Tis the season for negativity.
How quickly we have gone from the season of Thanksgiving to one of discord. We are bombarded at every angle: as we sit down for dinner, attempt a little couch time, try to read the daily newspaper.
While some people revel in political “discussions,” most are turned off by the constant bombardment of negativity. Really, am I so unintelligent that someone must twist my arm, spoon feed me, and then maybe even clobber me over the head until I vow to vote for the person they think is right for the job?
Voting booths still have curtains and screens for privacy…right?
Painfully Honest Tip
Before adding your opinion via Twitter, Facebook or on any social media outlet, pause…ponder…and please, please do not post.
Unless you have penned a political expose’ covering one of the candidates, your readers do not need to know your political leanings.
Your readers do not care.
Your opinion will not sway their decision. However, offering your opinion may change how they think about you?
So what? You ask. I consider it my right to voice my opinion. You may be thinking, Renea Winchester, who do you think you are telling me that I can’t discuss politics?
“Just a regular gal trying to help you sell books, that’s all.”
Painfully Honest Message
Readers have a right to not purchase your books. If they are gagging on your political rhetoric, odds are they will not reach into their wallet and buy your book…even if it is a great book.
Remember, many a friend has been lost over politics. As an author, you should be trying to build (and maintain) relationships not alienate readers.
Before launching into a career damaging revival for democracy ask yourself another question: Am I conducting myself in a professional manner?
Truly, I hope that you are.
Do you endure political memos from your boss? Does he sit beside you at lunch and yammer on about the latest polls? Does he withhold your paycheck unless you promise to vote for “his candidate?”
I hope not.
Yet I am continually amazed at authors who would be wildly successful if they would just (to use a couple of idioms) get out of their own way and stop shooting themselves in the foot. For those who think I am apolitical let me avow that I am not. Not only do I attend the local government meetings, I take my children with me. I am a patriot descended from patriots. I phone and write my representative. Still, voting is a personal matter. (Amen?)
I do not care who you vote for, of greater importance is that you vote (insert overuse of exclamation marks!!!!)
For a perfect example of public content I shall direct you to Jolina Petersheim. Her entries provide joyous content. While I have never personally met her, she purposes to write content that delights her readers. I have a sneaking suspicion that she just might be a registered voter.
Dear ones, aspire to do the same.
Be like Jolina.
Purpose to write positive content.
Purpose to make readers fall in love with your words.
Purpose to take the political high-road as often as necessary.
Your readers will love you for it.
As always, thank you for reading my blog.
Renea Winchester is the author of: Stress-free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author FREE to Amazon Prime Members.
And, In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes, the book that launched me on this journey.
Visit her at www.reneawinchester.com or visit her at one of her workshops.
Filed under: Marketing Manners, Questions about the process | Tagged: election, Joline Petersheim, politics in self publishing, renea winchester, stress-free marketing practical advice |
adviceforauthors 
I would think that any potentially off putting hot topic is best avoided as an author interested in reaching readers across a wide spectrum. A tight rope to walk indeed.
Your sneaking suspicion is right, Renea; I AM a registered voter, and I completely agree with this post! It seems many bloggers these days try to acquire “hits” by hitting people over the head with their unwanted, often virulent opinions. Thanks for addressing this issue in such an entertaining way!
Amen, indeed! Excellent advice, Renea. And may I add that it should also apply to actors, musicians and other artists? Stick to your craft, folks. And “be like Jolina” is always good advice, too. Her blog is one of my all-time favorites for the very reasons you mentioned. Thanks for this post.
While I love this post and do so love Jolina’s blog that you reference, I do think there are some other matters to ponder here. Dolly Parton likely never says to herself why can’t I be more like Norah Jones? That’s because Dolly has her own voice. She doesn’t bemoan that her voice is different. She just goes on singing the songs God gives her. Sometimes those are hard songs, such as the case with Jolene, the woman trying to steal her man. We need writers in the world who stick up for truth, even when it’s an inconvenient, as truth can be so often. Some writers are called to encourage us. Some writers are called to challenge us. Some writers are called to make us laugh. Some are called to make us pause. Some are called to make us think outside our comfort zones. Sometimes, if they are really good writers, they might do all of the above in one story.
I think the very last thing any writer ought to consider before writing is how will this affect my future sales. The question we should be asking as writers is am I singing the song Creator has put on my heart or am I simply faking it, in an effort to be more commercial? I think you words of caution are wise, but I also think freedom was won in this country as much by our writers as it was by our soldiers.