Do You Practice Good Author Citizenship?

 

Are our writers and publishers practicing good citizenship with the books that they write, publish, and market?

I ask this question because there are well over 7,000 books published daily in America. We should look at whether these books serve the greater good, if they are well written, properly edited, factually correct, and adding to the world of books in a substantive way.

With millions of books published annually, and the vast majority of them being self-published, the collective of writers making up today’s book industry operate outside the norms and standards of the handful of traditional publishers who otherwise would dictate what gets published and promoted.

The publishers may be seen as gatekeepers and this poses some positives and negatives. In terms of quality control, publishers likely but not always make sure writers are qualified to write what they write, that books are vetted for lies, that opinions are not stated as facts, and that a book is edited appropriately. The shortfall of their guardianship was that they may not publish books that express views they disagree with, nor ones that serve the interests of a marginalized group, or ones they believe are not commercially viable, even if needed.

Okay, so the bigger question here is not just about how to set a reasonable standard to determine if any self-published book should be green-lit, but overall, for all books.

Under the dictates of free speech and our laws, most books can be published, but there are threats and consequences attached to some publications. There is an obligation to not commit libel or slander, to not violate an NDA, to not publish or pirate stolen content, and to not publish something deemed treasonous. But barring these things, however they are to be interpreted, all kinds of books can be, and have been, published. But should they have been?

The self-published lack corrective restraints. Perhaps unaware of the law or willfully disregarding it, some will publish things that should not or cannot be published. Because they don’t have a third-party — like a publisher or even an editor — they lack guidance, structure, or standards regarding what they write, how they say it, or enacting a burden of proof as to the facts surrounding the content.

On the other hand, traditional publishing is corrupted by a money-making driven approach. Their fiscal conservatism or pursuit of high-margin profits, even if it means publishing crap, will deter them from taking a risk or publishing what they fear won’t be a high-yield crop despite it being a quality book.

Further, the book industry has gone sexust and racist. It went from being an old, white-boy, heterosexual club to being one that is anything but. Queers, women, and ethnic minorities rule now. White males are an endangered species as publishing employees, published writers, and even as consumer readers. Where things were wrong to one extreme a few generations ago for some people, they are now just as bad for different people.

We need the extreme pendulum swings to give way to a merit-based, balanced normalcy.  Publishing has lost its path, and instead of seeking to serve society as a whole, chooses to limit its focus on a woke and fracturing world.

We simply need books that offer facts and truth, new ideas, and give value to society. We need books that challenge us, make us think, and inspire us to be better. We need books that espouse values that reflect democracy, freedom, free speech, unity, and service. We need books that lead the way for a safer and more prosperous world.

Do you practice good citizen authorship?

 

“Let a random piece of information stimulate your thinking.”

— A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be, More Creative, 25th Anniversary Edition by Roger von Oech

 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ posts over the past 14 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum