Here's a fun one:
("Fun" because it was only yesterday I yapped about why I pay little heed to critics. That doesn't mean they don't make great email fodder, though!)
The other day, while sipping away on an ice-cold berry cider, my Instagram pings.
"Another comment," I sigh.
I don't know what Meta god I've tickled, but I could post about wallpaper drying and it would still probably rack up a few thousand views.
Anyway.
Like anything pushed to a large pool of people, you're going to encounter those who agree with you and those who like to lecture you.
Case in point:
In response to a reel where I hook readers in by claiming the 90s ruined fantasy as publishers started pushing authors to produce larger books to justify their prices (verifiably true), I got this cookie:
I'm onto 28 books for the year. Some of them behemoths. Some not.
I love that you're writing, but maybe the best way to advertise your books isn't to dump on other books?
You've told me nothing about your stories or characters or why I should be interested.
It's like a politician complaining about whatever the other party is doing when they're unable to give you a viable plan of their own.
This advertisement completely lacked meat.
Saying "hey, I write books specifically targeted towards adults who have limited time and like shorter fast paced reads" is great. But tell your audience about those books. Don't dump on other books or other reading behaviours. The reality is that as adults with limited time, we simply have to prioritize.
Reading is important to me, I make sure to read at least a chapter a day, and I get through my books.
I work in branding and marketing. Tell me why I should like your product, without trying to tell me not to like things I do like. It's a poor advertising strategy, and turns your brand into something negative instead of positive.
Where does one begin?
I guess… pat on the head for gobbling down 28 books this year so far?
That could work. 🤷♂️
I mean, I'm somewhat envious that this person has a life that allows them enough free time and energy to indulge in so much literature.
Truly, I am.
But as for their comments on branding and marketing?
C'mon.
In a world of OnlyFans, political assassination attempts, and wars that crop up like garden weeds, crafting a marketing message like…
"Hey, I write books specifically targeted towards adults who have limited time and like shorter fast-paced reads"
… ISN'T GOING TO CUT THE MUSTARD.
I wish it did, but it doesn't.
Love it or loathe it (I tend to loathe it), consumers — in this current climate, at least — don't respond to this plain-vanilla messaging.
What they do respond to are contrarian viewpoints, hence why the reel this person replied to has clocked in 110,000 views as of writing this email.
That's what social media rewards (sadly) these days.
But instead of complaining about it…
I'm leveraging it to suck new readers into my world and expose them to a different kind of writing.
One that gives them the escapism, quests, characters, and adventures of a good epic fantasy, but without the bloat or drag so many books seem to suffer from.
If you're one of those new recruits and have yet to move beyond the prequel of TDR, here's your calling card to dive right into the series:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
And if, for whatever reason, the story doesn't tickle your quiver, just write in within 60 days, and I'll return your coin.
No questions asked; no hoops to jump through.
DJJW