Comments on: Best of the Blog 2009: Trendspotting: “Free”

By: Saoirse Redgrave

Saoirse Redgrave — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:43:46 +0000

I think free can work–within reason. I actually won the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world last year (through Textnovel.com) by posting my YA paranormal novel 13 to Life: A Werewolf’s Tale in serial segments on the site.

The win landed me an agency contract, some cash and a multi-book deal with St. Martin’s Press. The first book (greatly expanded)in my series is currently slated for a Spring 2010 release.

I think considering the sheer volume of writing agents and editors have to sift through, new ways to get yourself noticed can truly make a difference.

Will it land you a contract? Who knows? But it may teach you a lot about building connections, an audience and a product that captures readers’ imaginations.

~Saoirse Redgrave
13 to Life: A Werewolf’s Tale (A Tale of Teenage Love, Loss and–oh, yeah–Werewolves.)
http://www.Twitter.com/AuthorSaoirse_R

By: Michelle Ule

Michelle Ule — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:13:19 +0000

My daughter is a fan fiction fan for Harry Potter and says some of the stories are very good, but most are poorly written with spelling errors and other problems. “I’ll always buy another Harry Potter book,” she says–but is reading on mugglenet right now.

By: CKHB

CKHB — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:26:09 +0000

I’ll say that I certainly don’t have the nerve to give away any of my work for free yet, but apparently it HAS worked for others, who built such a loyal and devoted following through their free work that their fans are clamoring for more and will buy pretty much anything they write now!

I’m thinking of Scott Sigler in particular… he did free serialized podcasts of his fiction, then the book got picked up for “regular” publication, and he ended up on the NY Times bestseller list!

By: Janet Grant

Janet Grant — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:53:16 +0000

I think free works when it’s an enticement to spend money. And when we do spend that money, we are thoughtful and purposeful in making the decision to do so. Free falls into the category of the free keychain Lynn Rush received at the hotel. It’s a passing, feel-good moment to receive something for nothing. But then we’re onto other things in life.

By: T. Anne

T. Anne — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:50:13 +0000

I’ve read more than my fair share of free novels on my Kindle and to be honest most of them cost me too much time. I value quality over quantity.

By: Valerie C.

Valerie C. — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:33:40 +0000

I’ve never found that free actually works for me. All it seems to accomplish is to devalue the things I do best. In my experience the price tag brings with it a level of respect and the recognition that I am a professional. It’s not that I don’t see the theoretical value of free (sample chapters, book giveaways, gratis writing) but in my experience the net effect seems to be that it undermines my profession and I have to work even harder to redeem it (sort of two words backwards for every three words forward, if you will). I know this is the struggle that publishers and writers are facing in so many areas and am waiting to see if someone comes up with a really good solution. I haven’t yet but continue to mull…

By: Nikki Hahn

Nikki Hahn — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:00:50 +0000

There are some newspapers that give a limited view of their newspaper, but charge to actually see the whole thing. A teaser.

I don’t read alot of things online because of trying to find the treasures in the rubble, but I do have my favorites sites to peruse.

I like it that Amazon gives you sample chapters to read. It makes me want to buy the book.

Nikki

By: Nikki Hahn

Nikki Hahn — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:57:56 +0000

I guess starving artist is now starving book writer. lol. It’s a good thing I enjoy writing and know I’m going to always have a day job. lol.

By: Janet Grant

Janet Grant — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:56:05 +0000

Dawn Maria, piracy is a problem that is likely to grow in upcoming years, as books become available in more digital formats. Publishers are just as worried about it as you are.
And you’re right: As more books are “self”-published on websites, etc., without any gatekeeper to work through the manuscripts, the reader is left to find the treasures among all the rubble.

By: Janet Grant

Janet Grant — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:26:32 +0000

CKHB, I so agree that showing off your voice to entice readers is a good plan. I was with you all the way into your comments until you mentioned giving away the whole book. I think most people buy a book in one format and are unlikely to want it in more than one. (If I buy it on Kindle 2, I can both read it and have it read to me, but that’s still one purchase.) If you give away your entire book, I’m afraid I, at least, won’t buy it, but I will enjoy reading it. Meanwhile, how will you make money from my reading experience?