The Argument Against BSP

[Sandra Ruttan]

Who, Me? Lose My Temper? Yes, I lost it yesterday, so I went and deleted what I said moments later.

The reality was, there wasn't anything wrong with what I said, except for the use of one four-letter word. And so I'm going to vent my spleen here, sans cuss words.

I've been on a few forums over time. I have seen a few forums I participated in regularly get shut down. One forum I used to frequent has become one I won't recommend because the trolls won. The mantra 'don't feed the trolls' only works if everyone else agrees to it. And when you get to forums with several hundreds of people there's always someone who takes the bait.

On that particular forum people are attacked, authors are insulted and it isn't a comfortable environment for posting in, which is why I've moved on.

Truth is, I don't see the need for much online interaction anymore. I have one forum I frequent and I like it - it's professionally moderated and people are expected to maintain a certain level of behaviour. The only thing I've missed was the concept around the old Mystery Circus, having a chance to really interact with other authors and readers about a range of topics... A chance to recapture that 'bar' feel.

Daniel has created this space, and he started it with the express intent that it have the 'bar from the con' feel. He wrote FAQs and guidelines, and has said what Crimespace is to be, and not to be.

I fail to understand why it is some people keep arguing about it. It's simple: If you don't like the rules on any forum, you don't have to stay.

On Monday night Evil Kev told me he thought he could really get to enjoy this place. It fills a gap for him, and gives him a limited opportunity to interact with people I know, because he doesn't get to go to the cons. He's come on, rather low profile, and been enjoying the discussions.

But he agrees with the no-bsp guidelines, and so do I. We get plenty of it. If I want bsp I can read DL, or certain author blogs. Neither of us are 'over-the-head' marketing types - I hang up on telemarketers that phone again and again and again. I will not deal with door to door salespeople. If I'm buying a shirt I'd rather get it myself, try it on and decide if I like it, you don't need to see me and give your opinion, thanks very much. I don't even like shopping much, and I hate it when I feel people treat me as a walking wallet.

It's a message to all who insist on over-the-head promotion: I don't know who you think you're selling to, but I know who you aren't selling to. Me. And Evil Kev, who wasn't too impressed with a post made to him that he read yesterday. It's the one I responded to... and then deleted. And I know plenty others who agree with us. We are anti overhype. Haven't read Dan Brown. Or JK Rowling. Haven't seen Snakes on a Plane and don't plan to.

For two years in a row I went to Harrogate... yes, flew to the UK and spent a few thousand dollars each time... as a fan. Went to the sessions, listened to people. People who were engaging and interesting were people who prompted me to go to the bookstore and check out their work. It was so bad when I went back in 2006 the bookstore staff recognized me. Each year I had to pay overrage charges at the airport because my bags weighed so much.

By comparison, at Bouchercon and at Left Coast Crime I did not purchase any books. Now, this doesn't mean I didn't hear a few people who were interesting. In those cases, though, the events weren't proximate to their release and I had their most recent work.

But there are a lot more authors at Bouchercon than at Harrogate, and two years running I bought a lot of books at Harrogate. Not one author that was new to me or had a recent release at B'con enticed me to spend money there.

I did come home with a list of 'never-reads' though. Yeah, so it makes me sound bitchy. But if you corner me and inside of 5 seconds start telling me all about your book and why you wrote it you've killed any interest at all.

Heavy-handed sales tactics reek of one thing to me: Desperation. Carry yourself with some confidence! When you act like you can't let one second go buy without pitching your book you convey the idea that you aren't selling well, at least to me. And I steer clear of the gimmicks. The piles of crap in front of authors during sessions aren't why I spend money going to these things.

Truth is, I found myself going to fewer and fewer panels at B'con and LCC. Okay, at LCC I came down with strep, but in two years at Harrogate I found much to be interested and entertained by. I found it worth my while to spend thousands to go both years. I'm actually disappointed I'm not able to go this year.

But Bouchercon? I can only hope that being in Alaska will prevent a lot of the hard-core in-your-face marketers from going. Desperately. Because if I never experience that level of marketing push again I'll be very happy.

IMO there's too much talk about promotion here for a site that's not about promotion. The self promoters need to get over it, or create their own space. Some have really turned the reader in me off, and my husband, and I'm not going to apologize for saying that - I have a right to buy what interests me and a right to not buy what doesn't. Evil Kev is a publisher and a reviewer and we spend several hundred dollars per year on books. I'm an author, reviewer, editor and interviewer. We devote a lot of our personal time to this industry for free, but we squarely maintain that we will put our energies on the work we're interested in, and in order for us to read your work you need to get on our radar the right way. I've elaborated on it here although I caution you: On my blog I'll use four-letter words without apology.

And you don't have to like me, or my philosophy. But I am a book buyer. Getting in my face is a guarantee you'll lose a sale, not gain one. Part of the reason I'm here is to keep my finger on things, keep my eyes open for interesting new-to-me authors to discover. Jumping up and down and shouting 'me me me' guarantees I'll look elsewhere.

[Sandra Ruttan]

Thanks Pepper!

[Pepper Smith]

Sandra, you're a breath of fresh air. Thank you for this post.

[Sandra Ruttan]

Bar is good!

[Patricia]

well really after I posted it...it kindaofsorta made sesnse to me but I sound like I was already in the bar!...off to see Kevin's blog then

[Sandra Ruttan]

I think we completely agree Patricia. I know what I prefer! You should read Evil Kev's blog post, B-List Author Blues.

[Patricia]

Just rambling around tonight and found this...Sandra I mostly agree with this...I don't have a problem with someone telling me they write and even if they tell me what they write about but I would hope that it is done partly as a conversation starter....but if it is a hard sell then they turn me off... I now go to conferences to meet with the friends I have made and will continue to make (I hope) through forums and groups like this...like minded people and all that stuff.....would I look at it differently if I had to sell myself, I would hope not and can think of a few authors who don't subscribe to that theory either..really you do get more out of this life with the soft sell...more bees with honey...after the conference is over what do you want to remember..the idiot at the bar whose only topic of conversation was "the book" or go looking for the book of that nice author who you spent pleasant conversation with...I know what I prefer.

[Sandra Ruttan]

4MA is 4 Mystery Addicts - best discussion list out there. Warm, enthusiastic, and really interesting. Lots of 4MA-ers here.

I follow Andrea, and I do understand, but it doesn't work. It's a big turn off for a lot of people. I surveyed readers last summer and did two extensive blog posts on BSP and what draws readers to new authors. Consistently they say the 'soft touch'.

Myself, I've got a small nothin' publisher, who've never handled a mystery before, do nada for marketing and have had distribution issues and I've been able to hold pace with debut authors from major NYC publishers in terms of sales. It sure isn't from constantly talking about my book.

I seem to end up moderating at all the conventions I go to, but not all of them guarantee they'll carry you in the bookroom. It would be nice if they did, but doesn't always happen.

I was once told that only 5% of cf authors make their living from their writing. I trust the source... it's scary to think 95% of the authors will be running around wolloping people over the head!

[Andrea Campbell]

Yah, what is 4MA? Gee, talk about being out of the loop.

I agree with you to a point. I don't go to many conferences, usually only when I'm invited to present, so I probably can't relate all that well. I did go to a B'Con in 2004 I think, and I spent time with friends, so I didn't notice (head up my a _ _ perhaps?

But I am a member of ASJA and they have a personal pitch session that helps to calm the beast by providing opportunity for authors to "pitch" new content in a wild fashion, and, in order for someone to get an additional exposure, they must contribute by moderating a panel or being on a panel, and, as a consequence, their books are sold by the in-convention bookseller. But, you know, even with these types of pathways, there is a desperation.

The publishing industry has battened down a lot of hatches and some people outside are drowning. If you need to carve a living out of this book business, you are forced to sell yourself to your public, your readers and your fans. I prefer to do it with my author's e-newsletter because it's subscriber-based, but I do understand why their are BSP out there. Does that make sense?

[LC Fraser]

I will put some 4MA info on my page for folk who are interested. It is just about the best mystery email list there is. Well moderated, well run, nice, all input optional and lots to pick from. Book reviews, discussions, author bios - I am not sure I even remember all we do.

[Steven Torres]

What is 4MA?

And I was hoping to see Snakes on a Plane. Is that out on DVD? Sounds like it could be good. Like there might be Snakes...on a plane.