[EMMAXIS]

The world is changing so fast that it's hard to keep up. When I started writing, it was with pen and paper; there were no computers around (they were scarce) and no Internet. I always imagined getting published the old fashioned way, with a big block of pages at the post office. Now publishers want us to be our own publicists, as well as creative thinkers and masters of language. Now we need good people skills, which is ironic because if I had good people skills I wouldn't be a writer.

Anyway, enough of the old fart rant: here's to the point, in '04 I self-published a book, thinking it was a harmless thing to do, and man did I pay the price. During the promotion, I became poster child for self-publishers everywhere ...

Now there's this new thing, these books that sell on Amazon for $0.00, since they're e-books. I'd never dream of giving my more recent novels out for free, but I have a lot of other shelved books which I think are worth the read but don't feel are worth rewriting.

So what do you all think? Is this a good idea? Would something like that help or hurt my reputation? I am still recovering from bad vanity rep.

[Loerwyn]

Hm. I think free, and low prices in general, can be both a boon and a curse. A free ebook is a good way to get readers onto your side, as long as you can promote it and raise awareness, but you've got to price sensibly for your other books. If you're too expensive, people won't buy them, because they'll go and spend money on a book they know they'll like. If you put them too cheap, people might not buy them because cheapness, in this society, often goes hand-in-hand with poor quality.

P.S. Don't ever, ever, ever rate your own books on Amazon. It makes you look like a complete... Ahem.

[Ornery Wyvern]

I have to admit I would never consider reading a book offered up for free. Time always seems to be at a premium, and I generally want to spend it on something which has made it through professional publication.

That said if I enjoyed one of your more polished works being able to read some of the back catalogue for free would appeal.

I do not think it would hurt your reputation for me. I wonder if there is a way to throw older works in free with newer works?

[PeteMC]

Now there's this new thing, these books that sell on Amazon for $0.00, since they're e-books. I'd never dream of giving my more recent novels out for free, but I have a lot of other shelved books which I think are worth the read but don't feel are worth rewriting.


The bit I've bolded would worry me - it sounds like you're saying you don't feel these older books are your best work, yes? In which case, do you really want these to be the ones people look at to see if it's worth paying actual money to read your later stuff?

It might be a horrible corporate-ism, but you're "building a brand" as soon as you put your name out there in front of potential customers. Once a customer forms a negative opinion of a brand, it's a tough job to turn that around so you want their first impressions of you the author (brand) to be as positive as possible, which isn't likely to be the case if sub-standard old work if the first thing they come across.

[EMMAXIS]

The bit I've bolded would worry me - it sounds like you're saying you don't feel these older books are your best work, yes? In which case, do you really want these to be the ones people look at to see if it's worth paying actual money to read your later stuff?

It might be a horrible corporate-ism, but you're "building a brand" as soon as you put your name out there in front of potential customers. Once a customer forms a negative opinion of a brand, it's a tough job to turn that around so you want their first impressions of you the author (brand) to be as positive as possible, which isn't likely to be the case if sub-standard old work if the first thing they come across.


These are valid points---and things I considered. I suppose this is why we don't see pre-debut novels by famous authors such as JK Rowling, even though she admits to writing since she was six. Books like Game of Thrones don't simply pop into being; it takes an experienced writer to do that, but we never see the building blocks that lead to those successes. I suppose I'll just hold off on e-books for the time being. Thanks.

Nick Alimonos

[Princeroth]

As a reader I'm less likely to read something I've gotten for free unless it's from the Library,someone recommended it to me or it's a classic. Honestly most people who read make more than enough money to afford a $5 or even a $1 digital copy.

It's only kids who don't work who want everything for free and if that's your target market then go for it, but most adults who work don't mind paying. For a working adult who doesn't have much free time on their hands it's a matter of quality over quantity.

If you have even a small doubt that what you are giving out is not the absolute best you should leave it locked away.

[Loerwyn]

Books like Game of Thrones don't simply pop into being; it takes an experienced writer to do that, but we never see the building blocks that lead to those successes.
Sorry to be ridiculously pedantic, but Martin was an established author before A Game of Thrones.

[Princeroth]

Sorry to be ridiculously pedantic, but Martin was an established author before A Game of Thrones.

I don't think any publisher or agent would have touched that monster if he wasn't.

I just marvel in awe at that man's ability to churn out page after page.

[hippokrene]

Free books aren't bad. Sanderson has Warbreaker available for free on his website. However, he didn't do that until after Mistborn trilogy and the first of his Wheel of Time novels had come out.

I was thinking the other day that if I ever managed to get a novel published, I would put a short story or two in the same setting on my website. Why? Well... why not? If someone is fond enough of my work that they look up my site, why not give them something that might interest them?

If you're talking about a novel or novella then I'd say, "You're an author; you get paid for your writing." If you produce a 80k story that's good enough to read then it's good enough for someone to pay at least $2.99-0.99 for.

[EMMAXIS]

Free books aren't bad. Sanderson has Warbreaker available for free on his website. However, he didn't do that until after Mistborn trilogy and the first of his Wheel of Time novels had come out.

I was thinking the other day that if I ever managed to get a novel published, I would put a short story or two in the same setting on my website. Why? Well... why not? If someone is fond enough of my work that they look up my site, why not give them something that might interest them?

If you're talking about a novel or novella then I'd say, "You're an author; you get paid for your writing." If you produce a 80k story that's good enough to read then it's good enough for someone to pay at least $2.99-0.99 for.


True. I didn't think about charging for the e-book (which is an option); but then I am left to wonder whether a self-published e-book might not also hurt my reputation. I guess it all boils down to reputation.

Also, I see nothing wrong with posting your fiction on your website now, even before you get published. Like you said, why not? I used to write fan-fiction back in '97 and had a fairly decent readership going; it was a rewarding experience to interact with fans and to get feedback (both good and bad). Currently, I am posting short fiction based on my world on my blog and I don't see harm in that. This is, after all, a changing world we live in, and I would not be surprised if the famous authors of the future have a start in something like fan-fiction or in vanity presses. If that never becomes the case, I suppose I could write under a pen name!

Nick Alimonos