What goes around poll

[rolanni]

There's been a sort of movable discussion wandering through a couple writer communities I'm part of, brought on in part by writers who are trying to figure out how best to grow their audience, make a living, and maybe even get a bigger piece of the action.

Not surprisingly, many of these conversations come 'round to web serialization for fun and profit, what works, what doesn't. Some folks are of the opinion that giving one's work away "for free" is always a bad deal for the writer, some folks think that giving work away "for free" is the wave of the future, whereupon we're all gonna starve, some folks think that asking readers to kick in a buck for downloading a novel direct from the author is tacky, some think it's OK, but that no one will pay.

In other words, it's a complicated subject and lots of bright people are struggling to make sense of it, and to figure out how to work current realities to their benefit while simultaneously trying to figure out where current realities are going to take us in one, three, six years.

Now, Steve and I did well with our web serializations. I honestly don't know if that's because of a Paradigm Shift, or because we have Incredibly Cool Fans(TM), or because we were writing a Liaden story -- or a combination of all those factors and a bunch that I haven't thought of.

In the spirit of trying to figure some stuff out myself, I offer the following poll, going from the general to the specific.


[Poll #1381306]

Comments

[shana.livejournal.com]

I'll read anything you post -- but I strongly suspect that a Liaden story will bring you more money.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_aisling_/]

I would enjoy reading on the web but it's turned out to be rather difficult to make any donation at all in my case. To my suprise, none of the cards I have got can be used for money transfer abroad - or, at least, I have been explained so in the bank. Still hope to learn more about the ways!

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

Can you use paypal? I recently sent someone in England a payment through paypal. I think we kept things in USD for her because she makes purchases here on occasion, but it seemed fairly straightforward.

[wdonohue.livejournal.com]

If possible, I'd prefer an ePub formatted work over a PDF. PDF is easier to generate, but ePub can look better on a wider variety of platforms:

Stanza: http://www.lexcycle.com/
Bookworm: http://bookworm.oreilly.com/about/
http://blog.threepress.org/2009/04/06/bookworm-reading-mode/

I'm still working out best workflows for doing this type of conversion, but starting with a clean layout in InDesign is a big step in the right direction.

-- Brian out --

[masgramondou.livejournal.com]

Yes. some other ebook format than PDF is good.

[drammar.livejournal.com]

I'd be pleased to get a copy of the book in whatever format is best for the situation.

And while I'd prefer to see a new Jen Pierce book, I suspect you'd make more money from Chi's story. I'll take Jen's next tale however it happens.

[herefox.livejournal.com]

With regards to the question about form of finished product I'd like to receive, it really doesn't matter to me much what I receive as long as the final result is printable/readable without sitting on the computer. I love supporting these types of things, anything that gets authors being able to write is great, but I actually usually wait until the project is finished before reading...and I prefer to read from a hard copy than to sit hours in front of the monitor reading.

[readinggeek451]

Ditto.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I buy serialized novels when I want an author I like to keep writing. (You aren't my only producers.) The paper copy is a nice bonus, but I wouldn't insist on it.

I am not wild about reading online -- not fun for the eyes -- but the serial experience is fun. It helps when the chunks are shorter rather than long; yours are about right.

[ferragus.livejournal.com]

I started to say single pay, but really with (my) finances the way they are, while I'd pay $40 over say 20 postings in a heart beat, putting up $40 right away might catch me at a bad spot in my bank accounts.

Same goes for the bonus, if you're going to have it in several formats, why not offer a sliding scale pdf (ebook) for one price, mass market for more and for the real fans a hardcover!

As for what I'd read ... anything of course, but I'd really like to see a strange and far out idea that you've been kicking around a while and haven't been able to place/market. Doesn't mean you can't post at the same time something familiar if it's already written, as someone said in comments "a Liaden story will bring you more money", and I'd be sure to read that too.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

but I'd really like to see a strange and far out idea that you've been kicking around a while and haven't been able to place/market.

Ah, those would have been the Fey books, and Carousel Tides all of which Baen took under contract. I had thought about serializing Carousel Tides, actually. I don't think I could have survived the serialization of the Fey books.

Doesn't mean you can't post at the same time something familiar if it's already written,

The sad truth is that I don't have anything that's already written, except, yanno, the things that are already written, and published. It's a terrible state, but there you are.

[xinef.livejournal.com]

I'd prefer both an eBook and a hard copy book. But if I had to pick one, I'd pick the hard copy book (don't care format).

And I'd prefer an option re payments, either one overall or pay as I go, because my decision might vary depending on immediate financial resources and the story in question.

[sleary.livejournal.com]

I would be pleased to have the completed book in whichever format. Given the choice, I'd go for printed over electronic.

[painoarvokas.livejournal.com]

(Me hates forms that restrict the length of free-form answers, especially when the limit is as low as here.)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

...but you've found another way to explain yourself. We here at the Confusion Factory depend upon people being able to figure stuff out.

[readinggeek451]

The fourth question needs another choice: Getting a copy of the complete book at the end is not the only reason I'd donate, but it's a definite bonus, and leads to paying more. But that wasn't one of the options. ("Nice but not necessary" is not a strong enough statement of my preference, although it's the one I picked as the closest match.)

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

Now that I own a Kindle, I'm buying everything I can in that format: to be able to carry my library with me while I travel, even if only around town? Fabulous!
And my danged paypal account got messed up: I think someone tried to hack it, so they shut me down...and I don't use it for much, so I haven't been focussing on getting it straightened out

[greatsword.livejournal.com]

I'm less likely to donate to an online project than to buy the book outright - I'm something of a luddite for online shopping.

I do convert from web novels to buying physical books with some frequency; I started reading Jo Walton, Aaron Allston, and John Scalzi that way. So you might consider it as a way to get readers off the fence about buying your backlist, too.

Now that my wife has a Kindle, I'd consider paying for a kindle download of something like the Shadow Unit project, too.

[reedrover]

With regard to the question of what I would want to read, the answer is simple. Almost all of your Liaden novels are novels of self-actualization, where a character develops out of a shell or restriction and discovers him/herself as a full person. This is especially true of the women characters (Priscilla, Miri, Theo, and Aelliana, for a start to the list). Jethri and Val Con arrive at maturity in completely different pathways, etc. Ok, I'll stop. You know your own characters.

Anyway, my point is that I want to read about another character about whom we only know the tiniest bit, or from whom we had to bid our farewells when the plot turned and left him or her behind. We learned about Inas's start down the road to the Juntavas in an explosive short story, but what happened between that little jaunt across the planet and her arrival at Pat Rin's door? How about some of the characters on Dutiful Passage? Or what happened to Jethri's friend Miranda, and how about the Scout who was spending time with him?... So many questions!

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Inas -- oh definitely! A fascinating character. I'd like to know more about Gordie as well, and if grandfather (who absolutely must be told about Gordie getting arrested, according to Shan).

And then there's the great big gap between arriving on Liad and Jethri, and...

Which to summarise basically means that I'll read anything they decide to write...

Kindle versions, please!

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

I've tried to eliminate as much as possible my dead tree book buying. Have had a Kindle for 18 months now and love it. Am working on buying your books as e-versions and converting to Kindle. It's so much easier to read on Kindle then on computer. I really wish I could just buy the Kindle versions from Amazon. (Authors can self-publish books Kindle versions to Amazon, and set their own price.)

As far as web serials, I've not read one yet, but I would for an author I'm interested in. (Again, Amazon let's me subscribe to Kindle serializations, I believe.) I would prefer knowing ahead of time, going into a serialization, that either the book is completed with structured release dates, or must know that complete story will come out in timely fashion. Not interested in reading half a story that takes years to come out and then never get the ending. If you are a reliable author (and you are), then no problem with serial. I may save up the parts to read all at once when it's complete.

Re: Kindle versions, please!

[shana.livejournal.com]

The Baen versions have an option to email the book to your Kindle...

[jilltanith.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily Chi yos'Phelium, but an unspecified Liaden story; I don't really mind which format the printed object comes in but a format which is printed or at least printable is good.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I spend too much time staring at a computer screen already.

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

I haven't read any serialized novels with the exception of the ones Baen puts out. Not that I'd be unwilling to read any others, I just haven't yet.

If I'm going to receive a completed copy of the book, that's not exactly a donation, is it? That said, I would be willing to donate, and I would be willing to donate more for an autographed hard copy if that's a possibility. I don't care what format of hard copy.

Regular updates would be nice, but with some flexibility built in. "First week of the month" as opposed to "first of the month", for instance. Life interferes, cats get sick, authors have cons, all sorts of things can mess up scheduling. I'd personally rather wait a couple more days for something you'd be willing to have someone else see, instead of on-time but something you wouldn't want your reflection to see.

How much would it be a pain to you, to have people discussing your works in progress? Would the money be worth the trouble to you?

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

I agree on the flexibility, because as you said, life interferes. The way Steve and Sharon have done it with Fledgling works rather nicely--regular updates, notice in advance that an update won't happen because of whatever, very rarely a day late but never a dollar short. Having said that, I think authors need to take a good, long, hard look at themselves and their work habits: if the author's life frequently interferes, they should finish the damn book before starting to serialize it.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

I wanted to clarify one of my odder selections: I said the most I'd donate in order to receive a copy of the book (a PDF in my case) is $5, while the most I'd donate for the pleasure of reading the web serial is $20. In my mind, "donating" to receive a book is buying a book, and the most I'd be happy paying for an ebook is $5. Donating just to support the serial is patronizing the arts (in the good meaning of patronizing *grin*) and supporting the author, and the limits on that depend only on my finances and my love of the author's works. Not really rational, but there you have it.

[gilraen2.livejournal.com]

I have not yet submitted to a Kindle and my ebook library - including all your available works - is in Microsoft Reader. I would prefer that an ebook be in that format than in pdf.

[(Anonymous)]

Loved reading Theo on the web and will do again, but have been stung in the past by someone who started but never finished a book - talk about frustrating!; love PayPal & wished everybody used it; would pay up to $30 since that's getting to be the going price for a hardcover these days; definitely want some version of a printed copy; Precise scheduled updates proved impossible, did they not? More Liad from anyone's point of plot!

Cathy C.

[romsfuulynn.livejournal.com]

I am good for about $30 for access to the book and will donate at least that and possibly as much as $10 every two weeks on payday (Tuesday).

I have donated to several online novels, including Diane Duane's multi year - "oh, I'm sorry, terrible stuff is going on in my personal life" and I don't even regret that. Much. I've got seven chapters of her stuff that I didn't have before.

I donated to both of Lawrence Watt-Evans novels, and am making occasional donations to his current effort.

I would like a finished book I can easily read and keep - my personal preference is Mobipocket or eReader, but I'm happy with an HTML file that anyone can use to "roll their own."

I'm not fond of PDF and would use the mobipocket creator to make a Mobipocket out of it.

Downloadable formats

[malkingrey.livejournal.com]

I can't stand PDF as a reading format. Mostly I read electronic texts on my Palm, and the PalmOS Adobe reader is a slow, clunky memory hog and ugly to boot. If I'm going to have a downloadable copy of a text, I'd prefer it in Mobipocket (.prc) or Palm Reader (.pdb) format, if I can't have it in .rtf format so I can convert it to my favorite Palm reading program myself.

[pgranzeau.livejournal.com]

I've been reading e-books in various formats recently. The worst reader is the protected PDF thing--it's just plain awful. I can stand most any of the others, but prefer something I don't have to scroll on my 1024 x 768 screen. Unprotected MS Reader (as per Baen's e-publication of a number of your Liaden novels) is fine by me.

[jryson.livejournal.com]

Let me know when I can get the whole thing, and I'll pay what I would for hardcopy.

Would prefer HTML or PDF. Even TXT would be OK. RTF would be great, unless you have illustrations or other art.