I have not, and will not, use my knowledge of psychological manipulation for anything truly sinister. But if you see me muttering “high conversion rate” in my sleep, mind your business. My browser history is a chaotic tapestry of long-tail keywords and obsessive KDP reports, yet in the real world, I still use a coaster. The darkness is confined to the digital page.
I smile at postal workers. I remember my friends’ kids’ names. I separate my recycling. I am, fundamentally, nice. Even when the It is being… well, the devil.
It knows what I want before I do
The algorithm is that terrifyingly perceptive partner who notices you glanced at a book about poisonous plants and suddenly your entire homepage is a curated collection of “How to Dispose of a Body” guides and industrial-grade cleaning supplies. It’s not wrong, it’s just… aggressively helpful. It sees the monster in my draft folder and hands it a megaphone.
The delicate art of keyword seduction
We don’t just write blurbs anymore. We engage in a form of literary seduction, whispering sweet nothings filled with high-volume search terms into its ever-listening ears.
“A twisty small-town psychological thriller with a shocking ending and a strong female protagonist” isn’t just a description; it’s a series of secret handshakes. It’s saying, “I understand you, baby. I know what you like.”
And when it rewards you with a spike in visibility, it feels like love. A cold, transactional, data-driven love, but love nonetheless.
The constant fear of being ghosted
One day, you’re its favorite. Your “also-boughts” are pristine, your rank is climbing, the KU pages are flowing. The next? Radio silence. A cliff-like drop in sales. The algorithm has found a shinier, newer book to adore. You’re left refreshing your reports every ten minutes, wondering, “What did I do? Was my blurb not compelling enough? Were my keywords not specific enough?”
It’s the digital silent treatment, and it’s designed to make you try harder. To write faster. To be better.
So, are we selling our souls?
Maybe. But just a sliver. A tiny, data-shaped fragment. We play the game because the bookstore is the biggest in the world, and we want our stories on its shelves. The trick is to feed the beast without letting it consume your creative spirit. To write the book of your heart, and then craft the keywords that will help the right reader find it.
Think of it less as selling out, and more as learning a new language — the native tongue of the digital marketplace where your books live. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go check my rankings. It’s been a whole five minutes.
— Montse
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