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:
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.
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! :)
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."
Sorry it's such a cluster muck out there.
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.
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!).
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!
I just pretty much ignore pirate sites. I'm with you on facebook and twitter, I really need to get going on it.
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