Giving It Away

I’m looking for advice this week on the blog.

There’ll be no ranting, no raving and no attempts at making you laugh. All I ask is that you put yourself in my shoes for the time that you’re reading and ask yourself, ‘What would I do?’

I’ve been in this writing lark since 2006 now - that’s if you don’t include the times that I was having a little dabble prior to that.  But it was six years ago that saw me starting the book I knew I could finish and securing myself an agent.

As my regular readers will know, that whole saga went ‘boobies up’ and I came ‘close but no cigar’.  Thus began my Indie route.

‘Diary of a Mummy Misfit’ went onto Kindle in June of last year, swiftly followed by the paperback version on Lulu.  December last year saw the launch of ‘The Darker Side of Mummy Misfit’ and then June of this year ‘Completing the Puzzle’ - all books in both formats.

I was told by my agent and publishers that I would need to have more than one book under my belt and, boy did I take that advice on board.  There’s been no stopping me.

My sales have been steady - on some days I jump for joy!  But my Amazon rankings never really move much because of the sales I make in paperback.  I made the decision to print traditionally as so many had asked for it in ‘good old fashioned book form’.  That may have sold me more books in total but it's clearly hindered my Amazon ratings.

So, as us authors make it a daily task to check our ratings (and I know mine are altered because of the paperback), here’s my dilemma.

Lots of writers do a stint of ‘download for free’ days and they say it increases their sales afterwards, in particular with their other books.  I can see sense in this, really I can.  I’m not that proud that I don’t consider new options.  I can see that if I did a couple of days free for ‘The Diary’, those that enjoyed it would go on to buy my other two offerings.

BUT … and this is the big one.  There seem to be some real meanies out there who download these freebies, knowing that it’s not their usual genre and then leave nasty reviews.  One writer told me that she received comments saying, ‘Didn’t enjoy.  It read like chicklit.’  It was chicklit!  Don’t help yourself to a freebie and then diss it, please!

Now I like my reviews.  I pride myself on the fact that I haven’t received a bad one yet - touching wood and opening myself up to a whole load of nasties who’ll go off and say my books are pants!

I’ve worked hard to get those reviews and, at roughly one pound a book and the hours that I put in, I mean, hard!  I’d also like to add that less than a handful of my reviews have come from family or friends.  I’ve found all those people myself.

As much as a freebie might ultimately boost my sales, do I want to run the risk of blotting my copy book with a bad review from a Goth in NY city who usually only reads vampire books?   Although why these people download just to put people down, I have no idea!  And they can be harsh, trust me, I’ve read some of their words.

I know when you hit the big time, you’re going to get a mixed bag of opinions.  I’ve read the negative reviews for ‘50 Shades’ and I’d be sobbing if I was EL James (well, sobbing whilst laughing my way to the bank - which would probably see me having a long stint in The Priory!), but the fact remains that I haven’t hit the big time (yet!) and I don’t want anything to ruin my reputation.

So, readers, writers, bloggers, what do you think?  Do I risk it and see if it works?  Do I bite the bullet and offer a freebie?  Do I buy a HUGE box of tissues to deal with the comments from the likes of ‘Evil Snake Eater 666’ who leaves a review saying, ‘Bag of sh*te!  All about kids and stuff.’?

HELP!  I’ve seen it work for others but can it work for me?

Thanks,

Worried Misfit.

You can still PAY for my books (for very few pennies) at Amazon and on Lulu.

Don’t forget my radio show - every Tuesday at 8.30pm (UK) Mummy Misfit Radio, live from my kitchen table.