If it is Free then...

Why give it away for Free?

If you give something for free then why would someone want to pay for that same item at another time?

So I have been have a little think about 'Free' and how so many people offer their services for free or give things away for free. In some instances, take work/career for example, you can demonstrate your skills and an employer will then hopefully invest in you and take you on. The thing is this is never guaranteed. Also a person's time has value. So why should a person work for free initially? I have watched 'work experience' people get the shock of their working life when they came and tried out at my company. I won't go into details but it is a high-paced working environment and for those who have had a relaxing time 'swanning around on the lilo of life' it certainly is a week-intensive shock to the system.

In terms of 'free samples', you don't know about a product and you might want to test it before you buy. There are many drinks and confectionary companies who have employed this technique to generate custom and in many cases it works. Yet I have been looking at the concept of 'free books' and how so many authors are now offering their books for free just so that they are read. One author released a free book in hope that her other ten books may appeal to the audience. The thing is once something is free then why would people want to pay for it?

 

I will admit that in the past I have done a 'free book promo' on my kindle books. It was quite amazing how many opportunists were ready and waiting for the 'free stuff' to turn up. I was astounded how quickly the books were downloaded and how few people rated the work. I wondered whether the 'freebie hunters' simply had a library of free literary works that they never actually read.

So back to the concept of free. How do you feel about getting something for nothing? I generally feel quite smug. Yet how much do I want to give something for nothing - honestly - I resent it. I don't want to give my valuable time for no return in business so why should I do that with my books? I spend literally hours writing them, I do huge amounts of research - so after all of that - I give it away to someone who probably does not appreciate it... Hmmm. The thing is the more people get used to getting things for free then the more they expect more free things. What's more, free books are de-valuing those that are fully priced. So what can we do about this?

With all the above in mind, I was researching the average author earnings the other day and that was started the issue with 'free'... You see most indie authors are lucky if they earn $500 / £350 per year from book sales - I know - I was shocked. Of all the authors, both indie and professional, only 10% made over $100K or £60K and 2.5% make over $250K £150K per year. The average professional author earns ... and wait for this - it is horrifying $3000 - $5000 dollars (Digital Book World Survey). So this then begs the question if the earnings are so low then why bother? Also why give that hard earned creation away for free? For me I write because it relaxes me, I love writing and I often write about what I want to learn about. So there is a sense of growth through creation for me. I love to craft words and find a great deal of pleasure laughing at my own jokes on screen. I know... A bit strange. Still I love it.

So I go through a period of literary growth and then I share. I write so that I can reach people, share knowledge and hopefully inspire others. I have a career so I am not reliant on writing. Yet there are so many chasing a dream of becoming the next J.K Rowling or Amanda Hocking. The thing is there are so many authors out there now who are not writing at a professional level and the quality is diminishing... Is bad quality justification enough for something to be given away for free? Obviously this is a complex discussion. How do people find out about books unless they have samples? How do they find out about authors unless they can test the work?

Final question: if everyone gives everything away for free then how does a new way of exchange begin? What do you think about Free? What do you give away for free? What do you think about Free books? If you were really talented at something or are talented at something then are you willing to give it away for free?

RUBY ALLURE - A COUPLE OF VERY POPULAR BOOKS:)

AUDIBLE LINK FOR A SHORT COURSE IN CREATIVE WRITING: http://amzn.com/B01390THLK

21/08/15

 

"An Unexpected Gem"

***I was provided a copy of this audio book for the purpose of a review ***

With the required disclaimer out of the way, let me be brutally honest, I had not expected this little gem. In fact, I had expected my listening would be a bit rough and was fortified by it being less than 2 hours.

The synopsis says the author wrote the book as a takeaway from her evening classes on creative writing. My mental context was ... Community Ed evening classes ...and expected a well intended but kind of amateur product. However, I am interested in adult education, and batter my own nerd head against a giant personal creativity brick wall.

So you have an idea of my mind set... low expectations along with high interest.

Amateur hour it was NOT.

I don't know where the author teaches her class, but Sign Me Up! And bring the narrator. Wow. Two hours of unadulterated, straight up, right on, good learning material delivered by a close friend just sharing the material. The narrator's voice was warm, sincere without any artifact or pompous patronising, and well modulated throughout. The material was mind opening for me, with the right mix of the mechanics of writing exercises, sufficient context that using prompts now makes sense to me, and a sprinkling of the inner heart work of creativity through written material.

This was just what I didn't dare hope for in a how to creative writing listen.

Truly an unexpected gem and a learning and growing experience for me.

A keeper and one I will return to many times as I deconstruct my own wall, one block at a time.

Thank You, Ruby and Thank You, Erin.

 

TO BUY MONEY FARM ON AMAZON.com http://amzn.com/B010F04W9O

· Frode

06/08/15

5 STAR

"M.O.N.E.Y. is bad? This book is not!"

So Money Farm by Ruby Allure was a surprise! When I REALLY did not read things about this book I review for Audiobook Blast, I sometimes get books I don't know something about. BTW: I read 99% about the books I want to review, but this book I can't remember I did that for. Anyways: This was a nice surprise, and I think it is one of those books that is better the second time you read it. No joke! I listen to this twice before I made this! Money Farm makes you thin, and who does not like to hear a book that makes you think? It is an awesome book, that I will recommend to all that likes audiobooks, and really to people that does not!

Helen Lloyd English accent its the topic like a glow and a hand! Her "lady like" voice is so cold, and clear I feel that the author made this book thinking that Helen Lloyd would read it out loud! That is how I feel those two fits together! The 2 times 14 hrs and 6 mins I spend with her never feels boring or uninteresting! I would love to spend it again, and I will because this book I will hear again, and again, even when it is 14 hrs and 6 mins long! That is saying something!

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com

MONEY FARM

· "Incredibly thought provoking..."

What did you like most about Money Farm?

It was an eye opener.

 

What did you like best about this story?

I like the way it made you think about the way normal everyday life is here and now, and the future...

 

Have you listened to any of Helen Lloyd’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Helen Lloyd narrated this fairly long audiobook brilliantly. Although the story content was very intense and thought provoking, her lovely smooth voice was very easy to listen to and I thought it was just perfect, a fascinating book wonderfully narrated.

 

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes it was, although it is too long to do so.

Writing and self-promotion.

Self -promotion in writing is one of the biggest challenges for many authors.
Why?
Well it is a case of having to blow your own literary trumpet to a bunch of strangers - commonly known as the audience. Of course there are fans, but the original issue is how do you get the audience to engage, become fans and then buy?

Well for those Indie writers amongst us, Amazon KDP offers self-promotion tools. You can place your books on offer for a limited period or offer a time-limited free download. When I first started out I completely disagreed with the concept of free - especially when I spent years writing books. Why would I do all that writing and give away my book for free? Isn't that just a bunch of 'cheapos' wanting something for free? Well yes it is - however, that free book might be the trigger to turn that 'Cheapo' into a fan. That new 'fan' may well tell other people about your books. Or they may well go back and buy all your books. Or they do nothing. If they do nothing you have not lost anything. The point is that you are making people aware of your existence.

If you have read any of my other posts, you will know that I teach creative writing to evening classes. In these classes the biggest resistance arrives at the end of the course when we talk about editing and then promotion. Most writers want people to do the promotion for them. Yes that is great; however, why pay people to do what you can do for free. If you are a writer then you can write great pieces of promotion material. Isn't that the challenge? Finding ways to engage the audience and get your book / books out there. What most people don't know is that everyone has to deal with the feelings of 'not good enough'. Everyone also has to feel fear. That fear will always be there even when you do what you fear. Common mental churns turn up - what happens if the work does not sell? What happens if it does sell? What happens if I am catapulted into absolute stardom? This type of thinking does not serve a purpose - it is illusions. Nothing ever turns out the way you think it will anyway. Whatever happens you will deal with it. You CAN deal with it. It will provide lessons. Also fear is a good thing. It will never go away but it reveals that you are in touch with your comfort zone. So find where that zone finishes and leap into the unknown - release your book and then hype it. Why not? What is the worse that can happen? You won't sell any or you will sell loads. Who cares? This is all part of the fun of the experience. So suck it up princesses and self-promote. If you don't then who will know you exist? GO FOR IT!!!! YEY!!! 

In order to demonstrate what I am saying and show you how it works: this one is on promotion until Feb 4th and it is Free - yes Free!!!

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00928727A