Writers are floored by Amazon's new rules
@WendySpickerman (983)
United States
February 1, 2016 11:09am CST
Amazon has announced new rules in the playing field for selling books through them. Writers are floored by the idea that Amazon wants to make authors edit their books.
Amazon say's to many reports are coming in about errors, which are leaving customer's disappointed. So much so they that have voiced their opinions loudly about what is currently being sold.
I read a post this morning by one writer who went as far as to the blame the customer for finding the errors and reporting it, like they had nothing better to do with their time. Some went as far as calling them "grammar nazi's".
I admit their are people out there that love to just complain about everything, but I myself have come across such books. Whether in print or as eBooks the errors are there. It's something that is occurring far to frequently these days. I say good for Amazon.
Now when something is reported to Amazon they will send out a notice to the author asking them to take down their book and make the corrections. This is something Amazon has every right to do. If one sells through Amazon, their brand is now associated with those books.
It was shocking to read all the harsh things writers were writing about those who buy their books. In fact, it seems a bit holier than thou and maybe this will knock these writers down a peg or two.
Think about it, are you really an author if you just put "anything" out there good or bad?
You would think a writer would embrace such an act as it will help them put out better quality work. Let's look at it this way, if those writer's tried to publish traditionally would their manuscript have even gotten that far? Most likely not!
Warning: This article might leave a bad taste in your mouth
Note: As a promoter I have had years of experience working with the "lazy" writer. When asked to make edits to their material this was always the response I got. Later they thanked me for being so hard on their work. While there were more than enough just wanting to claim to be a writer putting just anything out there and not doing well at all.
There are a number of author's I've worked with that you could just tell they were a natural, they embraced any editing needs, promoting needs and suggestions. They have gone on to be quite successful and I'm so pleased with seeing them accomplish so much.
12 people like this
12 responses
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
1 Feb 16
As an indie author I'm happy to see them do something about it. My books have to compete with others that the authors didn't care to make the best they could because they didn't want to pay for editing. No, it isn't cheap but it is necessary.
Because of lax editing some readers will not touch a self-published book. One poorly edited book can ruin it for the rest of us.
4 people like this
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
1 Feb 16
Exactly that.
I used to be a manager in a bookstore, and I would seldom order self-published books from the press. In many cases they were not returnable, so we would be stuck with them, and on top of that there was no quality control process to speak of. The authors would have to purchase the books themselves then consign them with us.
Of all the books we carried, I only found two that were 'professional' quality in my time there. It's really unfortunate that so many writers don't realize that editing is a necessary part of their craft and neglect it.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I think it works both ways as you said.
There are authors who dont mind a bit of criticism as far as grammar or what have you goes.
And there are people who are just flat out complainers.
My take on that what Amazon is doing is it is a good thing, necessary, and just get on with it. We have to do what we have to do, follow rules, regulations, so just correct the mistakes and get on with it.
4 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I totally agree, poor editing makes a book not worth reading. I remember the first time I heard about self-publishing when a local man said he had written a book. My daughter and I found his book at the local library and I couldn't get past the first page and I think my daughter couldn't get past the first chapter, do to poor writing. Thankfully we never mentioned that we found his book, because it was that bad.
3 people like this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
2 Feb 16
I'm still wondering how that mess called Twilight got published. LOL
4 people like this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
2 Feb 16
@WendySpickerman Some of the lines were downright corny on top of it.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
2 Feb 16
@irishidid I didn't read it, but it was that bad? And yet not only did it get published but turned into a movie? Wow!!!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
2 Feb 16
shoot I would want them to send me pages and what's wrong so I can fix it!
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
3 Feb 16
I really appreciated this post as I'm hoping to publish something on Amazon soon, as soon as I write something besides poems and small articles. But I have some ideas.
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
1 Feb 16
Truth is there have always been grammar Nazis and there always will be. The biggest challenge today is that the only way for writers to be published is to do it themselves and most self-published authors cannot afford to spend the money on having someone edit their work so the number of errors is increasing.
There was good reason why there a two year gap exists between the completion of writing a book and it arriving on the shelves, which is about editing and checking the work so that a promoter, like you can focus on selling a book. I have edited several books, and several editions of a magazine and know how tough it is molding the work of some writers.
2 people like this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
2 Feb 16
@MALUSE No I don't call a person who wants to read a correctly written book a grammar Nazi, they are a discerning reader. There are a few people that inspect everything that is ever written and take enjoyment out of analysing why a particular phrase incorrectly portrays a message, they take the need for correctness over the top.
I applaud good language usage, but I also know that people make mistakes, even published authors, their editors and publishers. Take a 50 year old book and it is still possible to find the occasional error in it - I found one in a Hemingway novel, but I am not about to write a nasty letter to the publisher. Those books were arguable edited to a higher level of perfection than the modern book by a well recognised publishing house, let alone the self published writer.
2 people like this
@WendySpickerman (983)
• United States
2 Feb 16
@MALUSE That blew my mind. It was a clear attack on the reader and in the worst way.
@WendySpickerman (983)
• United States
2 Feb 16
@pgiblett Very true and I agree there are those who pick things apart like they get enjoyment from knocking others down. However I've run into to many books these days with errors and wonder if we are doing a grave injustice to the writing world. I mean can you really call a cake a cake if you leave out some of the important ingredients?
3 people like this
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I have to wonder if those authors are completely oblivious to the fact that their readers can find the comments they're making online with very little effort.
Shooting oneself in the foot by insulting one's readers sure doesn't seem like a way to win fans, does it? 
2 people like this
@WendySpickerman (983)
• United States
2 Feb 16
That's what I was thinking. If I bought their book and read that, no way would I buy from them again.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
1 Feb 16
I know that we are not supposed to criticise spelling or grammar on here but given the topic, it's hard not to spot that there are at least 8 errors in your text - most but not all due to misuse of apostrophes. Clearly Amazon have a point. I actually thought you were playing with us and doing it on purpose but I don't think you were. If I bought a book with all those error's (sic) I would complain to Amazon and I wouldn't finish the book.
2 people like this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
2 Feb 16
one would think that the author would edit the book anyway
