Writing Ethics 2: Voting in Readers’ Choice Contests

I am not certain if unethical is the word, but I believe this: if your blog, website, book, or whatever is of value, then the recognition will come in some form.

Better to hear, “well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord,” then to hear the praises of men, especially those that have been solicited.

By the same token it is a business right?

The more votes the more recognition the more people are interested in finding out what it is about, the more sales.

At the end of the day it is just another marketing strategy right?

Hi Lillie

I voted for David’s book when you asked. I hadn’t thought of it as a popularity contest, but I guess it is. The blogosphere operates on a voting system for a lot of things e.g. the best writing blog etc., I guess it’s a form of marketing and awareness raising too.

Voting is largely a subjective measure. However, unless abused, I don’t necessarily see it is as unethical. It’s an interesting topic, and I’m certainly open to other perspectives, as I hadn’t given it much thought before.

I agree with Matt’s sentiments that “if your blog, website, book, or whatever is of value, then the recognition will come in some form.” Of course, that requires some level of marketing too.

It is an interesting topic. I try to behave ethically and in a way that honors God with everything that I do. However, I did vote for David’s book without reading it. I was trusting your recommendation that it was a good book. (Perhaps I shouldn’t have done that?)

My dad always used to say the same thing that Matt said, only the words he used were “the cream always rises to the top.”

I think that any success that someone gets as a result of votes like the reader’s choice will be short-lived if the book doesn’t live up to expectations.

Lillie,

I voted for David’s book but did so after reading a chapter on the website, rather than doing so sight unseen. What I read led me to the conclusion that the book was worthy of my vote.

Jeanne

Hello Lillie,
I hadn’t realized my comment would result in a discussion. Perhaps it’s good I got people thinking. I had begun to wonder how much value to place in some of these popularity type contests if voters haven’t read the books. Being familiar with an author’s work, reading excerpts on a web site, etc. does give you some idea of the work’s credibility. However, I often had the idea some people were voting simply because they liked the author or then perhaps wanted the other person to vote for them on something. It’s okay, too, I’d think, for authors to ask for votes or consideration. How else would anyone know the author had been nominated? (Authors have to do so much of their own PR these days.) And I see no problem, Lillie, with a friend recommending someone’s book and letting others know it’s been nominated. Then it’s up to the voter to be guided by their conscience.

I’m glad you made the comment, Mary Emma. I think we should think and talk about issues like this – too often, we do things without thinking. I’m sure some people go vote for an author when asked without even thinking about it.

It sounds like we’re in agreement that authors have to spread the word about themselves and their books and let readers respond as they see fit. Authors who don’t promote don’t sell book.

On the other hand, I don’t like to see some of the blatant self-promotion on e-mail lists I belong to from a few authors who never participate in the conversation until they have an announcement or ask for something. Then they jump in and say: “buy my book,” “vote for me,” “congratulate me on …” After that they’re gone again until they want something else.

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