Monday, September 29, 2014

Waste of Time

Writing a book is time-consuming work. Not only the writing part, but the thinking-about-it part. But it’s work I love and time I love to spend.

Once I became published, my time to write shrunk. Now I have to market. I was never on Facebook all that much. Now I feel I should be there. To be seen. Not that it’s working all that much, but if I wasn’t there at all, I wouldn’t be seen at all. It’s thoughts like that that are also making me think about joining Twitter (***shudder***). Marketing is a necessary evil if I wish to make it in the publishing business.

What I do not want to spend my writing time doing is hunting down piracy. Mainly, because I don’t see the profit in it (in time or money).

Sure, I’d love it if all the pirate sites would just disappear (I’d also love to get 5 star reviews all the time!). But I really believe that people who download pirated books would not have bought the books in the first place. Heck, I’d be surprised if 10% of pirated books were actually read.

Some authors see hundreds of downloads of their books from these pirate sites and panic. They see it as lost income. I’m sorry, but I don’t believe that’s true (unless these authors are hiring someone to send out takedown notices and then in that case, it is lost income). Do authors panic when people share their purchased paper book with a friend? How about when the reader sells the book to another reader? They didn’t get any money for that, so how is that any different? People who like to read, people who are honest, will buy the book (or get it from the library). People who are fans will want their own copy. Plus, smart people probably stay away from these pirate sites anyway. Who doesn’t think a lot of these sites aren’t set up to steal your information? I certainly don’t trust them.

I also don’t visit these sites because if I do search for my books and they’re not there, I’ve just flagged an interest. I truly believe they work that way.

So… what do you think about pirate sites? Am I in the minority here?

Stacy

8 comments:

Maria Zannini said...

I agree with you. Much as I hate them, the people who download my books are just thieves.

And please, no one tell me that they didn't know it was illegal. If it's not yours, you can't give it away.

On the other hand, I've used my publishers' resources to go after them. They have people that send out DMCA notices to the pirate sites if they see their books on them.

I usually have a Google alert for my titles. If I find one of them on a pirate site, I send the link to my publisher's automated system and they take care of it.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Maria - My publisher has a place we can report pirate sites. I'd like to think they're the ones actively seeking them, though.

I do have Google alert, but I sometimes think that thing isn't working too well. That, or I'm just not showing up on anyone's radar. Don't know which is more depressing! Haha! :)

JeffO said...

I concur. Of course, I can say this with the safety of someone who has no books to be pirated (yet)!

Regarding Facebook and Twitter and all that stuff--don't do it just because people are telling you you have to do it. It has to be sincere, and it can't come off at all like "Buy my book."

The Happy Whisk said...

Sorry it's such a cluster muck out there.

Anne Gallagher said...

Take a look at my blog this week. I discuss social media and take some points from another author/publisher. I think you'll feel better once you do.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Jeff - I know about only doing the stuff that's fun. That's why I'm not ON Twitter. But I could see me setting up an account in the near future and just retweeting stuff. Maybe. Who knows?

Ivy - Yeah, and I try to avoid it all, too. :)

Anne - I saw your blog and thought it was timely (for me!).

Jennette Marie Powell said...

100% with you on piracy. It's theft, and it's not OK but it's also not worth our time to fight because it doesn't hurt sales.

With you on Facebook and Twitter too. For most authors they do not sell books. I hate them both and am only other to be easier to find!

Sandra Cox said...

I just pretty much ignore pirate sites. I'm with you on facebook and twitter, I really need to get going on it.