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Table of contents for Writing Ethics
This post is a follow-up to my last post and continues a conversation at Grow Your Writing Business. Mary Emma Allen questioned the ethics of writers asking people to vote for their books for awards, whether or not the voter has read the book. Recently I told you that my client David Bowles’ book was a finalist in a readers’ choice awards and told you how to vote … “if you’d like to help make Spring House a winner.” I posted the same information on David’s Web site, and Michi Beck also posted about the voting. I’m sure people who haven’t read David’s book voted for it. I wish every one of you would buy and read the book because it really is a great book. David has had great reviews and has finaled in the historical category of the Indie Excellence Books, a contest judged by publishing professionals.
However, I’m curious what others think about this? Is it unethical to ask for votes in a popularity-contest type competition? Related Posts: Technorati Tags: writing ethics, readers’ choice awards
12 Comments » |
However, I always consider a readers’ choice awards a popularity contest, not an objective evaluation of literary merit. In that regard, I didn’t have a problem offering readers the chance to vote for David (and I do think the book has literary merit!).
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.
Amen to your last paragraph.
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?
Attracting attention to a book with awards is certainly a marketing strategy.
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.
I had no qualms about telling people about David finaling in the contest and letting them know they could vote for him. I didn’t think anyone would vote who didn’t at least have a reason to believe it was a good book - because they had read it or knew something about it (either from reviews or from personal recommendation of someone they trusted).
The question of this being unethical didn’t even occur to me until I read the comment on your blog. Of course, on many of the writing lists I’m on, authors are always begging for votes for various contests. I would never put anyone on the spot by asking them outright to vote for David’s book - or any other. But a general announcement that lets people know about the voting is different. It’s not directed to a specific individual, and it gets the message out so people who want to vote know about it.
I usually don’t vote if I haven’t read the book, but on a few occasions, I’ve voted because I had read other books by the writer and liked them and read blurbs or reviews - enough to feel comfortable that the book merited my vote.
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.
As I said above, I usually vote only for books I have read. But a few times, I have voted for a book that I hadn’t read if I had reason to believe I would vote for it if I read it - liking other books by the same author or recommendations from reviews or other people.
But you’re right. No amount of recognition will generate huge sales for a book that isn’t good. However, the recognition can generate interest in a good book that people might not otherwise know about.
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
Good, Jeanne. That fits with my philosophy of voting only for books that I know something about. Reading a chapter is one good way to do this.
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.