Unsolicited “Help” and the Price of Being an Indie Author
When you’re an indie author, you get used to wearing a lot of hats: writer, editor, marketer, publicist, social media manager, shipping department… the list goes on. What you don’t expect — or maybe you do after a while — is how often people will show up in your inbox offering help you never asked for.
Sometimes it’s well-meaning advice from a fellow author.
Sometimes it’s a genuine reader sharing their excitement.
But too often, it’s someone sniffing around for a payday.
The Setup
The conversation always starts innocently enough. They compliment your work, your trailer, your marketing materials. They ask a few questions, making it sound like they’re simply curious or inspired. You answer, because you’re polite and because part of being in this business is networking.
But then the pivot happens. Suddenly the questions turn toward your sales, your reviews, your “reach.” They start planting seeds: “With only X reviews, you’ll never…” or “You really need to scale up if you want to…”
It’s not about helping you.
It’s about poking at your pride just enough to make you feel insecure — and then offering themselves as the solution… for a price.
The Tactic
In my latest example, someone zeroed in on the fact that I currently have 14 reviews on my award-winning, Library-of-Congress-archived debut novel. Fourteen thoughtful, heartfelt reviews from actual readers who loved the book enough to take the time to share their thoughts. To me, those reviews are treasures.
To her? They were a weakness to exploit.
She told me I’d “never” achieve bestseller status without more reviews — “not even 20 reviews can do it.” And then came the pitch: she’s a marketer, and authors hire her to “boost” their sales.
Except I didn’t ask. And I’m not looking for someone to “boost” anything.
The Reality
Here’s the truth:
I know exactly where my book stands in the market.
I know how many reviews I have and how valuable they are.
I know my own goals, and I measure success by more than just numbers on a sales dashboard.
I also know that scammers — and even some legitimate-but-pushy service providers — prey on indie authors by making them feel small, inadequate, or behind the curve. It’s a tactic, and it’s not one that works on me.
Why It Matters
Indie authors already fight uphill battles — we fund our own projects, we manage our own marketing, and we celebrate every single sale and review because they’re earned, not manufactured.
Unsolicited “help” that’s actually a sales pitch isn’t just annoying — it’s disrespectful. It assumes I haven’t done the work, haven’t thought things through, or don’t already have a plan in motion. And it’s insulting to the readers who have shown up for me by implying their voices don’t count unless they’re part of a bigger number.
My Advice to Fellow Authors
Trust your instincts. If a message makes you feel defensive, there’s a reason.
Look for the pivot. If the conversation turns toward your supposed shortcomings, a sales pitch is usually next.
Value your real supporters. Ten genuine reviews from real readers are worth more than 100 purchased or manipulated ones.
Don’t be afraid to end the conversation. You’re not obligated to explain yourself to someone whose goal is to sell you something you didn’t ask for.
The Takeaway
My book is an award winner. It’s archived in the Library of Congress. Readers have written to tell me how much it moved them. That’s success to me — and it’s mine.
If someone’s “help” starts with trying to tear that down, they’re not offering help at all. They’re just hoping to cash in on your hard work.
And to that, my answer will always be: No.
