Writing, publishing, reading, and politics

 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Mfs5D34VB/

My response:

It is to my understanding that publishers like to sell books, that they prioritize exchanging books for money. Many of them hold the economic belief that followers are most likely to translate to sales. But no, a following isn't a requirement. If an author can show proof they'll generate sales without a following, that substituted proven method would certainly be considered. 🤔 Though, at that point, why not self publish? On the flip side of the coin, followers do not always translate into sales, so the economic theory may collapse. Except "influencer" is now an actual job that big corporations recognize. 

I suppose it's all in the pitch. A lot of publishers are just looking to know how dedicated an author will be to assuring a return on their investment. The publishing world has had remarkable changes in the last twenty years. 

Or, consider the 50 Shades of Grey series. By most accounts, these were not especially well-written or masterpieces. But there was a following online. And the followers commented about a desire to buy a book, despite free material readily available. So, even though it "NEVER" happens, a publishing deal was made, the free online already "published" versions were removed, and books were sold. Money was made, again to the point of drawing attention, and then a movie was made, which sold even more books. It wasn't about the quality of the words, it was about an audience willing to trade money for those words. 

So, if you can prove in advance that there's a market, that there are people ready to pre-order your book today, no, you don't need followers. Followers is just their word for people who are likely to purchase something with your name on it. It was once the job of publishing houses to do most of the work to find those buyers, but now authors are generally expected to do that task. The rise of the Social Media Influencer.

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The thing is, I get it. I am more likely to buy a book written by a friend, or by someone I've had a positive interaction with at some point. There are a dozen books on my shelf that absolutely prove this. 

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https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D7gELdGAE/

This post on Facebook is actually about history. (And may feel political, depending how you look at the story.) But this part, this excerpt...

Remember when reading and writing was about fun? When it was just enjoyable? 

Now writers are expected to "sell, sell, sell!" And readers are meant to buy, buy, buy and review to do the marketing so they help sell! As many readers are trying to "escape" for a few hours, but writers are supposed to nudge them toward being responsible readers who post reviews and encourage others to do the same.

I have a massive TBR stack. 📚📚📚 Which do I read next? An indie author who needs the minor publicity from my review? (Actually, I mostly leave those to my cousin. He's better at them and has an audience.) Or read a book by a dead author, who it won't matter to if I review it. Or this popular book I looked forward to reading. Or this other book that's now controversial. Or this one, or that one, or finish the other... 

😮‍💨 Yup. 🖥 And then I go back to tv, which I can watch with my husband. Trying to spend as much of our time together as possible, as we may have only a few years left. That's what doctors say now, ticking clocks. Forget dreams, goals, and plans! Prepare for death. We bought our graves and just ordered our tombstones. (Obviously, the death date will be engraved later. Or etched. Whatever.) I can't exactly wrap my mind around that. 

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