Let's Talk About Literary Citizenship

In the wake of Amazon Prime Day (really?) and moving forward to the holidays, I wanted to discuss something that I am weirdly passionate about. Partially that comes from working in bookstores for the last three years, partially it comes from being an author, and partially it's about being a good person.

Literary Citizenship is not a well known term by any standards. I only learned about it in a senior year college english class, but I feel like it should be more a part of regular vocabulary for all book readers. A literary citizen can be as broad or as niche as you want it to be. It means being sensible about where you shop for books, whose books you're buying, and if you're slightly more involved in the bookish community, supporting the authors you appreciate by attending events and leaving reviews.

If you're a writer, being a good literary citizen is pretty much part of the job description. If you don't support other authors or bookstores, why would you expect them to support you? Make yourself known at your local indie bookshop! I've done this at all three of my local indies in different cities that I've lived and I ended up with jobs at all three (mwahaha)! Leave reviews for the authors you love, follow them on social, interact with them on the Twits and Insta.

If you're just a regular joe literary citizens who simply loves reading books, let's talk etiquette.

1. If you do choose to review a book, for the love of God, do not tag the author in a negative review! Imagine some complete stranger sought you out online for something you'd created only to tell them how much you hated it. It's fine if you didn't like the book and want to share that opinion, but you don't need to let the author know it. There's enough negativity and struggle in the world, don't add to someone else's emotional burden.

2. Support your local independent bookseller: Don't have one right up the road? That's not a problem, most indie bookstores have adapted to these slightly dystopic times by converting to heavy online sales and will ship near and far

3. Understand how the book process works: Bookstores do not set the selling process. Authors do not set the selling price of their own books. Publishers do. They do this so that the authors are getting paid what they're worth and everyone in the production team is as well. I understand that some book prices are creeping up and getting high. But don't complain to us (bookstores or authors) about the price of the books.

4. The Big Bad Amazon Beast: Believe me, I know the temptation of the simple, easy, fast, cheap. But also, here's what to understand about Amazon. They have no interest in authors or books. They have interest in making money. Those ridiculous discounts they set? That means that the author you're reading is receiving very little of what they're owed.

5. Do not quote Amazon prices to a bookstore. Just today I had a customer call the bookshop, tell me this longwinded explanation about wanting to read a nonfiction book with their bookclub that costs $32.00. Then she says to me, "But the Amazon price is $17.00. Is there anything you can do about that? We really want to support you." No, there's nothing we can do. If we don't sell the book at the publisher set price, we don't make money. The author doesn't make money. If you really want to support the bookstore, you'll just buy the book at the set price. Or don't read that book and pick a cheaper one.

It's not hard to be a good literary citizen. Basically its the same as being a good person. Don't be rude, don't insult people publicly, and be considerate and thoughtful of what you're buying, especially during this holiday season, when so many small businesses have suffered during the Pandemic.