Free vs. paid
(Original post at Wordpress.)
Why am I giving my books away? Because yes, everything I have published so far is available for free.
Many people have asked me why I don't charge money for my writing. "After all, it is your hard work that went into it, that should be rewarded."
Well, dear readers and people who seem to be worried about my well-being, it is rewarded.
Not by financials, I agree, but by the sheer number of downloads that I see happening. Yes, I get a kick out of that. Now, that is all very nice, I hear you say, but kicks won't keep you alive for long! Very true. For that I have my job. At this moment I have a nice job in IT and that pays my bills, my mortgage and everything else I like (and trust me, I like a lot!).
Will having more money make me... eat more, better or healthier? I doubt that, especially the more. Live faster or better? More doubts. Living fast is something I try to avoid, anyway. Write better? Hardly. I am happy the way things are now. Oh, certainly, I would love to be a professional writer and live off the fruits of my creativity in that arena, but I am realistic enough to know there are only few who manage that. Many professional authors get by just barely and have to take other jobs or assignments that pay better, to keep their life going.
No. I'll take many downloads and constructive reviews instead, next to my daytime job. That way I am able and free to write what I want, when I want and how I want it. And judging from the feedback I have received on my writing, I am not doing that badly.
One more revelation: I collect quotes and proverbs, as they are often miracles of language-use and I adore those things. I chose this one as a good ending for this post:
"If you want to know how god thinks about money, look at the people that have it."
Why am I giving my books away? Because yes, everything I have published so far is available for free.
Many people have asked me why I don't charge money for my writing. "After all, it is your hard work that went into it, that should be rewarded."
Well, dear readers and people who seem to be worried about my well-being, it is rewarded.
Not by financials, I agree, but by the sheer number of downloads that I see happening. Yes, I get a kick out of that. Now, that is all very nice, I hear you say, but kicks won't keep you alive for long! Very true. For that I have my job. At this moment I have a nice job in IT and that pays my bills, my mortgage and everything else I like (and trust me, I like a lot!).
Will having more money make me... eat more, better or healthier? I doubt that, especially the more. Live faster or better? More doubts. Living fast is something I try to avoid, anyway. Write better? Hardly. I am happy the way things are now. Oh, certainly, I would love to be a professional writer and live off the fruits of my creativity in that arena, but I am realistic enough to know there are only few who manage that. Many professional authors get by just barely and have to take other jobs or assignments that pay better, to keep their life going.
No. I'll take many downloads and constructive reviews instead, next to my daytime job. That way I am able and free to write what I want, when I want and how I want it. And judging from the feedback I have received on my writing, I am not doing that badly.
One more revelation: I collect quotes and proverbs, as they are often miracles of language-use and I adore those things. I chose this one as a good ending for this post:
"If you want to know how god thinks about money, look at the people that have it."