Authors and readers used to have a more limited contact ... if not limited then just 'different'.
It used to be authors would hand over their manuscript to publishers, maybe do some interviews and book readings some book signings at bookstores, and the occasional convention. With the popularization of the internet, authors started having their own websites, blogs, and newsletters. Now with the rise of social media there has been another shift, for better or worse, it's not going anywhere.
Authors have their own social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, you name it, there's most likely author accounts there. Both trad-published and self-published authors are encouraged to be active on social sites as means of connecting with readers, but also marketing. Sounds great! Getting to know your favorite author better, authors getting to know their readers. Nothing could go wrong ... right? Right?
Sadly, internet trolls and bad behavior are rampant on all social media sites and in all communities, even the book community.
I've witnessed firsthand authors getting into arguments with someone for leaving a low review. I've read posts from authors ranting about how anyone who doesn't like their book just doesn't understand the big words and clearly has no reading comprehension. I read another post where an author went on a tirade because a book fair he wanted to go to had been canceled, stating he couldn't stand to do another signing at a local coffee shop because too few people showed up/lived in his hometown and they weren't worth it.
When reading posts like this I can't help but think "I really hope none of your readers see these".
If you belittle or condescend your readers no one will want to read your book.
If you talk trash about your loyal local fans, they will stop supporting you.
If you try to censor how people talk about your books, no one will talk about them or read them.
The idea that an author would say these things baffles me. Of course, authors are people who have emotions and visceral reactions like anyone else, but why post it on social media? Then I realized, isn't everyone doing this?
OK, maybe not everyone, but this is a trend on social media. Set up the camera, ready your keyboard, and make your every thought and emotion public in a single click. This phenomenon is not unique to authors. However, when I see actors or professional athletes do this, their careers take a hit and they lose public favor. Why would authors think that wouldn't be true for them? Sure, lots of people may be posting melt down videos on TikTok, but it can be detrimental to one's career.
In many ways social media brings people from all walks of life together, which can be great. The downside is that social media now thrives off discourse and high emotions such as video rants. For better or worse, the veil that used to separate private and public life, private and public thought, is getting thinner every year.
It's not just authors falling into the trap of bad behavior online. Readers fall into this pitfall as well. Readers are now emboldened to tag authors' social media accounts in posts tearing apart their books. Some even go so far as to publicly accuse authors of heinous crimes with nothing more than circumstantial evidence in a novel. One author was recently accused of writing child porn because the common name of her main character happened to be the same as an underage social light. (I hate to break it to them, but more than one person can have the same name)
Hate mail and public criticism are nothing new, but with the rise of social media, it's now way too easy to take this hatred and shove it in the receiver's face. Not only that, but the dishes of said hate, expect there to be no backlash or to not be blocked by that person. Which is absolutely wild to me, if you approach someone with baseless accusations and unasked for bashing, there are few people who won't respond to that.
Now, that's not to say authors censoring reviews is acceptable, or them responding to every Goodreads post is appropriate. When you cross that line into being a published author everything you do under your author name represents your brand. If your brand gets known for volatile reactions to reviews and criticism, people are not going to want anything to do with you. On average 11,000 books are published per day. Readers have more than enough options they don't have to deal with rude authors.
Furthermore, I think it's important to note that for every author exhibiting entitled online behavior, there are dozens more who are not. Most are actually quite pleasant. And for every reader/reviewer exhibiting questionable online behavior, there are dozens more who are not and just want to enjoy books.
While I think the fluctuating author reader relationship offers me a wonderful opportunity to have better relationships with my readers via social media, I encourage authors to think long and hard before they post or react to a post. A review is not personal, and you always have the option of not reading what you're tagged in and not responding to rage bait. Just remember, nothing on the internet can really be deleted.
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