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megwritesI think one day I'm going to compile a thorough list of the things that some authors and/or agents do when they blog that annoys me and puts me off of reading their blogs ever again and, sometimes, puts me off of ever buying their books.
One of those things is ARC/book contests in which the author decides to make any potential contestant dance to a merry jig just to get a copy of a book a few weeks before the release date.
I especially, as a reader and buyer of books, think much worse of authors who:
a) hold contests where they ask readers to answer obscure questions from previous books in the series (ie - what color shirt was The Hero wearing in Chapter Two?"). Seriously? What are we, back in high school? I stopped having to do short answer quizzes about the books I read years ago and I've never said to myself, "Gee, I wish someone would give me a reading comprehension test! I miss those!" Because I don't miss them.
b) hold "guess which the lyrics" contests, as though somehow their "eclectic"* sense of music is shared by anyone else on Earth and then try to say "no googling!". Yeah, right. There's no way you can prove people didn't google the answers, and frankly? Excluding that many people who might have read the ARC and given it a glowing review just because they don't share your musical tastes and don't have three hours to spend running down the answers seems frankly stupid.
c) hold scavenger hunts, where the first person who can find their last book on the shelves (or can find the new one) get a free copy. Time zone restrictions much? Also, I don't think someone should be automatically out of the running because they're on the West Coast and may not live near a bookstore that carries that authors books. See also: the Borders in Glendale, Queens and it's sucktastical SF/F selection.
That said, I tend to enjoy those contests which are either completely random or involve something that any reader could answer. Paperback Writer, for instance, sometimes has contests which involve chiming in with something like, "What's your favorite book?", and then either the first person to answer or a randomly selected person gets the book. That seems fair, upfront, and not at all done for the author's amusement rather than the readers' enjoyment.
* I find it really funny that people's musical tastes can somehow be described as eclectic even when it seems like their tastes boil down to White People With Guitars. You listen to both folk and punk, good for you. You're not that much more sophisticated or eclectic than anyone else, so quit trying to act like listening to a few whiny sounding, obscure indie artists makes you cooler than everyone else.
Call me when your Bone Thugs 'n Harmony tracks sit on the same playlist as your Byzantine Orthodox Polyphony and your Bollywood soundtracks and your Ojos De Brujo. Then maybe we will have a discussion about your eclectic musical tastes. Let me know when your music comes from more than two continents and you're not just listing it to make yourself look oh-so-smart.
Until then, I laugh at your understanding of the word eclectic and would like you invite you to an all-you-can-eat buffet of "bitch please". Feel free to go back for seconds.
One of those things is ARC/book contests in which the author decides to make any potential contestant dance to a merry jig just to get a copy of a book a few weeks before the release date.
I especially, as a reader and buyer of books, think much worse of authors who:
a) hold contests where they ask readers to answer obscure questions from previous books in the series (ie - what color shirt was The Hero wearing in Chapter Two?"). Seriously? What are we, back in high school? I stopped having to do short answer quizzes about the books I read years ago and I've never said to myself, "Gee, I wish someone would give me a reading comprehension test! I miss those!" Because I don't miss them.
b) hold "guess which the lyrics" contests, as though somehow their "eclectic"* sense of music is shared by anyone else on Earth and then try to say "no googling!". Yeah, right. There's no way you can prove people didn't google the answers, and frankly? Excluding that many people who might have read the ARC and given it a glowing review just because they don't share your musical tastes and don't have three hours to spend running down the answers seems frankly stupid.
c) hold scavenger hunts, where the first person who can find their last book on the shelves (or can find the new one) get a free copy. Time zone restrictions much? Also, I don't think someone should be automatically out of the running because they're on the West Coast and may not live near a bookstore that carries that authors books. See also: the Borders in Glendale, Queens and it's sucktastical SF/F selection.
That said, I tend to enjoy those contests which are either completely random or involve something that any reader could answer. Paperback Writer, for instance, sometimes has contests which involve chiming in with something like, "What's your favorite book?", and then either the first person to answer or a randomly selected person gets the book. That seems fair, upfront, and not at all done for the author's amusement rather than the readers' enjoyment.
* I find it really funny that people's musical tastes can somehow be described as eclectic even when it seems like their tastes boil down to White People With Guitars. You listen to both folk and punk, good for you. You're not that much more sophisticated or eclectic than anyone else, so quit trying to act like listening to a few whiny sounding, obscure indie artists makes you cooler than everyone else.
Call me when your Bone Thugs 'n Harmony tracks sit on the same playlist as your Byzantine Orthodox Polyphony and your Bollywood soundtracks and your Ojos De Brujo. Then maybe we will have a discussion about your eclectic musical tastes. Let me know when your music comes from more than two continents and you're not just listing it to make yourself look oh-so-smart.
Until then, I laugh at your understanding of the word eclectic and would like you invite you to an all-you-can-eat buffet of "bitch please". Feel free to go back for seconds.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-28 11:26 am (UTC)But seriously though, can you believe someone thinks they're musically cultured because they listen to both Tom Waits and Depeche Mode? Because that's sort of where part of my rant is coming from.
I keep thinking of that tape that got stuck in the tape deck in your car in high school. Ha.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-28 01:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-28 01:59 pm (UTC)We were a pair back then, weren't we?
Most of high school sucked, but because of you, there were some moments that were actually kind of good.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-28 02:02 pm (UTC)Imagine if we had lived in a real city when we were kids. The fun we would have had.