No I Definitely Agree That The Author Is Partially At Fault Here. Some Of Them Are Actively Choosing

No I definitely agree that the author is partially at fault here. Some of them are actively choosing to sacrifice the quality of their stories to push more out (I want to add this is especially prevelent on Kindle Unlimited. I read 3 books there and had to quit because they were all basically a collection of tropes rather than storylines and had little editing, but I’ll save my rant about how Amazon is killing the publishing industry for another day). Maybe it’s just me but I would rather wait years for a good book than read a different version of the same story for the hundredth time.

But I do think you misunderstood what I meant about this being the publishers fault. I’m less talking about them changing how they market and more about how they make the authors do it. A lot of authors who choose traditional publishing do so because they don’t want to deal with the marketing aspect, only for the publishers to shirk the responsibility onto them when they’re already stretched thin by writing the book. Authors and publishers both talk about this, which is how I noticed this to begin with. For example in this video. The gist of it is that new authors go into traditional publishing expecting the marketing to be done for them but instead have to do most of it themselves, and it gives a few reasons why.

I’m pretty sure marketing didn’t used to be like this and changed with the rise of booktok. I think I saw other videos saying publishers are encouraging authors make social media accounts to market their books instead of doing the marketing themselves, but since I don’t have the time to search for them who knows for sure. From my own experience I can tell this is probably the case. About ten years ago, I sometimes found books from ads on youtube or in magazines. So, obviously made by a marketing team. Now I don’t see those ads anymore and only instead see authors promoting their own books. But I was also pretty young ten years ago so I may be incorrect.

So I think the publishers bear more fault than the authors, at least for misleading them. And I didn’t know that writing books has always been competitive because all I’ve ever seen is community, but I do think more scandals can be avoided if publishers take responsibility for marketing. It makes sense authors are going to be more desperate when they’re on their own and their time is already consumed by writing.

That’s my thoughts.

SPILLED INK SATURDAY 》 Writeblr Discourse Series

Session 2: Book Marketing

Spilled Ink is a writeblr discourse series. Each session is centered around a writer/reader/author-related topic and/or debate and those participating are invited to share their thoughts and opinions on these matters from a writer’s perspective. Take a look at our first session here.

To participate in the discussion, you can do so one of two ways:

➸ Return to the OG post (which will always be linked in the title of the post) and reblog with your take on the topic, either in text or in the tags

➸ If you see someone’s take on your feed and you want to chime in on something they said, feel free to reblog their response

If you choose to participate please be respectful when providing your opinion or when responding to someone else’s. 

How do you feel about the recent shift in the way books are marketed?

Everything from quotes on the back of book sleeves (why did we make this a thing???) to listing tropes/vibes for books on social media posts, it's evident that the way books are marketed has shifted over the last several years. As a writer/author, are these marketing strategies necessary and more effective to gain readers? As a reader, do they turn you on or off of a novel? Can they be misleading? Reblog and share your thoughts.

me writing about horses and knowing absolutely nothing about them be like

need to start making more friends who are in a trade so i can ask them exactly how strong an obsidian knife is and how long it takes to train a horse. i won't compromise but i would like to know for a fact i'm being stupid

This is my second post about my wip's clans. My first post is here.

Herbneivorous Clan

Colors: Dark green and purple

Symbol: Holly Berries

The Herbneivorous Clan is known for being having great medics. Their powers include the ability to grow plants, the ability to eat poisonous plants, and the ability to tell a plant's properties by touching it. The latter power is what makes it easy for them to make medicines. Their powers are strongest when they're in nature.

Despite their aptitude with medicine, not even the Herbneivorous Clan can find a cure for the plague.

Their physical traits include green, brown, or hazel eyes; brown or black curly hair; and brown skin.

While most clans are tight-knit and reclusive to others, the Herbneivorous Clan has a case of in-fighting. The Hemlock and Nightshade subfamilies are the two most powerful of this clan and often compete to be the most powerful. The Nightshade subfamily will even go as far as poisoning other witches to gain more power.

The Herbneivorous Clan gets along best with the Fang Clan and worst with the Arsonite Clan.

There’s no better feeling than struggling to portray a character in a scene so I leave it as it, but when I look at it again in a few months I know exactly how to tweak the dialogue and actions to get my characters to be exactly as I imagined them

I’M ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SECOND DRAFT OF MY WIP LETS GOOOOO

WIP Snippet Tag Game

Rules: Post a snippet you've written that you're proud of and tag 5 people

Thanks @inkovert for tagging me. Your snippet is crazy good! I chose this one because I introduce my favorite character in it.

I'm gently tagging @skyderman @yesireadbooks @at-thezenith @silviathebard @siochaile

I could tell from a glance that Lady Ariella was nothing like her sister. She was just as deadly, but with none of the poise. She crossed her arms defensively over her chest and cast me a scowl that could burn. Instead of a strategically wrapped snake for a familiar, a wolf stood at her feet, growling and baring its fangs at me. Regardless, I held on to hope that she had a reasonable side. Our clans had never gotten along, even before the Great Witch War tore the clans’ trust in each other to shreds. But Lady Ariella and I could be the start of an understanding that was so desperately needed.

Lady Ariella beat me to the first remarks. She opened her mouth wide when she spoke, undoubtedly to show off her sharp canines. “For what reason are two Spiritwalkers visiting the stables?” 

I ignored the threat in her tone and bowed. “Lady Ariella, I have been meaning to introduce myself to you.”

“I know who you are, Lady Daron. Everyone does. And that doesn’t answer my question, unless you mean you followed me here.”

“Of course not. I came here to see Silver as she is the mare I will be riding for my horseback riding course. It is pure coincidence that you are also here.”

“No it’s not. I was given permission to feed the horses dinner. I’m always here.”

I had never spoken to someone so argumentative just for the sake of it, but I would not let her attitude deter me. I said, “Either way it is good that we are here together. As we are both ladies, we should make efforts to know each other and get along to strengthen the relationship between our clans.”

Lady Ariella laughed. “You want to strengthen our clans’ relationship? Even if I was interested in that, do you really expect me to believe you? Everyone knows you Spiritwalkers only care about your own clan!”

Maya shoved her way in front of me. “How dare you speak to Lady Daron like that!” 

In response, the wolf snapped its jaws at Maya. My attendant jumped back just in time to keep her fingers from being bitten off, but she did not cower. I was glad to see that Lady Ariella at least had enough sense to control her familiar. She stroked the top of the wolf’s head and softly told it to calm down. The wolf sat, but continued to growl.

I used this interaction to my advantage, hoping a topic Ariella was interested in would encourage her to open up to me. “Did you train your familiar to react like that?”

Lady Ariella scoffed. “You think I would train a creature that is meant to be wild? No, Perilous reacts on her own accord. She is merely influenced by my will.” She shifted her attention to Maya, who resumed her place by my side, “You, I can speak to Daron however I wish because she is not my primary lady. That’s the problem with you Spiritwalkers–-you set all these dumb rules and expect the whole world to go by them.”

I was stunned by the witch’s words. I encouraged my peers to act properly, but never enforced my clan rules upon them. Even so, it was my duty to make amends. “I apologize if there has been any miscommunication, Lady Ariella-”.

“Aria.”

“Pardon?”

“I go by Aria. And don’t mistake my intentions. I just can’t stand frivolous things.”

My eyes roved over her collared blouse, double breasted vest, and skirt made fanciful by a petticoat, but I refrained from lifting my tongue. I knew better than to fight with a Fang.

“I apologize if there has been any miscommunication, Aria. I can assure you, as I have been involved in my clan’s affairs my whole life, that we have never intentionally tried to force rules on others and we certainly do not care only for ourselves. You must understand that our work is strenuous and dangerous, so we must create certain regulations and focus heavily to get it done. But we do desire the best relations we can have with the other clans. I would not be here if that was not the case.”

Aria turned around, seemingly done with the conversation. “Tch. Just stay out of the stables. You’ll probably spook the horses with all your spirits.”

“As you wish,” I said as I turned on my heel and walked away.

“She has no right to treat you like that,” Maya said from behind me.

“And I have no right to try to control her.”