I find it interesting that some are giving their story away for free.
The non-profit ministry I work for is currently giving away free audio books of a Christian Allegory for young adults. They found the novel so powerful they decided to bear the cost of distributing it themselves. (If interested in a copy e-mail me through my profile.)
Apparently, we're not the only ones giving away a novel. This past week I found a Press Release stating that YA novelist Eileen Cruz Coleman is posting her YA novel chapter by chapter on her blog (http://www.sweetwateramerican.com). The novel landed a New York agent and toured publishers but without snagging the deal. While she works on another book, she’s giving away her novel.
"It's definitely not without risk. People may hate my writing. But hey, there's no point in spending months or years writing a novel if no one is going to read it," Cruz Coleman said. "The first three chapters are up and I am not looking back.”
When you add in devices like Amazon’s Kindle and the Sony Reader, the possibility of completely foregoing the industry and distributing your book freely—certainly is becoming an option.
The record industry has seen many changes as artists started to go independent--record their own albums, put on their own concerts, and sell their own CD's.
YouTube is opening doors for people to get their own following, regardless of whether or not they are on television.
New software allows people to become Graphic Designers, Film Producers, Engineers and Producers who years ago couldn't have done it without schooling.
So, who's to say someone can't give away their book and get a following before publication?
And yet, I still can't help but to think if you believe in your novel that much, why not fight for it? If it's that good . . . there's gotta be someone willing to publish it.
What do you guys think? Would you give away your novel for free?
If I completely exhausted my resources for a book and then went on to publish a different one, I might consider giving away the earlier novel for free to my readers as a special prize or something.
ReplyDeleteI too am of the opinion that we should fight for our books until we're bloody in the face (not literally, mind you!), so check in with me later ... :)
There are too many reasons why a book does not get published by a royalty publisher to totally rule out giving it away.
ReplyDeleteI have given away most copies of my first novel because it is a saga in the truest sense, a niche book about horse racing, and because it's more important that people read it who might benefit from it than it is to sell it to them. Stories can be a ministry.
Most important is to do what the Lord would have you do.
There are several ways of looking at this. For promotion, for building the author's name and a fan base, giving a novel away for free isn't a bad idea. If they like your novel, they will buy the one that gets published most likely. I do winch when I see novels on websites that are not protected. I wouldn't do give away a book without it being copyrighted. I have a novel that was previously published by a (gulp) pod publisher that is no longer under contract. I have the pdf, and I have considered offering it on my website for free.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and a thought provoking question. Would I give it away for free? Currently, I post the first two or three chapters of my pod, unpubbed-but-looking-for-a-home, and wip manuscripts on my website. I do it to share my writing with family and friends and to entice an agent or editor that might be browsing my site. I'll mull the 'freebie' question for the future. Maybe I'm being naive, but does making the completed manuscript available online mean it's never purchaseable (is that a word?) by a mainstream publisher?
ReplyDeleteI read of an author who gave his first novel away on line and kept a list of those he gave it to in hopes he could sell them the second book. He said that, although people liked both books, what he'd really created was a list of people who wanted a free book (they wanted his second book, they just didn't feel they should pay for it). So I don't know if it's a good idea or not.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the traditional publishers are not interested in your story because according to their experience it won't sell, doesn't meet their niche, etc. Yet sometimes a story needs to get out to the public. If the author has an audience to tap into that traditional publishers have not acknowledge or do not cater to, certainly an author should do what he /she can to reach it - even if it means giving it away free.
ReplyDeleteI have self-published a book because no traditional publisher would have seen the specific niche. My book is sold out. I don't plan on republishing it but gave the rights over to an organization that used it to meet their members needs. I'll likely do it again.
Currently I am doing marketing research for another book create with a specific evangelical ministry purpose in mind. Although I've only submitted it to one publisher, I'm pretty certain it falls out of the realm of most traditional publishers needs. Yet it is a book that has a specific use for a specific market. With the help of various organizations, it will be sold or given away, and my prayer is that it touch the lives of its readers with a clear understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Traditional Publishers know their markets and those markets are not all-inclusive. There are needs that are not being met. Yes, these are probably on a much smaller scale, hence why the traditional publishers don't reach them.
Thank you for mentioning Sweetwater American. The decision to serialize it on a blog was not an easy one. But I'm glad I decided to go for it. I will be posting the fourth chapter soon.
ReplyDeletecheers,
eileen
It depends. Right now I want to turn writing into a career. So no, I wouldn't. But if ever writing becomes merely a hobby, then yeah, I probably would.
ReplyDeleteCory Doctorow, a famous sci-fi writer and founder of Boing Boing, said it best:
ReplyDelete"My biggest threat as an author isn't piracy, it's obscurity."
He's giving his book away and he made the New York Times Bestseller list.
I personally know a lot of home school moms who self publish and make a good living at it. So yes, if God told me to give away my novel, I would do it.
ReplyDelete