What's a tavern without some angry rambling?

So, let's start this out by putting you in my shoes.

Picture this; You've just published your LitRPG on Amazon and you're looking to get some exposure. The first thing you do is head on over to the LitRPG Society page on Facebook because they haven't got the specific day rule and you've published on a Monday because Amazon is apparently working faster than ever. Things are going well but you want to put your book up on the LitRPG page because it has a larger following and in the past you've put books up there and have gotten tons of sales.
Problem is they have 2 specific posting days, Tuesday and Friday, which wouldn't be so bad if you didn't live on the other side of the world.
But you arent going to get a little thing like messed up time zones stop you from doing what you've always done.
So at 11pm, when you're barely half awake, you write up the promo post as you've done half a dozen times with other books and go to sleep wondering what tomorrow will bring as each time you've done this you've woken up to hundreds of sales. Then you wake up at 5.30am and you go onto KDP and see that there's been no spike, and you think, 'That's fine, sometimes it takes some time to register'.
Then you go onto Facebook and see that you've got no new notifications on your post, that seems a bit odd but you assume it's just been buried.
So you go onto the LitRPG page in search of the post and discover it's gone. That's when you think maybe a mod has deleted it for whatever reason, so you check your messages for the tell-tale 'you broke this rule' message and discover there are none.
Suddenly you have your 'Ahh' moment and realise that 'Hell, last night I was half asleep, I probably didn't even write the post, it must've been a semi-conscious dream'.
So you rewrite the post with the knowledge that you've lost a whole lot of engagement and sales, but hey, better late than never. That post stays up for a few minutes, even gets a like, then disappears and then you get a message.


Thus begins the rant.

Okay, first things first: 'Banishment enacted'? You banned me from your page, not the lands of Avalon.
Secondly, WTF? In what universe does deleting a post without so much as a message to the poster put the accused at fault?
Fun fact, posting twice in one day would happen a whole lot less if you bothered to tell the guy/gal that his/her post had been deleted. The amount of times I haven't hit 'POST' on a lengthy post and shutdown my computer or turned off my phone, or Facebook has simply fudged up are innumerable, so don't expect us all to immediately assume that it's been deleted manually. That's part of the job of being a moderator; letting the accused know that they've done something wrong.
Cops can't just chase people down the street and arrest them without saying a word. Mods shouldn't be able to go 'Ah, you ignored our first non-existent warning, it's the ban hammer for you!'
I'm willing to admit I did the wrong thing, I didn't know I had, but I'll admit it. People screw up, and this just so happened to be one of mine.
Except that's just the thing. A few months ago there was a post on the LitRPG page (I'd grab screenshots if I wasn't banned) that outright stated in the comments that the aforementioned 'Check with a mod' rule was for new authors to the genre.
Hell, I had the same guy last time try to hit me with the ban hammer (I'm 99% sure, it may have been someone else) but I told him that I'd clarified with the almighty, self-proclaimed 'Father' himself, and that was enough to make him bugger off.
Again though, I am willing to admit that I was at fault for not rereading the rules every time I post something, I should've probably checked to make sure it was all hunky-dory.
However I'm not the only one who has been hit with this, and I should probably count myself lucky that I got a message at all before getting thrown into the pit.
The amount of people that don't fit their anal rules who get thrown under the bus because the big wigs don't like us is crazy.
You got a problem with Kong? To the pit!
You think the Land is anything less than perfect? To the pit!
Your book's too short? To the pit!
You're too successful and rival the 'Father'? To the pit!
Seriously, the rules that apply to people who are famous or buddy-buddy with the LitRPG National Socialist leaders are significantly laxer than for the lesser knowns.
Do you think if Stephen King wrote a LitRPG that he'd get banned for messing up the protocol?
Now I know you're probably wondering 'Why does this upset you so?' and the answer's rather simple;
THIS HAS SCREWED MY SALES UP.
I love LitRPG Society, I really do, but the LitRPG page certainly generated a lot more sales for me in the past.
That's not to say that LitRPG Society hasn't been incredibly helpful though, everyone over on that page has been an absolute delight, my only thing is that I wish that it had the exposure of the LitRPG page.

Anyway, that's me done, I'd love to know what you guys think though.

 

I don't think it was cool, they should have given you a warning at least. I believe people are entitled to second chances and I could have easily been like you. I have just been more busy writing my new books to promote my books. Anyway, I think you're cool and I'm sure your group will begin to get a following. Heck I beleived the rules should had be explained better, I was lucky as I had a hook up with someone in the group beforehand. It sucks, but hey you got yourself a regular follower here.

 

I lol'd.

 

Cheers man, glad to have you on board

 

Not really, lol

 

Yeah, I've got a few avenues I've been hitting up, thanks though

 

What absolute and utter bullshit. Not even a warning... Sorry buddy. I'm looking for a new book... what is yours.. I'll admit, I didn't read the whole post so if it was mentioned I missed it. I kinda got my fill at the SS of your convo with the admin.

 

Thanks man, and Fragged is the story (https://www.amazon.com/Fragged-LitRPG-Short-Story-Book-ebook/dp/B072TPXJFB/). Figured I wouldn't chuck it up in the post so people didn't think I was tryin' to profit off of a rant.

 

Oh... I've posted this in the definition of LitRPG but I see this is a better place for it. Sec.

 

Is anyone here involved in the LitRPG Facebook group? I ask because they have such a narrow definition of LitRPG that they refused to let me mention Epic on their promotion days. Here's the thread:

Me: Hi Bobby. Can you please give me the thumbs up to post about Epic in LitRPG tomorrow? Thanks. https://www.amazon.com/Epic-Avatar-Chronicles-Conor-Kostick-ebook/dp/0142411590/
bobby bjurstrom: Need a few screenshots to show litrpgness. Shows it is in a game or game like world. Second is progression such as skills and/or levels.
Me: OK. Meanwhile, if you click the link you'll see the premise of the book is everyone plays a fantasty MMORPG.


Me: That good?
bobby bjurstrom: Anything for leveling or skill levels?
Me: Hmm. Not on the Amazon preview. They don't level in class, but they do in skills.

bobby bjurstrom: So do skills level? Like sing level one upgrades to sing two? Or beginner to novice to advanced?
Me: Yes, but there isn't a lot of description of it in the book. The group kill a red dragon and with the loot buy skill increases. But that scene isn't in the preview.
Me: The next issue of SciFan magazine is a LitRPG special and a story set in the world of Epic has been selected for that: https://www.amazon.com/SciFanTM-Magazine-Issue-Science-Editorial-ebook/dp/B073513GPT/
bobby bjurstrom: Sounds good to me. Technically we require screenshots of these but I will give a pass
Me: Thanks Bobby.
bobby bjurstrom: The deal is for promo it's once a week. You have to mention every time mod approved and by who so it won't get deleted.
Me: Right. Tuesdays and Fridays. So I'll mention it tomorrow.
bobby bjurstrom: Last part is optional we have a couple of buttons that you can post in your book and/or author page and hyperlink it to the Facebook group. The theory is if authors drive fans to the group it will help out all authors. The second is it gives fans a place to discover new books and have some fun with others that share the same interests.
Me: OK. The book is mainstream, Penguin, so I can't put the link there but glad to do so on my author page.
Me: Thanks again!
bobby bjurstrom: No prob. Good luck with the sales
bobby bjurstrom: Hey sorry to back out but i need to have a screenshot for progression of skills. Do you have a copy of the ebook you can get a screenshot from?
bobby bjurstrom: The mod group says can't bend the rules on getting proof of the two requirements
bobby bjurstrom: If you can't provide screenshots we will have to deny the post.
Me:

Me: And this one explains that you hear a DING when you level up.

bobby bjurstrom: Unfortunately the consensus is it doesn't quite show progression to the level we are looking for. It seems we will be denying the promo as of now.

 

Wow, super glad I don't have Facebook. Sheesh.

 

This really is disheartening. As a community, they should be a less draconian with the rules. I mean, what does it accomplish? Are they afraid you will take away fans? Will it stain the pristine LitRPG name? By putting the idea into a straight jackey, they hinder diversity. The group will eventually turn on each other and become a snake eating it's own tail.

I'm sorry this happened to you, Conor. I gave up on trying to advertise with that group because I know my books won't fit their precious rules. It's fine but know this group rocks my socks!

I don't have a million fans but I'll share your link.

 

And therein lies the problem Conor, one guy'll says it's fine and then another will say it's not. By people setting such stringent rules for what is and what isn't LitRPG you'll have a lot of conflicting ideas on what is and isn't allowed, but hey Ready Player One and Mogworld get a pass because, and I'm only saying this because I truly believe it, they have no genuine convictions. It's all a power game.

 

I am sure that if God ever wanted to give the world an enema, Facebook is where He/She would stick the nozzle.
I am also sure that there are good bits to Facebook, just as there are to any ugly, hairy, pimply arse but they're not easy to spot until you get very close............and who would want to do that!
I wholeheartedly support your rant.

 

It's not your socks we want to rock though Eden.

Yeah the restrictions are a bit ugh, funny I haven't been hit with the ban hammer or rejection on posting my books yet. I'm sure it will come in time.