Post #3638084

2026-07-06 22:00 UTC

You will see authors like your girl here start to sound a little bit unhinged when we talk about "preorders." But WHY. It's because a book that sells 500 copies spread over six months looks, mathematically, like a failure to most "is this book something we should show people" systems. The same 500 copies concentrated into one week, especially the preorder windows, can trip thresholds. Thresholds like: this book lands in retailer algorithms. This book lands in a purchaser's consideration

Replies (3)

@grimalkina@mastodon.social 2026-07-06 22:03

These systems around creative work can feel overwhelming, I get it. Cold and brutal algorithms. But lord, is it easy to tip some of them over at the right time. I mean, it's also FUN to know you help. The difference between 0-1 is immense for: - having real, tangible reviews online - selling copies in preorders You don't need to actually move a mountain. You don't even need to imagine that thousands upon thousands of copies need to move. Real human actions actually do matter here.

Open ##3638083
@mxchara@seattle.pink 2026-07-07 04:04

@grimalkina@mastodon.social I feel like pointing out a dispiriting counterpart to this whole business, which is that groups of scoundrels, like cults and right-wing politicians, have memorized every last little detail of this system and have people poised to take advantage of it in order to make a deeply unpopular book look like a smash hit. hence unfortunately it's necessary for honest authors also to know about it, because otherwise they'll never get any traction

Open ##3784825
@Leto@social.tchncs.de 2026-07-07 04:21

@grimalkina@mastodon.social preordered ;)

Open ##3784827