From SRP author Cameron Cooper:
Free books are everywhere. You can find them on every major retail platform, on author websites, in BookFunnel and StoryOrigin giveaways, at signings, in newsletters, and beyond. Readers can easily fill their e-readers with thousands of books without spending a dime. I know this because I’ve done it myself.
But here’s where things get interesting: Readers are increasingly frustrated when an author asks them to sign up for an email list in exchange for a free book. I’ve heard readers say they feel like they “should” be able to get the book with no strings attached. That signing up is a hassle. That they don’t want “more emails.”
Let’s unpack that a little.
The Reality of Writing a Book
First, let’s look at the actual investment an author puts into a book. Writing isn’t just a hobby; it’s work. And even for those who write quickly, it’s time-intensive:
- A fast writer can churn out 1,500 words per hour.
- The average writer manages 1,000 words per hour.
- A slow writer? About 500 words per hour.
A standard-length novel takes 75 hours to draft if you’re writing at an average pace. Then there’s plotting, which, conservatively, adds another 75 hours. That’s 150 hours before the book is even ready for editing.
And we’re not done. There’s:
- Editing (and proofing).
- Cover design.
- Formatting and distribution.
- Basic marketing (just letting readers know the book exists).
These tasks easily add another 50 hours, bringing the total to 200+ hours per book. If you value an author’s time at $35.43 USD per hour (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), that’s $7,086 USD of labor alone. Add a low-end estimate of $250 for a cover and $750 for editing, and you’re looking at an $8,000+ investment.
And then… they give it away for free.
Why Do Authors Give Books Away?
Because readers expect it.
Many readers have been trained to assume that at least the first book in a series should be free. I’ve even had angry emails from people upset that my first-in-series book isn’t free. But the reason authors do this isn’t just generosity—it’s strategy.
- Free books let readers sample an author’s work.
- The hope is that, if you enjoy the free book, you’ll buy the next one in the series.
- Free books are also a way to introduce readers to the author, their world, and their writing style.
And asking for an email sign-up in return? That’s a way for an author to build a relationship with readers, not just toss books into the void.
The Problem with Free Books
Here’s the truth: Most authors would rather you read their book than just collect it.
But let’s be honest. Most people who download free books don’t read them right away. Some won’t read them at all. I know readers who have confessed to having 5,000+ unread books on their e-readers. (I might have a few myself…)
That’s fine! Life is busy, and books are long. But here’s my controversial opinion:
If you’re not going to read the free book right away, don’t stay on the author’s email list.
Why?
- Authors pay for their email list subscribers. It’s not free for them.
- You don’t know if you like their writing yet, so their emails won’t mean much to you.
- You might end up resenting the emails and marking them as spam—which, frankly, is rude. You signed up for them.
A better approach?
A Smarter Way to Handle Free Books
- Download the book.
- If you’re not going to read it right away, unsubscribe from the author’s email list.
- Don’t clog your inbox with emails from an author you don’t know yet.
- Save the spot for authors you genuinely enjoy.
- Actually read the book.
- If you don’t like it? Delete it.
- If you enjoy it? Buy the next book in the series.
- Once you’ve read and liked the author’s work, then join their email list.
- Now their emails will be relevant and interesting to you.
- The author will appreciate having engaged readers instead of passive subscribers.
This way, both you and the author win. You get books you’re actually excited about, and they get readers who genuinely want to hear from them.
Coming Up Next…
Now that you know how to handle free books in a way that benefits both you and the author, next week, we’ll talk about how to maximize one of the biggest resources for free books: BookFunnel promos. Stay tuned!
Cameron Cooper
SRP Author
Check Cam’s books here on Stories Rule Press.
