A wonderful "YA" novel is available for free.I put "YA" in quotations because the book is great for all readers, it just happens to be marketed within this category. The author, Cory Doctorow, believes in the free flow of information for all. If you like the book, then by all means, buy a hard copy of it. Pass it along to your friends. Doctorow mentions how Neil Gaiman stated that he was all for free use and passing along books to friends. The idea is that authors can get their work read easily through the free exchange of words. In other words, if its readily available, it might just get read. How does one discover a new author? Not by going out and buying their books. Something has to make them want to buy it in the first place. More often than not, someone is loaned a book or picks up one at the library and finds a great read. As such, they are inclined to purchase the wonderful author's other books. Even the best marketed writers must grab an audience. It isn't easy in the competitive literary marketplace to find a reader. There are millions of titles full of millions of stories looking for you, the reader. When a book isn't sitting in the front display then it is more difficult to capture someone's attention. Offering your writing for free is a way of telling others that you are a good writer, go ahead, take a look. It is a win-win situation for both parties. The author gets noticed, and hopefully liked and the reader gets a free book. For one who loves to read and write I can definitely empathize with the need to connect people to great reads. Kudos to Gaiman and Doctorow who understand how it really works, at least in an ideal world.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Book lovers love free books
A wonderful "YA" novel is available for free.I put "YA" in quotations because the book is great for all readers, it just happens to be marketed within this category. The author, Cory Doctorow, believes in the free flow of information for all. If you like the book, then by all means, buy a hard copy of it. Pass it along to your friends. Doctorow mentions how Neil Gaiman stated that he was all for free use and passing along books to friends. The idea is that authors can get their work read easily through the free exchange of words. In other words, if its readily available, it might just get read. How does one discover a new author? Not by going out and buying their books. Something has to make them want to buy it in the first place. More often than not, someone is loaned a book or picks up one at the library and finds a great read. As such, they are inclined to purchase the wonderful author's other books. Even the best marketed writers must grab an audience. It isn't easy in the competitive literary marketplace to find a reader. There are millions of titles full of millions of stories looking for you, the reader. When a book isn't sitting in the front display then it is more difficult to capture someone's attention. Offering your writing for free is a way of telling others that you are a good writer, go ahead, take a look. It is a win-win situation for both parties. The author gets noticed, and hopefully liked and the reader gets a free book. For one who loves to read and write I can definitely empathize with the need to connect people to great reads. Kudos to Gaiman and Doctorow who understand how it really works, at least in an ideal world.
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4 comments:
Thanks for the link! I love free books.
I agree. A free book has a great chance of getting read. I've discovered some of my favorite authors that way.
The average writer can't pay their bills if they don't sell books. I can see the point in giving them away, I just don't see how the little guy can do it.
The little guy will stay little if he can't get people to read his work.
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