Writers Who Give Away Swag
By RK Finnell
@irishidid (8687)
United States
February 9, 2016 8:15am CST
On Facebook I have a number of authors in my friends and I constantly see them have contests where they give away their books and other items to get people interested in their work. I've even seen them give away high ticket items such as Kindles.
For indie writers such as myself we pay for editing and cover design/art out of our own pockets. There is no publisher writing the checks that pays for them.
People have come to expect a freebie when it comes to books and believe the writer should be grateful that someone is reading their books.
I personally will not give away my books. I've been down that road before. Gave away quite a few and got not one single review. It wasn't worth my time or effort and it does not help sales.
9 people like this
8 responses
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I know. I just think in most cases it is a fruitless effort.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
9 Feb 16
Exactly and there is more to writing a book than just sitting down at a computer and typing. A lot of research, time and effort.
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
9 Feb 16
And really if you have to give away things to get people to read, is that really what you want. I think you are doing it the right way. Let your work stand on it's own.
2 people like this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I won't give them away and I will not take free books. When another author has a promotion with free books I wait until I can buy them. I will not take a free book.
1 person likes this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
10 Feb 16
I gave a free reading offer for three days when I released my book online. The encouragement was over whelming! Though book sale is not my main source of income, I like people telling me parts from my own book. It makes me feel accomplished though in reality what I write are very simple uncomplicated books.
1 person likes this
@vickyblogs (341)
• India
9 Feb 16
Though eveyone doesn't read the free books it definetly helps to promote our books. Especially, those who write a book first time should give some copies freely.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
9 Feb 16
Stephen King didn't give away copies of his first novel nor did Stephenie Meyers. If an indie author wants to be treated seriously then they need to take the business of writing seriously.
1 person likes this
