Would you read.......?

Question

I'm an aspiring novelist. My genre is fiction. I was thinking of hosting a website where after reading samples of my works people can pay maybe $5/$10 (very reasonable) to read the work in it's entirety. How many of you would be interested in this? How many would actually pay for this if you found the works interesting?

Answer 1

When I buy a hardcopy book it's usually at a bookstore where I am browsing the titles. If I spot something by an author I know, if the cover looks interesting, or if the title appeals to me, I pick up and flip throughit. I can usually tell by reading the jacket notes and opening the book to a few chapters whether or not it's something I'm likely to read. I also read a lot of books that friends have read and recommended.

So how do I find out if I want to read your novel? Would you allow readers to look at the first chapter for free or would you have excerpts published? How would you get people to your site to read your book? I don't like to read large amounts of data on-screen, which means I would have to download and print your work.

I don't think there is any harm in trying to do what you propose, I'm just a little skeptical about how many people would pay $5-$10 to download an unknown author.

Another thing you might want to consider, if you haven't already, is how you plan to transact sales. It is not as easy or cheap as you might expect.

In a best case scenario, a few people would read your work and tell friends who would in turn tell friends etc. You might also get lucky and have somebody review your work positively in a high profile publication.


To answer your question honestly, I don't think I would be interested myself, unless somebody whose opinion I trusted really recommended your work.

I also think there is no harm in trying. Maybe try publishing a few things for free to see if you can establish a readership before trying to publish. Publishing your book in serial form might be a way to see how much interest there is also. It has worked for some of the greatest writers of all time, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Charles Dickens to name but two.

Answer 2

I wouldn't read an entire novel off a computer screen. Maybe if I paid and you mailed me the book I'd be interested. If I were to print it all out it would cost me far more than $10 worth of ink! People's eyes aren't meant for reading large amounts of texts on a screen. That's why good web sites use as little words as possible.

Answer 3

Honestly, I probably wouldn't. I don't like reading novels on a computer screen, very hard on the eyes. I have proofread books for author friends, but as a favor. I can't see myself paying for reading a book on the internet, I prefer having an actual book.

Good luck, though, I'm sure there are others who would do it.

=-]

Answer 4

I don't liek to read off my computer screen. Looking at a computer screen for an extended amount of time hurts my eyes and can give me a headache. I'd much rather read a paperback on my couch with my feet up.

Answer 5

I wouldn't. I bought a friend's ebook and it took me forever to read it because of eye fatigue. Besides I prefer to curl up on the couch and read a print book.

Answer 6

Even if I found your work interesting, I would not pay to read more.

Answer 7

You can put some condition to make people read what you wright like education and knowledge about literature but I don't think anyone will be interesting to pay

Answer 8

I wouldn't. I like reading long works in print form.