Quote:
Originally Posted by David Marseilles
No one "needs" anything free. Giveaway books are more about what authors and publishers need. If I want to capture readers without or with limited publisher support and funds, free materials are my advertising budget. If I want someone to choose to read my stuff, and I can't prove to them I provide a reliably good experience, they need some other form of persuasion -- in this case, even if I can't deliver, it won't cost you a dime; but if I do, then you've got a new reliable author to go to.
As to what it takes to finally hook a new reader, I'd note that fiction is a big investment, not in terms of dollars, but if I'm going to sit down and read an author I want to know it's going to be worth it. If a friend/reviewer/etc with like interests gives me the go ahead, I know it's worth it. If I've read the author before, ditto. Sometimes a great story hook sucks me in, sometimes  even a cover gets my attention. But if it's someone completely unknown, I'm going to be reticent. Sure, sometimes I'm in an experimental mood, but most of the time I just want a reliable experience because my time budget can be tighter than even my wallet, and I don't want to waste what rec time I've got. Even when I'm looking for new books, I'm frequently looking at people I've heard of.
Reading half of a novel probably does tell me if the writer can string sentences together, capture my attention, and maybe even create characters I want to read more of. It doesn't tell me if they can finish well or what the over payoff will be. If I've got an unknown, especially an indie (I hope to be one myself one day, no disparagement intended), and I'm going to invest hours that I might otherwise put into something else into their book AND pay for it, half a novel might not sway me. For example, I probably would not have bought On Baslisk Station (Honor Harrington series) from 5-10 minutes flipping through it at a book store. Honestly, I might never have even noticed it. But Baen Free Library gives away the first book in several series for free. Odds are very good now I'll buy the entire series over a couple years. |
Even though as a reader I only need a 10% sample to buy or not, I probably would have experimented with this as an author - if not for the Amazon agreement. I'd hate to get thrown off Amazon, especially when royalties will go up to 70% in June!