If You're Good At Something, Never Do It For Free

[Kasumi_Lee]

If I truly believed the title of this thread, I wouldn't be on Literotica. In fact, sites like Literotica couldn't exist under such a maxim. Furthermore, any movie buffs reading this thread might recognize the title as a quote from Heath Ledger's Joker, whose words of wisdom, like the conflicting stories about how he got his scars, should be taken with a pinch of salt. In any case, I do have a serious point I'd like to know people's thoughts on.

I've published 50 stories here on Literotica, mostly NC/R, and several dozen others through Amazon and Draft2Digital (previously through Smashwords). I genuinely love writing NC/R stories, but to be honest, one of the main reasons I post so much nonconsensual and dubiously consensual stuff here is that the more consensual and mainstream the content, the more welcome it is for sale on the various ebook retailers. Since I'm apparently a good enough writer to have earned a decent following, a big part of me would rather put a price on my writing if I can help it.

It's emphatically not the case that I offer my best stories for sale and dump the bad stuff here on Literotica for free. In fact, posting stories for free here gives me a level of engagement with readers and other authors that's virtually impossible elsewhere. But if I could safely sell NC/R stories on the major ebook retailers (obviously with content warnings so nobody gets blindsided), I would.

I'm curious what your thoughts are on the dilemma between offering your writing here for free versus elsewhere for a price, regardless of the categories you write in, (the example of NC/R is particular to me). Does anyone else feel the same way I do?

 

[StillStunned]

I've always wanted to be a writer. Dreamed of making a living from it. And compared with some published authors who've made a fair chunk from their writing, I think I could do as least as well.

But the fact is I make a more than decent living from my day job, and I just don't have the energy to start marketing my stories for monetary gain. That might change later, when I retire, but for now I'm happy publishing my stories here for free.

If nothing else, it's probably good practice for further down the road.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I think that's very much dependent on whether we do this as a hobby or not. Personally, I have no intention of monetizing my writing. I prefer being read by as many readers as possible. Doing this for free also keeps me true to my preferences and kinks as there is no financial incentive to make me stray towards something more popular.
I wish there were more popular free story sites such as Literotica. Competition would make the conditions we publish under much better than what they are at the moment.

 

[Kasumi_Lee]

I've always wanted to be a writer. Dreamed of making a living from it. And compared with some published authors who've made a fair chunk from their writing, I think I could do as least as well.

But the fact is I make a more than decent living from my day job, and I just don't have the energy to start marketing my stories for monetary gain. That might change later, when I retire, but for now I'm happy publishing my stories here for free.

If nothing else, it's probably good practice for further down the road.

Very true. I'd love to make a living from my writing as well, but my corporate day job pays far more than I'm ever likely to earn from book royalties alone, so despite the dilemma I feel about paid versus free stories, I'm quite happy to offer both.

 

[Kasumi_Lee]

I think that's very much dependent on whether we do this as a hobby or not.

Oh, I definitely do this as a hobby too, but it's always nice to make some side cash from your hobby.

 

[Agent0069]

Good thing I’m not, so I can keep writing here as much as I want to.

 

[Scarla]

My dream is to be a published author, and perhaps as a bonus, earn just enough to work a tiny bit less. I fantasize about having just one full day a week set aside for only writing... But even if I do complete my novel, and achieve my dream of publishing, I'd still want to write short stories for Literotica.

I love Literotica and the engagement my stories have gotten here so far, and I wouldn't want to stop doing it.

 

[litfan10]

Many years ago I posted a series of cartoons on the wall around my desk for inspiration. In one there is a young couple clearly on a initial dinner date. First panel girl asks guy 'so what do you do?' Guy responds proudly 'I'm a writer.' Next panel has no words as they stare at each other. Last panel girl replies 'No, seriously. What do you do for money.'

 

[AndersonsBiographer]

I do what I do for free because it's near-impossible to write/publish for money and stay anonymous.

And, yeah, lack of initiative/self-confidence needed to ever make a profit.

 

[litfan10]

In a similar vein, I remember a conversation I had with my dad when I was getting ready for college. Now after WWII, my dad worked as a sports journalist in NYC.
I told him that I was going to major in English, concentration on writing. I was so shocked when he got real angry with me. "Don't you dare. You'll never make enough money to live. Blah, blah, blah."

 

[SimonDoom]

It would be fun to make a living from writing, but I have no reason, based on what I've read of others' experiences in this forum, to believe that it would be worthwhile trying to make a living from writing erotica, and I'm not interested in putting effort into selling erotic stories for money unless the money is enough to justify the effort. I have a few other long-term non-erotic projects that, who knows, maybe I can make something from, but it has nothing to do with what I do here. So, for my erotica, I post stuff for free and don't think about it.

 

[lovecraft68]

You know you can sell NC on Smashwords right?

Well...if you have migrated over to publishing to SW through D2D you may not be able to in the moment, because D2D doesn't have the boxes to check to call out that your work has taboo, NC or Beastie, to keep it from getting to Amazon or other sites, but once they do, you'll be able to put it through there.

I can still post whatever I want on SW because I've been there since 2011 so I'm still allowed to use the original submission page, and because I have so much taboo, they have to wait to set up the features I mentioned before I can migrate. People like me have accounts referred to as "complicated" and we'll be the last to come over. Personally I don't care if it never happens, all I'll be doing through D2D is Smashwords anyway.

Rambled a bit, but yes, you can publish NC material there once its all set.

 

[lovecraft68]

If You're Good At Something, Never Do It For Free​

As of tomorrow I will be charging people at work for every sarcastic remark they elicit from me.

 

[litfan10]

If You're Good At Something, Never Do It For Free​

As of tomorrow I will be charging people at work for every sarcastic remark they elicit from me.

And I expect payment for every laugh or chuckle (we can quibble on a sliding payment scale) I give in response to your sarcastic remarks.

 

[litfan10]

It would be fun to make a living from writing, but I have no reason, based on what I've read of others' experiences in this forum, to believe that it would be worthwhile trying to make a living from writing erotica, and I'm not interested in putting effort into selling erotic stories for money unless the money is enough to justify the effort. I have a few other long-term non-erotic projects that, who knows, maybe I can make something from, but it has nothing to do with what I do here. So, for my erotica, I post stuff for free and don't think about it.

If you don't go traditional publishing (which is a crapshoot you have no control over) going indie takes a tremendous amount of work (marketing) until you can build a big enough back catalog providing steady revenue to sustain the career. Possible, but not easy.

 

[lovecraft68]

And I expect payment for every laugh or chuckle (we can quibble on a sliding payment scale) I give in response to your sarcastic remarks.

Hmm...looks like a wash. Dammit.

 

[sound_afraid]

I've been writing for about a year, consistently for about 2 months, and I have zero idea what I'm doing it feels like. Plus my writing is so niche that it wouldn't be of any appeal to a wider audience like NCR seems to be.

I seriously doubt I will EVER be trying to write erotica for profit, but doing it for free is how I improve. Plus, like what has been said, I have a day job that pays me too well to want to do this full time in any capacity lol

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

If I truly believed the title of this thread, I wouldn't be on Literotica. In fact, sites like Literotica couldn't exist under such a maxim. Furthermore, any movie buffs reading this thread might recognize the title as a quote from Heath Ledger's Joker, whose words of wisdom, like the conflicting stories about how he got his scars, should be taken with a pinch of salt. In any case, I do have a serious point I'd like to know people's thoughts on.

I've published 50 stories here on Literotica, mostly NC/R, and several dozen others through Amazon and Draft2Digital (previously through Smashwords). I genuinely love writing NC/R stories, but to be honest, one of the main reasons I post so much nonconsensual and dubiously consensual stuff here is that the more consensual and mainstream the content, the more welcome it is for sale on the various ebook retailers. Since I'm apparently a good enough writer to have earned a decent following, a big part of me would rather put a price on my writing if I can help it.

It's emphatically not the case that I offer my best stories for sale and dump the bad stuff here on Literotica for free. In fact, posting stories for free here gives me a level of engagement with readers and other authors that's virtually impossible elsewhere. But if I could safely sell NC/R stories on the major ebook retailers (obviously with content warnings so nobody gets blindsided), I would.

I'm curious what your thoughts are on the dilemma between offering your writing here for free versus elsewhere for a price, regardless of the categories you write in, (the example of NC/R is particular to me). Does anyone else feel the same way I do?

I have a handful, maybe a dozen or so, followers that are encouraging me to publish a hard copy anthology. I figure if I sell a copy to all of them, I might be able to buy one for myself. Sure, I'd love to be able to make a living writing, but as others have said, I like my day job...

Maybe one day my fantasy novel will be on a bookshelf with Lewis and Tolkien, yeah, not... LOL

 

[litfan10]

The first step to being a writer is to write. Next step is to write some more and the final step is to keep writing.
That's the trick.
Happy writing everyone

 

[litfan10]

Hmm...looks like a wash. Dammit.

Yep, just call me Mr Buzzkill.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

 

[StillStunned]

Maybe one day my fantasy novel will be on a bookshelf with Lewis and Tolkien, yeah, not... LOL

My fantasy novel is a novel that's a fantasy.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yep, just call me Mr Buzzkill.

You don't sound amused. Pay up. I take cash app, Paypal and Venmo.

 

[litfan10]

You don't sound amused. Pay up. I take cash app, Paypal and Venmo.

Quick....make some sarcastic comments that I can react to so I can bill you so I have money to pay you....

 

[lovecraft68]

Quick....make some sarcastic comments that I can react to so I can bill you so I have money to pay you....

Okay, well...no, no, hold on a sec....you owe me, but if I make a remark and you laugh I owe you....um five, carry the two divide by....

Nope, not falling for it.