So what has my back up today? It's writers, published writers, who do not and will not accept friend requests, retweet or link with me because I'm a writer too. Earth to you stuck up writers: I'm a reader as well as a writer.
Here's what happened. I sent a friend request to a writer who has a couple of books out but by no means can be considered a best-selling author. True, her first book sold reasonably well for a self-pubbed work. Her second went under contract to a small press. I have nothing against small presses. I'm published by one I love. So, this woman, yup, it was a female writer, accepted my friend request. Then, she sent me a direct message. And I quote:
"When I accepted your friend request, I thought you were a reader. Upon checking your Facebook pages, I see you are a writer. I don't waste my time with people who aren't likely to buy my books."
She unfriended me. I blocked her. She was right about one thing: I'm unlikely to buy any of her books now. Period.
I mean, really? Really?
I friend every writer and potential reader. I try to pay support forward through retweets and Facebook shares. I believe that every person is a reader, if not of my books, then of someone else's. I'm not perfect but I try to support readers and writers. Doesn't take much.
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Betsy Ashton is the author of Mad Max, Unintended Consequences, and Uncharted Territory, A Mad Max Mystery, now available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
