Emotionally Spamming Readers
I want to talk about something unusual…at least for me as an author…and because I’ve never really seen an article discussing it (other than how to avoid it), I thought it would be fun to address it. Overwhelming your readers with spam. Rather than talk about literal spam, I want to talk about emotionally holding yourself back because you fear any announcement is spam. So, when I say “spam,” I’m not talking about an endless array of emails or tweets with no purpose. I’m talking about feeling guilty when you share news once or twice for various reasons. That’s the issue I want to address.
As many of you know, I started off this blog almost three years ago. I wrote every other day, and then, two years in, I took a one-month break where I changed my schedule to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (and Mondays are for guests only). During my Wednesday and Saturdays posts, I’ve recently been sharing news at the end of the article. “Here’s an upcoming release!” or “Check out this giveaway!”
To be honest, I haven’t had a lot happening up until last month, and now, it’s endless. Blog tours, giveaways, release days, appearances, interviews, etc. Which is all FANTASTIC. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so giddy my rolly chair barely stays still. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t worried. Sometimes, at the end of my recent posts, my announcements are longer than my post, and the spam worries roll in:
Am I posting too much information? Should I choose between one interview and a giveaway? Do I look like I’m bragging? Is anyone even reading that part?
And then, I came to a personal conclusion—a conclusion I’m not always sure about, but one that brings me comfort and happiness, and that conclusion is that I enjoy sharing that news at the end of my blog posts.
For a long time—and I know I’m not alone in this—I hid my author life and accomplishments and current news, and when people asked about my career (or “hobby” as many put it), I gave a mundane answer like, “It’s going well.” instead of saying, “I have a blog tour coming up, and I just got back from meeting a long-time blogger friend in Atlanta.” Why did I do this to myself? Why did I hold back my excitement toward my career? Probably because, as many writers know, society rather pokes fun at writers who aren’t Stephen King or George R.R. Martin, but they weren’t always “them” either. One story that always sticks out to me is from the infamous King, who said he finally felt like a writer when he paid a plumber’s bill with his royalties. It didn’t matter who defined him; he defined him, and that’s how he did it. So, I’m working at accepting my pride as a writer—and not hubris, but simple pride for all the work I’ve done, and all of the readers who’ve done work to help me, and all the bloggers I’ve met, and all the moments we’ve shared. How do we share more moments if I continue to hold myself back by not sharing my latest news below my weekly articles? I have to share them, and I have to be okay with sharing them, and even more, I have to accept that I ENJOY sharing them without feeling guilty or worrying about if I’m spamming. As long as I have a purpose, and I’m not posting it wherever and whenever I can, it’s not spam; it’s a simple announcement about what’s going on in my author life. And if someone wants to read it, GREAT! If someone wants to just read my articles, that’s GREAT too!
This is my life, and my life isn’t spam.
It’s crazy, and wonderful, and I stumble over it every day, and for that, I am grateful.
~SAT
And now for those announcements I just discussed. ;]
Seconds Before Sunrise releases in less than two weeks! To celebrate, Clean Teen Publishing is hosting SO many giveaways. Win a paperback of Seconds Before Sunrise via a Goodreads Giveaway, and win a $15 Amazon gift card, CTP ebook, and bookmark swag pack during the Minutes Before Sunset blog tour; here are the latest posts where you can enter: Deal Sharing Aunt Interview, Mythical Books Spotlight, The Cheshire Cat’s Looking Glass Spotlight, and The Wonderings of One Person Spotlight.
If you want to participate in the next tour—where you can interview me, have guest posts, and more—sign up for the Seconds Before Sunrise tour here. You can also join my newsletter for more prize-winning opportunities…which brings me to my next announcement. CTP is hosting another Facebook party, where you can win prizes and talk to authors on August 28. I will definitely be there, and I hope you come too!
Don’t forget to check out Minutes Before Sunset before the sequel releases at Amazon and Barnes & Noble! If you’ve already done that, here are the links to pre-order Seconds Before Sunrise (Amazon, Barnes & Noble) and Death Before Daylight (Amazon, Barnes & Noble). If you write a review and you want me to share it, please send it to me at shannonathompson@aol.com. I would be more than happy to do so!
Thank you for your support.
Stay Dark,
~SAT
Shannon A. Thompson 
I think about this every time I get close to a release. Especially when I try to do some pre-release hype because I fear I’ll go too far or not have anything once the book actually comes out. Some days it does feel like I’m being annoying. So I cut back and then worry I’ve become idle. Almost like an emotional author ping pong ball. Guess all we can do is follow our instincts.
Good luck with next release.
I think you’re right! It comes down to following our instincts and being okay with it. :] Emotional ping pong was a perfect comparison.
~SAT
Be proud of what you have accomplished!
😀 Thank you for reading and commenting! I appreciate the encouragement.
~SAT
You keep doing you! The blog world is definitely interesting in that we have a window into the successes of people we have never met in person. If some people can’t get excited for you, find others who will! Congratulations on all of your success! You’ve worked hard and you deserve it!
That’s a fantastic point! Thank you for reading and commenting, Alicia.
~SAT
I feel like this every time I start to post anything that might possibly be linked with my work! One of the things my grandparents liked to tell me all the time while I was growing up was “Well, that was good but remember There is ALWAYS someone out there BETTER Than you!” that kind of rolled in to ‘knowing’ there’s a lot of people better and I shouldn’t try to worry others with my stuff…it is a real struggle and I appreciate knowing that oyu go through it too!
Good luck with the new release! It sounds like you’re having a blast right now.
Yes. :] I think many of us go through it, but we don’t talk about it openly – maybe not because we don’t want to but because it doesn’t occur to us that it could be a helpful discussion. I appreciate you for sharing your story too!
~SAT
What you said about holding back on telling people about writing and blogging sounds like me. I don’t tell everyone I do this. Well, my friends know, because they see the endless blog updates on Facebook. But people I meet through work, my students, and other people who are mere acquaintances don’t know, and I still feel a little self-conscious about telling them. I often wonder what they’re going to say. What will they think? I haven’t been published, so it feels kind of strange to say that I write.
I get that! I know I didn’t used to talk about it, and still don’t sometimes, but one time, I found myself at a friend-of-a-friend’s get-together, and all of a sudden, someone was asking me about one of my articles, and I remember standing there, thinking, “Someone reads that? Someone I kind of know? Why?” But it was a good feeling to overcome feeling strange about it in that moment. Now if only I could get better at it… :]
~SAT
It surprises me when someone at work starts talking to me about my blog post. They don’t say anything strange, but just make a general comment on it or tell me a similar story or opinion.
Ive found some allys to my writing simply through casual conversation about writing at work, on planes, and at conferences untelated to writing. All writers need to grow and that helps with a communtiy. You dont have that group championing your work if they dont know whats going on. I say share! Well done. Keep going.
Great encouragement! Thank you!
~SAT
As a reader, I’d say we expect bloggers to talk about their books. Building audience is usually at least part of the reason for blogging. True, there should be material besides sales pitches, but I doubt anyone is shocked that you end your posts by talking about your works in print.
That is true! I think the articles definitely help me feel less like I’m spamming because it’s optional additional information at the bottom, but I’m really here to post an article. Great point!
~SAT
As a reader, it’s nice to know what’s going on, especially when it comes to things like release dates and such. Keep it up! 🙂
That is good to know. 😀 Thank you for reading and commenting!
~SAT
Well said that author! We all feel a bit like that. Fab post, Shannon. Go you! 🙂 xx
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
~SAT