A short while ago, author Allie Ritch did a post on ways for people to have free reads without using pirate sites and ripping off authors and publishers. You can read the post
here. In it, she lists some alternative places to get legally free reads, such as Smashwords and All Romance eBooks. So I had a thought. It won't stop pirating, and it won't stop people resorting to them, but perhaps if we could list a page of free reads here on the SFR Brigade blog, and make a joint effort to promote it, perhaps we can dissuade some of those readers from going for illegal copies. I'd like to know your thoughts. My idea is to have a page on this blog where we can list Brigade members permanently free reads, whatever the genre (the more, the merrier in my view), and to list sites or Goodread groups where giveaways are listed. Temporarily free reads such as special promotions or short term codes/vouchers could be listed in the comments on the page, and deleted as they expire. I'm happy to co-ordinate and list free titles/sites, but if we could all work to promote it, and if all the admins could occassionally check in to delete out-of-date comments, that would help. I know it won't stop pirating or the people who do it, but if we can redirect a few readers to legitimate sites, it's got to be worth doing? What are your thoughts?
Sounds like a good idea to me. Textnovel is a great site, but it tends to be more like a fanfic site. Stories are posted as they are being written, but hey, it's another free site.
ReplyDeleteA lot of ezines post free stories online. I have stories in Bewildering Stories (free online) and the free issues of Abandoned Towers Magazine.
Are you thinking of posting the sites themselves or linking to specific stories by brigade members?
Love this idea, Pippa. I'm all for it. We could even do a permanent link box at the top of the blog so the page is easy to find.
ReplyDeleteJaleta - I'm happy to list titles by authors, and then do another section underneath linking to sites, ezines - anywhere there are stories for free.
ReplyDeleteLaurie - you'll have to explain the link thing to me, I've never done that before.
Sounds like an interesting idea. I'm for it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, sounds like a good idea. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think if there's an option to offer a free read, that's a superb promotional idea. I'd appreciate a place where like minded folk could come and share and enjoy. Piracy always lurks. I'm willing to take a chance, if it means, reaching out to a community of fellow lovers of sci-fi.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I would add my free read. Finding out my work had been stolen was horrifying. I don't know whether to be mad as heck or shocked that I'm popular enough to have my work stolen.
ReplyDelete