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The Price of Free

Free samples attract customers.  Amazon offers way for authors to give away copies of their books, and although it is counterintuitive, it is, I’m told, a great way to gain attention.  If I ever get published, I hope to try it out.

Meanwhile, authors sometimes send me their books to mention on my blog.  That’s a nice freebie.  I love books and I’ll read just about anything.  But there’s a price to this free material.

You have to write a review.  I can say this with the protection of a pseudonym: I’ve been disappointed in just about every free book I’ve been sent.  It’s usually pretty obvious why they’re being given away.  And yet, the author has given it to me.  Don’t I owe a positive review in return?

I am a softie.  I don’t like to hurt the feelings of others.  It probably comes from growing up in an emotionally abusive situation.  I want to say something nice.  Sometimes it’s very difficult.

Especially with self-published authors.  Some make every mistake in the book—literally and figuratively.  Things that I’m careful to avoid in my writing come to me in published form; someone is making money off this, and it’s not good.  What positive things can I say?

Amazon reviews, Goodreads reviews, blog reviews.  I have to compliment that which I found trying to read and that cheapens the efforts of those who agonize over every word.  That’s the price of free.

Some self-published books look pretty slick.  Nice covers and professional-looking layout.  Whitewashing graves, as one literate critic once said.

Still, I’ve never turned down a free book.  As I’ve written before, there’s a value in reading bad literature.  To improve, of course, it is best to read those who manage better than you—writers you admire.  In just like any sport, the best way to improve is to play someone better.


Of course, with publishing the way it is these days, getting a chance to show what you can do is passing remote.  Some things you can’t even give away.


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