Author Code

Etiquette for Independent Authors

There has been an unstated, but generally respected, code among us struggling independent authors about not bashing our fellow writers. We don't write bad reviews of other indie authors. We don't write social media posts about how much we hate their books unless they are so successful that it wouldn't hurt them anyway (i.e, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Ann Rice, etc.) You don't smack food off the plate of someone who is fighting tooth and nail to put it there. It is okay to punch up, but you don't punch down or parallel.

We don't shit on each other. That doesn't mean we praise books that aren't praiseworthy. That's not cool either because then you are lying to the consumer and your word is basically shit at that point. What it does mean is if I read a book so bad I would have to apologize to the hamster if I used it to line the bottom of their cage, you'll never even know I read it. 

Once upon a time, one writer created a thread on his private Facebook group, bashing another writer. He claimed that the other writer was a sizeist and that he portrayed obese people negatively, fat-shaming them in his books, and said he would no longer read or support that author. The writer who was the victim of this slander (me) found out about it, and was understandably pissed. Besides being incorrect (I love big girls) it was taking a swipe at my livelihood. 

See, being a writer is a hard business. Most writers in this genre would make more money driving an Uber or working for Door Dash. So, I don't smack food off another writer's table by trashing their art … even if it's trash. I don't write one-star or two-star reviews. I just won't review it at all if I can’t give it at least three stars. I certainly don’t write social media posts telling other motherfuckers not to read it. Like your momma told you in kindergarten:

“If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.”

There are instances where this code does not apply. An author rapes someone, molests a kid, is a member of the KKK, a neo-Nazi, shit like that, and all bets are off. Someone disagreeing with my politics or even my ethics would not necessarily be enough for me to publicly shame them unless they were absolute racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic bigots or if the book itself is sociopolitically insensitive or outright bigoted and full of “isms”. It would have to be pretty bad though. 

I respect the code, and have little respect for those who break it. Your mileage may vary, and that's fine. But don't expect me to be morally flexible on this, because I still think the author who bashed me is lower than a shit stain on the belly of a slug. It later came out that he was also sexually harassing women, sending them dick pics and masturbation videos. So fuck him anyway.

But, what about readers or book reviewers who are not writers? Do they have any responsibility to the author? I will say no, but with a caveat. They have no responsibility to review a book favorably if they didn’t enjoy it, but they do have a responsibility to review it honestly and not praise a bad book just because they received a free ARC. If you genuinely didn't enjoy the book, but you don't want to hurt that author’s sales by giving it a bad review, then just don’t review it. If you don't want to write a critical book review because you don't want that author or other authors to stop sending you free books, I get that. You’re human.  But, your integrity is on the line. 

If you keep giving poorly written books glowing reviews, your readers and listeners will stop trusting you and your value to us writers will be gone anyway. Which means no more free ARCs. Just email or message that author or publisher who sent you the ARC that you didn’t like the book and don't want to give them a bad review, so you won't be reviewing it at all. You might even find that they tell you to go ahead and review it honestly, and state all the reasons you didn't like it. But, I think you should just show the courage of your convictions and tell it like it is either way. Yes, it might mean that particular author or publisher decides not to send you any more free books, but others will. And, more importantly, you will increase your credibility and reputation as an honest and trustworthy reviewer, which will increase your audience, making you more valuable to us, which means more authors will send you ARCs. Furthermore, clearly stating the reasons why you didn't like a particular book might actually benefit the author and increase book sales.

If you didn't like it because it was all gross out and gore with little plot, someone else might love it for that very reason. Too much sex or sexual assault? That might be someone else's jam. A slow burn with not enough violence or gore? There are readers who are into that. Just write the review honestly. 

Now, for the authors, here's the other side to that code … don't respond to negative reviews! Don’t! Just. Fucking. Don't. There is no world in which that works out well for you. Don't attack them in social media posts. Don't make videos crying about a bad review. Don't send reviewers direct messages bitching about a bad review. Don't retaliate. Be a professional. Let it go.

We need reviewers to help market our books. The more reviews, the better our sales. Getting a reputation as someone who can't accept criticism, making readers, book reviewers, booktokers, and bookstagrammers hesitant to review your writing for fear of reprisal, is a bad business decision. It also makes you look like a childish asshole. 

Think of these codes more as just proper etiquette and good manners rather than laws. No one is going to arrest you if you trash another indie author's book all over social media and give them one star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. But, you might find yourself not getting invited to submit to anthologies or be a guest at conventions. You won't get fined for bashing a reviewer for giving you a bad review, but you might get canceled. You might find yourself unable to get anyone to review your books. It's a better idea to just be a damn professional. Have a little decorum. Heed the code.