This is a free fiction picture I write free fiction each week on this website. It’s called Free Fiction Friday and I just put up the 30th post.
So is it worth it, or is it just a waste of time?
I think it’s worth it, and let me explain why with these main points:
So is it worth it, or is it just a waste of time?
I think it’s worth it, and let me explain why with these main points:
- It gives me practice;
- It gets me fans;
- It creates routine;
- It’s a pain in the ass.
Practice
So far I’ve written 30 posts of free fiction, and that equals 52,855 words. What’s more, I’ve bundled some of those into book format.
Yep, Florida Sinkholes and Bring Back Our Girls are both books that I wrote from stories that started on Free Fiction Friday.
But really, more than 50,000 words! That’s more than many of you are writing in a month, or even a few months, or dare I say it…in a year? And that’s just free stuff I put up on my site, little practice pieces, woodshop knock-offs, disposable content.
Of course I could take those 50,000 words and bundle them all into a fairly-sizable eBook short story collection…one that’d probably sell 2 copies in six months.
Neither of those books have sold that well, but then none of mine do – I’m waiting to take off. Until then, I enjoy this practice, even when I don’t (more below).
Yep, Florida Sinkholes and Bring Back Our Girls are both books that I wrote from stories that started on Free Fiction Friday.
But really, more than 50,000 words! That’s more than many of you are writing in a month, or even a few months, or dare I say it…in a year? And that’s just free stuff I put up on my site, little practice pieces, woodshop knock-offs, disposable content.
Of course I could take those 50,000 words and bundle them all into a fairly-sizable eBook short story collection…one that’d probably sell 2 copies in six months.
Neither of those books have sold that well, but then none of mine do – I’m waiting to take off. Until then, I enjoy this practice, even when I don’t (more below).
Fans
I’m pretty sure people that might not normally read my books have read at least one Free Fiction Friday. And maybe that’s all they needed to buy one of my books.
I get lots of views on these stories each week, sometimes close to 200. My political articles are the only thing that gets that popular so fast, so I can tell that these stories have a broad appeal.
Sure, I’ve written some doozies that were pretty much rubbish, but who hasn’t? And some stories that I thought weren’t that good actually got pretty popular.
But just for a week, because then I take them down. What would happen if I left them up, though? Would I have more views, more sales, and more fans? It’s a possibility, and that’s why you see me leave some of them up.
See, I now use Free Fiction Friday as a way to put out excerpts of upcoming books, and then I link back to that post on my ‘My Books’ page. It’s a good strategy, and maybe one you want to experiment with.
I get lots of views on these stories each week, sometimes close to 200. My political articles are the only thing that gets that popular so fast, so I can tell that these stories have a broad appeal.
Sure, I’ve written some doozies that were pretty much rubbish, but who hasn’t? And some stories that I thought weren’t that good actually got pretty popular.
But just for a week, because then I take them down. What would happen if I left them up, though? Would I have more views, more sales, and more fans? It’s a possibility, and that’s why you see me leave some of them up.
See, I now use Free Fiction Friday as a way to put out excerpts of upcoming books, and then I link back to that post on my ‘My Books’ page. It’s a good strategy, and maybe one you want to experiment with.
Routine
Each Friday I put up that post, come rain or shine or whatever. When you write, you need to have routines like that, even if it sucks, which brings me to the last point…
Pain
It’s a real pain. There have been many Fridays when it’s about noon and I haven’t put up a post. Many times I don’t start writing it until that day.
But I think this is good because it makes me better. What’s more, perhaps some of those posts made someone happy, or pissed, or just made them feel something besides half-dead, which most people walking around sure seem like anyways.
But I think this is good because it makes me better. What’s more, perhaps some of those posts made someone happy, or pissed, or just made them feel something besides half-dead, which most people walking around sure seem like anyways.
Conclusion
Bottom line – free fiction is great practice! Writing for practice makes you better, and when you get better as a writer there’s a much greater chance that you’ll get noticed, get that good deal, get those sales, and make that pile of money you always wanted or finally get famous like you’ve always dreamed.
You’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t practice, and if you’re not brave enough to practice out on the stage, when will you be? No one ever comments on my Free Fiction stories – well, maybe one or two here and there – and that’s fine.
You know, with this particular blog, I kind of gave up on getting comments. I mean, really, I know more than most people and the big name authors aren’t going to lower themselves by coming around here. Honestly, I think I can show many of them up anyways…just not sales-wise.
But that’s for another day. Until then, I hope you’ll enjoy the Free Fiction I’ll be putting up on my site this week. Yep, there’s a Friday again this week, and like all great writers have had, I’ve got to stick to that disciplined routine, which means that post will go up…even if I have to sit myself down and write it 10 minutes before.
You’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t practice, and if you’re not brave enough to practice out on the stage, when will you be? No one ever comments on my Free Fiction stories – well, maybe one or two here and there – and that’s fine.
You know, with this particular blog, I kind of gave up on getting comments. I mean, really, I know more than most people and the big name authors aren’t going to lower themselves by coming around here. Honestly, I think I can show many of them up anyways…just not sales-wise.
But that’s for another day. Until then, I hope you’ll enjoy the Free Fiction I’ll be putting up on my site this week. Yep, there’s a Friday again this week, and like all great writers have had, I’ve got to stick to that disciplined routine, which means that post will go up…even if I have to sit myself down and write it 10 minutes before.
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