How do you feel about the practice of authors signing you up for their newsletters—whether electronic or print—without your permission? I’m not asking this because I plan to sign up a bunch of people to my newsletter without asking. I have a handy-dandy little box in the upper right corner of this blog where anyone can subscribe if they wish. There’s also a clickable graphic on my Home page and info on my Contact page (I’m nothing if not persistent). The bases are pretty much covered. No, I’m asking because finding myself signed up for an author’s newsletter without me actually subscribing to the newsletter myself is one of my readerly pet peeves. And it’s a big one.
I’m not talking when you enter a contest with the understanding that the author will sign you up for her newsletter—you know, because the contest rules explain that that’s exactly what will happen. In that case, I’m fair game. I’m not talking “Join My Newsletter List and You Will Be Entered in a Draw to Win a Free Copy of My Book” contests, either. In these cases, I know what I’m getting into, and I’ve done the “Join My Newsletter” contest thing myself. What really annoys me, though, is when I’ve emailed an author about something totally unrelated to her newsletter, and then I find myself subscribed to that newsletter. Then, despite requests to get removed from the newsletter list, I continue receiving them.
Or, the biggest annoyance…
Several years ago while I was unpublished I finaled in a contest in which a well known multi-published author judged my entry. Being a polite little Canadian and following the contest coordinator’s suggestion, I wrote thank you notes to all my judges, including Judge Promo Hound. To my surprise, I suddenly found myself on Judge Promo Hound’s snail-mail list. Two to four times a year, I receive glossy newsletters from JPH that elicit a cursory glance, then go in recycling. These days the newsletters don’t even elicit the cursory glance. I should point out that I have only ever bought one of JPH’s novels, and the purchase had nothing to do with my receipt or lack thereof of her newsletters. In fact, I bought the novel before JPH added my name to her mailing list without my permission. It’s not that I’m not buying her novels because she added me to her snail mail list. Not to continue buying her novels was purely a “her books are not my cup of tea” decision. So for her to continue sending me newsletters I didn’t ask for is a big waste of time in the first place, is it not?
Yes, I suppose I could have written Judge Promo Hound and asked her to remove me from her newsletter list. But why should I have to waste the paper and the stamp? Then a friend suggested an utterly brilliant idea that one would think I could have come up with myself (sadly, I didn’t). A few weeks ago I received yet another glossy, multi-page newsletter from Judge Promo Hound, so I followed my friend’s advice and simply wrote “Not at this Address” or “Return to Sender” (I can no longer recall which) on the envelope and dropped it back into the mailbox. My friend is convinced that this action will result in my name being removed from JPH’s mailing list. We shall see…
Cindy, I agree it’s never a good idea to add someone to the list without at least the tacit permission of them entering a contest. I’d never even have thought to add an aspiring writer to my newsletter list without permission. That’s pretty gutsy.
If you really don’t want snail mail from someone, send it back with “Refused” written on the envelope. At least that’s the way it works in the States.
Linda
Hmm, I want to say this has happened to me before, but I can’t remember who, so the newsletters must not come often!
I think some authors probably collect every name/email they can so they can build a huge contact list, which in theory sounds like good promo but unfortunately…a lot of people just aren’t interested in promo. Like me–I’ll buy your book if the story sounds like something I’d enjoy. Doesn’t matter how big your promo budget is (or your name, for that matter–it’s embarrassing how many huge-name authors I’ve never read).
Thanks, Linda. I’ve never heard that one before. If I get another newsletter from JPH, that’s what I’ll do.
Avery, I think you’re right. In fact, I’ve heard tell that some authors advise during conference workshops TO add every address you get to your newsletter list.
Maybe readers who aren’t writers feel differently. I just feel infringed upon.