@2025The Author’s Writer.
Yesterday, I received a bribe.
From the most unlikely person.
A fellow author.
He wrote about the hard work spent writing a collaborative book, talked about the book cover, gave a brief synopsis of what the book was about.
But then the message got weird.
The author was offering a “bribe.”
His words, not mine.
If I pre-order the book in December, and he gets 500 orders, then he will hit the Amazon best-seller list when the book releases in April.
In exchange, I’ll get a “free” one-on-one call with him and his partner.
Okay. Amazon really frowns upon this kind of thing.
Though it must be happening all the time.
People just want to get on that bestseller list, even if they have to pay, bribe, or do whatever it takes to reach that status.
Well, if you have to do that, then writing a “bestseller” doesn’t really mean anything.
In fact, when I meet people who tell me they wrote a bestseller, I ask them how many copies they sold.
This is especially true of people who write chapters in anthologies.They’re not aware that the algorithms giving them best-seller status have been manipulated.
Though sales are nice, that’s not what writing a book is about.
There are much easier ways to make money.
People can buy your book but never read it.
They can also return it, donate it, or throw it away.
Books are meant to be read. Their messages are meant to resonate. Books are like seeds. They instill ideas, change thoughts, direct a new course of action.
You are never the same person after you read a good book. The experience of reading it will change you. You’ll feel compelled to write a review, share a copy with others, recommend the book to friends.
When you acquire bestseller status on your own, without bribery or manipulation, then you know you’ve earned it.
Hi. I’m Wendy, The Author’s Writer. I help aspiring authors wherever they are in the book-writing process, from idea to final manuscript ready for publication. If you’re ready to write a book, or stuck somewhere in the process, schedule a call and let’s talk!
