Right now, I have a stack of about seven books on my bedside table written by people I call friends. I also have a book I need to read for review ASAP, a book I'm pleasure-reading but have had to backburner for the former, and multiple friend-written drafts needing feedback.
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Do I try to show the fuck up for my writer friends? HELL yes. But with how many writers I know, I don't have enough time, money, energy or mental health - or, yes, bottomless enthusiasm - to buy and read and shout about every. single. book. And that's OKAY.
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So, yeah: when I see someone saying, in essence, "failing to buy the books your friends write for ANY REASON, failing to come to their events or read their works for ANY REASON, makes you a BAD AND TERRIBLE FRIEND WHO DOESN'T LOVE THEM," I am gonna be PISSED.
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Fuck right off with that insecure, emotionally blackmailing nonsense and take a seat, and possibly several deep breaths. Your sales don't hinge on friends; they hinge on *strangers* - on whether or not random people with no investment in you, personally, actually like your book.
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I get that this is terrifying to contemplate as a naked fact, because it's out of our control, whereas friends and family are, if not beholden to us, then demonstrably easier to influence than a faceless, as-yet-unknown readership. But bullying won't buy you loyalty.
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ANYWAY. That's it from me; I need to have a bath and read my review book - which, thus far, I am enjoying. FIN.
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End of conversation
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