"When is your book going to be free?"
"This should have been a free book."
I have had questions and comments like this. There are so many free and deeply discounted books in the Indie author community now that they have become the rule rather than the exception. Readers have come to expect it and some have learned that if they wait a little while on buying a book, it's going to be free.
I understand and respect an author's decision to give their book away. They do this in the hope that readers will like the book enough to buy the next one they have written or they are hoping for more reviews. Sometimes it even works. I have read a free book and then bought the next one and sometimes I have left a glowing review on the free read. I have done that a few times so I can see the potential reward for doing so.
The problem is that when just about every Indie author is doing it, it lessens the chances of actually selling books because there are so many freebies out there. It devalues our work, in my opinion. I would actually like to get to the point where I can afford to write full time. In order to do that, I need to sell some books rather than give them away.
What's the solution? I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on this subject. In the meantime, I have no plans to offer my books for free. I think my books are reasonably priced and are fun reads.
http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Montague/e/B00GL9UPH2
I agree completely, Rose. It's unnatural for readers to expect our hard work to be given away free. Last I heard, that was called slavery and it's illegal. Readers work for a living, and so do we. Like you, my books will NEVER be given away free.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tima ♥
DeleteI don't understand why authors give their books away for free (well I do understand the supposed marketing technique, I just don't know why someone who put their heart and soul into something would then just give it away). Sorry to anyone that wants to read my first book, but unless you win it in a giveaway, it will never be free. You don't walk into Starbucks and ask for your first cup of coffee free, you don't go to your hairdresser and say you expect your first haircut free and then you'll decide if you'll come back. Why is it okay to do to this with books? A cup of coffee takes what? a couple minutes to make and people are willing to pay $5 for it (and then they drink in fifteen minutes and it's gone). It takes months and months to write a book and then prepare it for publication, and people won't even pay $2.99???? By devaluing their work, writers that offer their books for free are helping to fuel this false expectation that books should be cheap and yet, on the other hand there is still the mindset out there that if it's cheap it must not be any good. I actually did an experiment where I increased the price of my novellas from $0.99 to $2.99 and I am getting more page turns and actually selling more books now than I did when they were cheaper. (As an aside, I only had priced them at the lower price to begin with because they are novellas of 100-150 pages so I figured they should be cheaper than my full length novel). Will this work for everyone? Beats me. I'm afraid I don't have the answers. I just know that downloaded free books don't necessarily mean books that are going to be read. Instead you have a writer that has had hundreds of downloads and received no compensation for their hard work and readers that have hundreds of books that they downloaded simply because they were free and may never get around to actually reading.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Thank you, Lisa!
DeleteONLY indie authors are pressured into doing this. I've given books away for free, hoping that they would then continue with the next book in the series, or try one of my other books...but no. I appreciate maybe they didn't like my books, fair dinkum... but after receiving messages asking if any of my other books will be made free, sorta gave it away they liked. I think having a sale is fair, free is just going a little too far. How many peeps would give up 6 months wages?? Fair question.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. My guess is that it might work for a few authors on occasion but because of the deluge of freebies flooding the market, the chances of that happening are growing smaller.
DeleteFree books - well, you frequently get what you pay for.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, but I have read some really good ones from some fine authors that they gave away. Perhaps they feel pressure from readers or pressure from other authors that are doing it and they feel nothing else is working so they give it a try.
DeleteI may be an exception to the rule, but when I do get a free book I feel an obligation to read and review it as a thank you. Additionally, free books have turned me on to writers and series that I now love. On the flip side, my extensive library is full of bought books both ebooks and the non-virtual kind and I love every one of them. When I pay for a book I expect to be taken on a journey and I appreciate that the author respects their work enough to place a monetary value on it. I have been working on editing my own indie book, my first, and I have thought a lot about selling it versus giving it away free. The time, the effort, and the heart that has been put into writing deserves a reward especially if, eventually, I want this to be my full time career. Respecting that goal, I feel like free books set a precedence that indie work is sub-par and can only get readers by giving the work away, which is far from the truth. While anyone can be an indie writer it does not subtract from the amount of talent within this writing culture. I have read bad indie books, but no more than I have read bad books that were traditionally published, books that, I might add, are usually so much more expensive than any indie book. The big problem is that by freebies being so prevalent readers (cheap ones) come to expect free and get irritated when they have to buy. Sadly, these types of readers are so bold that many will even message writers to ask for a free read and really that is what libraries are for, I know that is harsh, but true. I personally respect and support any writer who chooses to charge for their work.
ReplyDeleteYep, me too. Thank you, Shay! I wish there was an easy solution to this. When so many are doing it, it seems to me to be self-defeating to the Indie author community as a whole.
DeleteI can understand "giveaways" as a marketing strategy, but they should be limited to a very short period i.e. a "happy hour" in connection with a promotion event on social media or something like that.
ReplyDeleteRose and I had a discussion about reasonable pricing when she got back the rights for her first two books from her former publisher and switched completely to "self publishing mode", (Disclaimer: I'm her beta reader and part of the editing, proofreading and formatting team ;) ) and I think the pricing decisions Rose made are indeed reasonable, the accountant in me - well, that's what butters my bread - still thinks the paperback to ebook price difference is a bit too large, IOW the ebooks are too cheap IMO, but that is another topic to discuss...
Since my introduction to the indie author world, my reading habits have changed. I'm now reading books recommended by friends on social media or by authors I "met" on social media that would become friends, books I otherwise wouldn't even have heard of, but what hasn't changed is the way I value a good story. If I like it I wan't to honor the author's work by paying for it, it's the least I can do because I'm a lousy reviewer...
...and then there is the accountant in me, who thinks about the things an indie author has to pay for, before their work sees the light of day (I guess not everyone is also a cover artist as an example). These costs should be in the mind when a price is calculated. The question to ask is IMO: "How many books do I have to sell to get even?" Given the fact that amazon (or whatever publishing plattform) also takes a bite from the asking price. So that alone should make "giving away for free books" a "no go" for indie authors.
I guess not everyone thinks like me about the value of a good story and the work that has been put into it, but I think that any book sold for a reasonable price is worth more than a short lived rise in amazon's rankings and I'd be happy to ignore the vulture readers who think they are entitled to get a book "for free". (my 0.02 Euro) ;)
Thanks, Hans! Glad you brought up the Amazon rankings thing. Being ranked highly in the "free" category doesn't pay the light bill.
DeleteThat's one of the points, Rose.
DeleteI think it's sad that these "sales" result in a (short lived) high ranking in a sub-sub-sub-section of amazon's rankings and only a "pocket money" for the author.
I'm being practical and a bit selfish here. If I pay a reasonable price (i.e. one that results in more than just a pocket money and actually helps paying the bills) for an indie author's book, I also "buy time" for the author to write his/her next book, so that I won't have to wait too long for the next good story to enjoy. ;)
That, I think, is something the people who want "free books" while asking for the next release, should think about...
I agree with you, Rose. I work to write my books. I will sell them. The people who want them for free would not work for free. Your books are reasonably priced, that is to say they are less than a coffee from Starbucks for which people gladly pay.
ReplyDeleteYep, exactly. I don't know if we can really blame the readers for this attitude, however. We seem to continue to encourage the expectation that as a group, Indie authors will give their books away. The only way we can change that is to stop doing it, in my opinion.
DeleteI'm with you on that, Rose, Indie authors should stop the overuse of "giveaways" as a method of promoting. The problem seems to be that Indie authors are that: "independent". It won't be easy to get them all to stop it.
DeleteBut I think readers also have to re-think their position, especially those who expect to get their books for free. Maguerite's coffee example is a good one, weekly or bi-weekly tv- and sports magazines are a closer one I think. These "throw away when read and outdated" publications have a price range here from 1 Euro for the cheapes weeklys up to 3 Euros to the priciest bi-weeklys. Weekly newsmags (that one might want to archive but I doubt that) come in in at 3 to 5 Euros, so I simply can't understand someone buying those mags, but wanting to have his/her books "for free" :(
All of it very well said...:) :) :) There is nothing more to say other than we have to stick together. Paying 99 cents for a book is like going back to 1957. This must stop.
ReplyDeleteThank you, C.G.Blade ♥
DeleteBetter promotion costs and indie authors have to pay all their own coats up front but that doesnt make a difference unless you can sell the books. Promotion and reviews sells books and also costs money to promote unless you are a well established author with a fan base. I am going through this now with my debut novel about to be published. The flooding on the market of new indie authors also reflects in price and freebies. Don't blame the authors blame the process and the market.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the upcoming release of your debut novel ♥ I would be happy to help you promote it. You can email me at RoseMontague3@gmail.com
DeleteIf I may offer a different opinion. Firstly, thank you for clarifying your position on this matter.
ReplyDeleteNow, I have seen various posts, blogs etc on your pov about Indie authors giving books away for free. I respect it. I can even see where you are coming from.
The thing that gives me pause is the (perhaps imagined) tone of bitterness. Towards readers and indie authors in general. (Apologies if this is not the intent) As an author myself I feel I need to do whatever I need to honestly get my books in the hands of readers.
No one knows the secret formula. There is no 12 step program. What works for some will not work for others. However, if an author does find putting one or all books for free is helping them achieve something personal, what business is it of mine to condemn them for it?
We all write for different reasons. Yes there are some that write for a hobby. Money isn't an issue. There are some, like me, that know the industry we are in is HARD. No matter how talented you are, you are in a sea with millions of books passing the attention of customers every second through social media. Yours has to stand out from the pack. How? Buggered if I know. If I did I'd beva very rich author.
As it stands, I write because it's the only thing I've wanted to do. Yes, one day I would love to say i earn enough to support my family but I am also realistic. A writing career is not a sprint. There are no guarantees. If the sole reason you have for writing is expecting to make money at some stage, at any point, you may be in for a harsh time.
Please don't think I'm telling you to give up. I'm saying to remember why you write in the first place. Your love of the written word.
Don't think about your readers as freeloaders or dollar signs. They're people. With bills. Family problems. Just like you and me. Talk to them. Engage with them. Don't let your books come into the conversation.
People feel much more inclined to move forward when lead, not pushed.
I'm certainly no expert. But I can tell you I walked past a coffee place and tried a free hot chocolate on their opening day/week. I go there four times a week now.
Give it time. Set yourself a yard stick. Don't want to give your books away? Don't. Simple. You stick to that. Good for you.
But please dont look around for others to blame because you are not where you're at. There are readers out there who buy books like they are going out of fashion. You just have to find them. But don't forget, sometimes they buy because of YOU. Not a blurb or cover or recommendations.
You are a writer. Whatever you want to do is good, and enough. Focus on you ��
I sell plenty of books (look at my looking back and plunging forward post). I do that without giving them away. Right now I'm more concerned with the Indie Author Community as a whole rather than just me. But that's just me.
DeleteI'm truly glad for your success Rose. But I dont require proof. Again, you should be commended for your stance and the fact you stick to your guns.
DeleteMy point has been I hope your true message is being relayed.
Mr. Speer,
ReplyDeleteYou were talking about a free sample, correct? Not a full sized product. Amazon already allows you to download a sample before purchasing , with their hand dandy "download sample" button. It'a on every single Kindle book, regardless of price (including free ones). That's not the same thing as a free book. Plenty of of these authors offer samples of their work in their blog posts, and over social media, where they do indeed interact with readers.
Jennifer, no I was talking about an actual, full sized product.
DeleteBut Jennifer, just to continue. Just because free samples are offered, just because authors interact with readers etc still doesn't guarantee sales. I wasn't trying to promote that idea.
DeleteI'm still trying to find this "tone of bitterness" in my post. I am "concerned" because I think it is a real problem. I believe the free book craze is killing our industry. The event we are hosting is designed to find those readers that are willing to pay for our books.
ReplyDeleteRose the tone of bitterness isnt necessarily from one author, (as I said, may not be intended) but is the reason there have been a few authors pulling out from the event. Clearly not too many, as it looks like it will be a raging success. And you should be congratulated for that.
ReplyDeleteIt is also the reason I have seen some posts from readers that have seen or heard about the event and refuse to go. Because of this perceived angry/bitter/finger pointing theme. So much so they have taken a look at the author's and vowed to never read them.
This is the last thing that should happen. You have every right to showcase your event and pov in any way you choose. Some readers however feel they are being lumped into one group as cheapskates and free loaders when they do so much for the community.
There are some that will only seek free books. Sure. But those are the ones that will never get your books. That's fine. They'll get others.
So these readers are not going to buy my books because I don't give them away? I have no problem with that. My books are reasonably priced and I have no intention of giving them away. My Books are Not Free.
DeleteRose. That reply right there. Screams "defensive". "Bitter".
DeleteWhere did I ever say the readers I mentioned above only sought free books?
These are people that have done extraordinary things for our community and buy books. Indies and traditional. But Indies have a special place in their hearts.
Yet here again it seems you are lumping ALL readers in the same group. That ALL of them have this cheap and free mentality that is degrading the very industry we are in. That it is ALL readers that have to change their thinking.
It has nothing to do with giving books away it is the ATTITUDE you're portraying.
No. I just want to sell books. If readers don't want to read my books because I don't give them away, that's fine. I think the plethora of free books hurts every Indie author and is killing our industry. I think readers understand this as well. Thanks for your opinion.
DeleteMissing the point completely Rose. But ah well.
DeleteGood luck with your event, and your career :-)
The point is that the free book craze is killing us. Either you believe that or you don't. I would say from your comments that you don't. No worries, I'm going to continue to do what I can to change this free book mindset.
DeleteWhat I don't believe is you can change the free book mindset by acting this way.
DeleteBut, that's just me.
There are readers that feel you are alienating and grouping. Only a few that I have seen. But there are more that are talking amongst themselves. I don't say this to intimidate. Merely an observation.
Readers are everything to us. All I ask is to please consider how you're wording your argument and point of view.
I'm not intimidated at all. It is a cause I believe in. If you don't like the way I have "worded my argument", so be it.
DeleteI'm a booklover. You don't write in my preferred genre so I'm not your target audience so perhaps my opinion doesn't matter to you. I'm in the mood to give it anyway. I take huge exception to the implication that the indie community is made up of a bunch of readers that demand freebies and 99 cent books. I take exception to the implication that taking advantage of a freebie or 99cent book makes you a freeloading vulture. It's how I found my top indie authors. Authors I now one click (even when they've already given me a free copy) and work my ass off to promote. I also promote authors I will probably never read to give others the same chance to run across a new favorite the way I did. And I see reader, after reader, after reader doing the same thing and so I take huge exception to the way the rhetoric of this "movement" has developed. I also take exception on behalf of the authors that choose to use this marketing strategy. It's their right to try and use whatever works for them just like it's your right to not price your books as free or 99 cent. I've never demanded otherwise from anyone in words or attitude. And I don't believe readers in the community as a whole have done so and to be accused of it is an insult.
DeleteSo, I would ask a question. You don't price your books at free or 99 cents and yet they still sell. And there are many authors that sell and sell huge numbers at regular prices. How does this work into your premise that free books are the problem? That free books are the reason why some authors don't sell or don't sell what they think they should? How did this all land at the idea that we the readers expect authors to give up their hard work for free all the time? Did you look for or think about any other possible reasons before you decided this was the problem? Do you have hard evidence to give to us the readers that this is the attitude we have and that it is harming the indie community? Or are we an easy scapegoat?
Did you even read my post? I said "I understand and respect an author's decision to give their book away. They do this in the hope that readers will like the book enough to buy the next one they have written or they are hoping for more reviews. Sometimes it even works. I have read a free book and then bought the next one and sometimes I have left a glowing review on the free read. I have done that a few times so I can see the potential reward for doing so.
DeleteThe problem is that when just about every Indie author is doing it, it lessens the chances of actually selling books because there are so many freebies out there. It devalues our work, in my opinion. I would actually like to get to the point where I can afford to write full time. In order to do that, I need to sell some books rather than give them away."
So by your logic I'm calling myself a freeloading vulture? Readers aren't pricing the books for free. Authors are. I know a lot of readers that are happy to pay a reasonable price for books. Throw enough free books out there and they probably won't have to. When I get questions and comments like I mentioned in my article (did you bother to read it?), it tells me that some readers have come to expect free. Because we throw so many out there and most Indie authors are doing it. I believe there is a problem that is hurting our industry as a whole and that is the over abundance of free reads. If you don't see it as a problem, then we don't agree. Thanks for your opinion.
I did read it and then I read comment after comment at the event and other blog post that consistently start to pick up this freeloading reader theme and point the finger at readers. This is why I referred to the rhetoric of the movement and not your article. So my questions stand. There is a hierarchy in readers. There will always be readers that refuse to pay for books at or above a certain price point. It exists in the traditional world. They go to libraries or thrift stores and yard sales. So, of course they exist in Indie World. They haven't destroyed the traditional world and you are right, I don't think it will destroy the Indie World. You will have to give me hard evidence to convince me otherwise.
ReplyDeleteOver the holidays I ran a 12 Days of Christmas book buying binge, where I bought 12 books from Indie authors at regular pricing. As a reader, I could have downloaded 12 free reads because I see them every day in my emails and on Twitter and Facebook, I chose to show my support by paying for their books so they would receive a small royalty for their hard work. There are many readers going to our event that will show their support by buying our books and they don't need free stuff as an incentive to do so.
ReplyDeleteI am in no way adverse to paying for books. I routinely pay for extra copies of books I have been given for free and I turn down offers of free books. I support the careers of my authors. And I was one of the readers that planned to attend your event. I rsvp'd, I shared the event, and I invited people. I thought it was a refreshing idea. An event to meet authors and learn about their work without the distractions of games. And then I began to feel increasingly insulted by the notion that began to appear that the majority of the indie community readers are freeloaders. Maybe that's not the notion you intended to be spread throughout the movement but it is IMO happening nonetheless. I wont apologize if I sometimes will only take a chance on a new author if it's a free book or 99 cents. I have been burned in the past by books that had a good synopsis and sample but the rest of the book fell apart. I don't return books if I've opened them, not print books and not ebooks. I take it as a learning experience. And the majority of indie authors are not available to try out at the local library even in digital format. So, I'm careful. My time and money are just as important as any author putting their work on the market. So, I am saying when you have readers that don't just routinely buy books but also on a daily and sometimes hourly basis promote indie authors and even they start to feel insulted by the rhetoric coming out of your movement, you should pay attention to that feeling instead of consistently ignoring it.
DeleteI appreciate your support of the Indie Author Community. For the vast majority of authors attending my event, they also appreciate readers that support them. If some have had bad experiences with readers only interested in free, it is what it is. I have allowed you to have your opinion heard and they are entitled to their opinions as well.
DeleteI was part of a huge giveaway about a year ago. It was a rafflecopter designed to get more followers on Twitter and other social media platforms. I must have gotten over 200 new followers on Twitter. When I looked at the tweets of these new followers I saw that for the most part, all they tweeted were giveaways and events with prizes. A lot of the names were familiar from events I had attended. There is a group of people that do this and that is about all they do. It's sad but true. They spoil things for readers that are actually supporters of the Indie community. I doubt they ever buy anything. I will not be taking part in such an event again.
ReplyDelete