I got lambasted today at work by an author. Which in and of itself is not a huge issue–it’s happened before, it will happen again, it can be the nature of the beast. But honestly, it’s kind of infuriating to get blamed, over and over and over again, for things that are NOT MY JOB.
So, because I know many of my readers are authors in the making, let me give you a list of things you shouldn’t blame marketing for when your book gets published:
- Don’t blame marketing for your royalty rate.
- Don’t blame marketing for how your book was copyedited.
- Don’t blame marketing for printing errors on your book.
- Don’t blame marketing because your book isn’t being sold at Target.
- Don’t blame marketing if there’s a production delay keeping your book from getting to stores when you want them.
- Don’t blame marketing if a national news story bumps the coverage you were supposed to get.
- Don’t blame marketing if a bookstore declines having you for a signing.
- Don’t blame marketing if your personal website goes down.
- Don’t blame marketing that Oprah isn’t showing interest in your book.
As always, you can find more lists every Monday over at ABDPBT!
I may be an author in the making, but I’m a marketer first and foremost and I completely agree with all of your points. I get crap all the time from theatre producers who aren’t happy with their royalties, or if a website goes down. More recently I got blamed because Facebook went down so fans couldn’t get onto the page to see updates – since when was I in charge of Facebook?? Aaaah, the joys of marketing. Always the enemy… never the first to get thanked!!
Thanks for clearing this up. It gave me a laugh today because people are so quick to point the finger somewhere else… According to a recent headline – if you want Oprah, you gotta go through Gayle first (so it has nothing to do with marketing). Right now I’m a wannabe writer/author, but hope to be one in-the-making, soon!
Noted.
God, people are lame. Blaming marketing, really? Pffffft.
ARGH, I want to know where you work and who your authors are. I can’t help it. Books are my business, so I just want to know.
But I know you can’t say. Damned professionalism. 🙂
It’s the culture of entitlement again. Not only is everyone entitled to a book deal, they are entitled to a best seller, and if they don’t get one, it must be your fault.
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