Herewith the oft-quoted and possibly apocryphal Picasso anecdote:
Picasso is sketching at a park. A woman walks by, recognizes him, and begs for her portrait. A few minutes later, he hands her the sketch. She is elated, excited about how wonderfully it captures the very essence of her character, what beautiful work it is, and asks how much she owes him. “5000 francs, madam,” says Picasso. The woman is outraged as it only took him five minutes. Picasso says: “No, madam, it took me my whole life.”
As an author, I’m anti-frees. I spent years honing each of my books, not to mention the years of craft and education it took me to get to publication stage. You want all that – gratis?
Book Snake by Alan Levine (Creative Commons)
Before I even pressed the publish button, I promised my novels two things: Never free, never exclusive. If I don’t value my work, why would anyone else? And I feel the same way as Dorothy Parker regarding eggs.
Things have changed. According to better-informed observers, the ‘free’ phenomenon no longer works in terms of connecting books to readers. It had its moment, filling up e-reading devices with the unread, unreviewed and undervalued. That strategy of luring the reader into your series proved to be largely a myth as many never bothered to read the first one. Some who downloaded and read freebies left poor reviews, reflecting how little worth a free book holds.
Pulp fiction.
But I want to address this issue as a reader, not a writer.
I just had a cleansing cull of my Twitter feed, deleting all those who post largely FREE!!!! announcements and constant book promotion.
Because…
I do not want your new free book.
I will not read, I will not look.
If I dig down the back of the sofa and root about in the corners of my handbag, I can probably come up with three quid. An e-book costs me less than a birthday card and contains a lot more words. It holds the possibility of an enjoyable experience. Just that, a possibility.
But you’re not asking for my money. You want something far, far more valuable.
You want my time.
Reading is my sanctuary and my education. It’s my reward at the end of a difficult day. Those precious hours I spend with my paperbacks or e-reader are anything but throwaway.
I listen to friends, read reviews, hoard recommendations and if an author seems interesting, I buy their books. This is a big leap for me. Parting with three gilded coins is one thing, but six to ten hours of my attention is a much greater investment.
Discounted! Free! Limited time only! I couldn’t care less.
For a great premise, intriguing blurb and appealing cover, I’ll have a look. I’ll try a few pages. Plus if the author’s personality is something more interesting than Self-Promo Klaxon, I’ll pay full price, read and review.
Today, I bought some pumpkin-seed bread. It costs more than the bog-standard loaf, but I know I will enjoy it. The cashier threw a honey rice-cracker into my carrier bag as a little extra. I thanked him, took it home, crumbled it up and put it on the bird-table.
After all, it was free.
jjmarsh 
February 6, 2015 at 00:45
What about 99 cents, i.e. almost free? That’s not a facetious question I’d really like to know what you think.
February 6, 2015 at 11:19
Bookshelfbattle, I think it’s a matter of personal preference. 0.99 doesn’t act as a lure for me. I’d rather pay a decent price for something which appeals and looks good quality. And I’ve shown respect for the author’s work.
February 6, 2015 at 04:19
Amen, Sister.
February 6, 2015 at 09:19
Oh, well said! Now that I blog reviews, I get most of my reading via the publishers at no financial cost. But I still choose carefully, my time is a lot more valuable.
February 6, 2015 at 12:37
It is good to find more and more people supporting this notion and upholding the value of books. Thank you for this post.
February 6, 2015 at 13:11
Great post! Puts free firmly in its place.
February 6, 2015 at 13:16
Love this. Love it. Especially: ‘you’re not asking for my money, you’re asking for my time’. And to contribute to my memories, experiences, govern my heartbeats, join my inner life. I’m careful what I put there.
Well said, Jill.
February 6, 2015 at 14:07
Roz, you are one of the better-informed commentators I mention. So thank you.
February 6, 2015 at 13:18
I agree entirely. When I first got my Kindle four years ago, I got a variety of free books. The only ones I have read are the out-of-copyright classics. The books I pay for go to the top of my reading pile.
February 6, 2015 at 13:28
Bravo. It will not make you popular except among those of us who feel the same. If more joined this chorus, everyone would gain long term.
February 6, 2015 at 14:03
Thank you, JJ, for standing up for quality and value.
February 6, 2015 at 14:10
I disagree about free, as you know, but this piece is spot on about time. Time is what we as readers just don’t have. Like most people, I already have so many books I am desperate to read that I will not live long enough to finish them. If you, as an author, want me to add one of those books to the “I will never read” pile and give my time instead to yours, then you’re going to have to do the literary equivalent of staging a full ring-cycle in my sense-palette to make me even consider it. I want something more than “its free” as an incentive. I want “it will change the way you see the world forever” – at the very least, or forget it. It’s great to see a piece that reminds writers just how much we need to commit to potential readers.
February 6, 2015 at 14:17
Yes, good point, Dan.
If an author thinks “It’s free!” is the only reason people would download a book, that is a serious underestimation of readers.
February 6, 2015 at 14:41
Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!!! Music to my ears, Jill.
As I wrote on Roz’s recent blog post about this, all my years in business scream at me about not de-valuing your work by discounting or giving away for nothing, whether it’s a product or the hours you charge for work. It’s bad enough when a trad publisher puts an RRP price on the cover and then Amazon flogs it at half the price (that was my big “Welcome to the grown-up world of publishing” moment). If I’m an indie in charge of my pricing, darn right I’m sticking to my guns about what it’s worth – and I don’t want the customers who won’t pay my price.
February 6, 2015 at 16:10
Great post! And blog! I didn’t know it. There’s something so valuable in time that makes me question everything free. I’ve always believed that good things are costly. Therefore the investment (of money and time) I make must have a high reward. Yes, sometimes the expensive (or not free, let’s say) is not satisfactory but even paying for it makes me think: well, I paid for it, let’s give it a chance. Also, before buying, I research. I don’t get the same with free books, or free anything. Why is it free? If you’re good, don’t do it for free.
February 6, 2015 at 16:24
Very well said, Bernardo and thanks for such an honest comment. I’m really pleased to hear so many creatives in agreement. I was expecting a backlash of outrage.
February 6, 2015 at 22:26
Thanks! I must not generalize, however, because some free books have been great. I can think of Seth Godin’s the Idea Virus and others. Still, my free-book, experience has been bitter.
February 6, 2015 at 16:58
I came into the world of self-publishing in 2013 and soon discovered (sometimes the hard way) that I had missed the boat on most of the marketing how-to make-it-big advice out there. I’m still stunned when I read posts where people describe the amazing result of their latest free offer – let’s just say I’ve learned to take a lot of this stuff with a grain of salt. Like many in the self-publishing world, I’ve struggled with the idea of free and exclusive. I’ve dipped a toe in both and had not much to show for either. I’ve embraced the great words of wisdom I received from author Linda Gillard – the only way to win a readership is one reader at a time, take the long view and write more books. It isn’t glitzy, pie-in-the-sky, get-rich-quick advice but I’m convinced this type of approach is the only one that will work in the long haul.
February 6, 2015 at 18:19
Hello Francis!
Yes, Linda is an inspiring author, in her approach as well as her work.
I agree with you. I’m a tortoise, plodding along doing what I consider to be the right thing.
That means the content, the way I market, my interaction with readers, etc
Like you, I’m in it for the long haul. Thanks for commenting.
February 6, 2015 at 18:15
[…] had the great pleasure to read J.J. Marsh’s recent blog post this morning – I do not want your new free book. I urge all writers and readers alike to pop over to J.J’s blog and check out her thoughts […]
February 6, 2015 at 18:30
Reblogged this on Quite Contrary and commented:
Yes indeed
February 6, 2015 at 18:37
I write novellas and do have the first one at 99c but am thrilled by your blog. I don’t think it will stop the flood of dire free books but it might reduce the number of writers who feel pressured to not only give their books away but, in some cases, pay for the privilege. I hope some of the serious writers out there who wangle permanent free books as a marketing ploy take your comments on board. Free is worthless.
February 6, 2015 at 18:54
Paying for the privilege…!?! I can see some logic in offering the first in a series at a reduced price.
And I think novellas have a strong appeal in the age of commutes and short attention spans. Wishing you success!
February 6, 2015 at 20:19
well, as a self published tiny fish in a giant pond with about $5 / quarter to spend on advertising and promotions and no big publisher or agent looking out for my interests, I’ll admit I have used the “perma free” angle for the first book in a series that has worked to get me a LOT more readers not only of that series but of my other books. So I’m not against it. I tried an experiment in the past weeks: I downloaded 2 FREE BOOKS from every one of those emails I get. I ended up with 14 free books. I finished exactly 2 of them. So it’s certainly one thing a lot of not so great authors (to me) use. But as a marketing “person” kind of before being an author, I will attest that it has worked for me to at least get on the radar of new readers. I don’t know if I will have to/need to use it again but I would not change the strategy that I used. Which is in no way a criticism of anyone who refuses to read a free book on principle. The 2 I liked I REALLY REALLY liked (see: $5/ quarter to spend). The other 12 I was grateful I didn’t pay for. Thank you for your perspective.
February 6, 2015 at 20:28
Thanks Liz, and you’re right, this is a very personal perspective. I’m not disillusioned with freebies because I’ve never done them. Many authors swear by the gimmick and I’m pleased it works for those people. I guess the one thing you’ve mentioned that we’ve so far skirted is the quality. I can’t comment, as I don’t download free books. But I do find it interesting that in 14, you found two diamonds. Pretty good odds for a prospector. I just can’t find the time to do that much digging, when my TBR backlog is so vast.
February 6, 2015 at 21:39
I agree with you 100%, Jill. I don’t download any free books unless it’s one that’s been recommended – I am simply not interested and neither any are of my book loving friends who aren’t writers. Rightly or wrongly, people value things by their cost and if you place no value on your work no one else will value it either. The whole “free” thing is all part of Amazon’s marketing strategy done at the expense of authors most of whom have been completely sucked into it by their desperation to be discovered. No other retailers operate in this manner with this type of product and I’ve spent almost all my working life in retail observing how it works from numerous perspectives. There is a place for time-limited “sales” of course but I would like to see more book marketing sites increasing the choice of price points. I recently signed up one of books for a 99c promotion (through gritted teeth) simply through lack of choice because there are so few options and, as a debut novelist, trying to get a foot in the door is incredibly difficult. I will never give my book away for free though – I’ve being entertaining people for years “free” on my blog and elsewhere on the net and when I published my novel I drew a line in the sand.
February 7, 2015 at 00:06
I am so pleased to read this thread. It has answered a nagging question I have been turning over in my mind. I too have been entertaining – even educating – people for free on my blog but my book took so much hard work and I am still hard at work on more manuscripts. Why should I give it away? When I first self published I noticed this was happening on Twitter and read pieces which said this is a good marketing ploy. Surely the best marketing is a good professional product and word of mouth. I’d prefer the belief that reviews drive sales and I am happy to give a free book to a publication or person who is going to write one of those. But otherwise I am staying out of this freebie game. Thanks all.
February 7, 2015 at 17:20
IN an ideal world, the best marketing ploy would be a professional product and word of mouth, but, alas, this isn’t an ideal world. Free or half price doesn’t mean that you don’t value your work, it just means that you’re giving people a chance to try you out for nothing. Example of this: I discovered one of my favourite authors, John Boyne, because I happened upon one of his books in the library (ie, free). I probably wouldn’t have bought it in a shop. I loved it, though, and bought all his others. I offer my books at half price on Kindle Countdown periodically because KC reaches an area of the market that might not normally see them, ie, the people who buy directly from the Kindle; apparently, KC is very visible in Kindle browses. Speaking as one who buys and reads a lot of Kindle books, I see many, many that interest me; if a tweet brings to my notice the fact that one of them is free or half price for a couple of days, I’ll think, ‘oh, might as well get it now, then.’
I do understand what you’re saying re quality. I have reviews that say ‘I wasn’t expecting much as this was free, but I was proved wrong’. I don’t do FREE very often; I have 3 books that have never been free and never will be, and I went one and a half years without doing a free promotion at all, but then thought I’d try the short stories again, with good results (nice reviews and more readers). I think you undermine yourself by constantly putting things on sale; for a start, it looks as though you can’t sell them at full price. I’m in it for the long haul, too, which is why I bring out two books a year and am constantly looking at ways to find new readers – yes, it often is one at a time.
I suppose it depends if you want people to read your books or not. I’d rather five people read them for nothing than one for £2.50. It’s an endless debate, this one!
February 7, 2015 at 17:34
Thanks for your comment, Terry. Someone on another thread said yesterday that the FREE strategy depends very much on your attitude to writing. If you see yourself as an artist, you resent giving your work away. If you see it as a business, you see it as another weapon in your marketing arsenal. A very good point. And although it makes me feel almost fossilised, I am definitely the former.
From the reader perspective, you also make a good call. If it’s something you’re curious about and can grab as a bargain, why not?
Yes, I’ve borrowed from libraries and bought second-hand books, so won’t attempt to claim any moral high ground, but the sheer glut of books promoted solely on the strength of ‘it costs you nothing’ feels overwhelming and fundamentally false.
February 7, 2015 at 23:46
Wonderful, well thought out and really challenging, as Roz mentioned above the time issue is what caught my eye. This making me rethink a few things, and not just regarding books, I have been giving away a lit of music that I have written and shared, perhaps it time to change that. Thanks for this.
February 8, 2015 at 18:12
Thanks for this insightful post. Confirms everything I believe in! Great read. Let’s spread the word!
February 11, 2015 at 01:51
[…] Why J.J. Marsh doesn’t want your free book. […]
February 21, 2015 at 03:50
I want to stress that the bulk of my points aren’t directed at you; in fact only one of them might be said to apply. Frankly, I couldn’t resist an opportunity to express my weighty opinions within the context provided by your post, as my blog’s focus is entirely unrelated to the issues expressed by your own. Since not everyone wants to provide a soapbox for random visitors, I’ll certainly understand if you choose not to approve my speech, I mean comment. Really!
My only critique of your post, which by no means negates your essential position, is your assertion of a relationship between payment, good reviews, and the value of a writer’s work. I may have misread you, in which case this point should be disregarded re. yourself. But I think it addresses a broad and slippery slope that’s more generally applicable.
Disrespect doesn’t lie in a negative response to a given book by anyone who has read it. (Nor, as you point out so well, is there anything disrespectful about refusing free offers) Disrespect (for self-published writers) is expressed by accepting free work and not bothering to read it at all – even enough of it to decide whether to continue. Such disrespect is worthy of writers’ collective wrath. So is the failure of readers to support writers whose work they like with the 15 minutes it takes to post a good review.
But the premise that non-payment shapes the response of readers who DO read a free book flies in the face of reality. Good writing quickly leaves any of the initial prejudice you describe in the dust. That readers deliberately and publically denigrate work they actually recognize to be good by writing bad reviews is just insupportable. Barring some kind of broader agenda, readers who are nothing but just that simply don’t respond that way to work that engages them. Writers lose sight of that at their peril.
Unsolicited free books arrived in a steady stream at every newspaper for which I worked during my years as a journalist. The commercial press promotes its writers on a scale that makes reporters roll their eyes and snicker. It’s a scale that relieves the press of any responsibility to read so much as a single page. Thus, the self-published community’s expectation of good reviews is understandable, as is the responsibility of fans to support it. However, I point to “fans” as the operative word here. No one else owes self-publishing a good review for any reason, and it is no more entitled to treat bad reviews as personal insults deserving of censorship than are its commercial counterparts.
My speech, I mean comment, is driven by my support of self-publishing.
Eventually, you guys are going to kick commercial publishing’s ass.