 2009 at 1:00 pm · Link

    I almost typed, “You can’t be serious!” and then I realized that of course you are.

    I hope someone close to this person makes her *see* the clue.

    (((Lauren)))



  5. Mad
    March 15th, 2009 at 2:50 pm · Link

    Dare I ask if it was something off Goodreads? {{{Lauren}}}



  6. Madison Blake
    March 16th, 2009 at 12:09 am · Link

    I’m with you, Lauren. I find such kind of trolling very very annoying, and totally ignorable.



  7. Nancy
    March 16th, 2009 at 8:27 am · Link

    I’m a newbie to the business but even I knew it would be kind of ick to just ask people for votes blindly. From the start I always make sure to put in ‘If you enjoyed my book…”

    Cause it should be about the book, not about me…unless you’re a relative, then you have to vote for me no matter what.

    😀



  8. Melissa
    March 16th, 2009 at 9:06 am · Link

    Uh, I’m usually one of those twisted people who will go vote, but not for the author who sent the blind invite, because I hate trolling like that.