This turd plopped into my inbox today:
I read the first 10 chapters of 7th Son online and ordered the book. I was under the impression that the online release was not the complete novel. When the book arrived from Amazon, I dug in, disappointed to find that the print novel was the same content as released online. Probably my oversight, but it seems a wasted purchase.
If we’re defining “wasted purchase” as participating in the centuries-old practice of monetarily supporting the artists who create the content we consume, then yes — the dude wasted every penny.
Free-flinging New Media creators, it’s time we had a talk. Get your head around this. Nothing you do — no matter how much time, effort and money you spend on creating pitch-perfect, delicious Free content — will ever fully please your audience. They shall never be sated, mostly because people like us created precedents years ago that trained Free-fed audiences to be ravenous. They will consume until there is nothing left to consume, and they’ll demand More.
(Even when you clearly explain that there will be no More, and why, they’ll grouse about the inequity of your decision. I do not understand how, after receiving hundreds of hours of content for Free, a person can legitimately characterize my recent decision to leave podcasting as unreasonable or unfair.)
In today’s case, my emailer wanted More content than what he could get for Free — and he had Free access to the entire novel. There was no compelling reason for him to support my work simply for the sake of supporting it. There had to be More. Even when you give away the cow, people still bitch about the milk.
At least the dude bought a copy of my book. When you’re in this Free racket, there’s no accountability or obligation for fans to monetarily support your work. Of course, creators fully know these risks when they got into the Free game. There’s no creative rape happening here, no victimization. Everyone involved is a consenting adult.
But back to More, and people wanting it. At first glance, this is an embarrassment of riches. What’s wrong with people expecting more from creators — especially creators who give away their content? It’s Free, right? It’s a weekly bite-sized confection for the ears, munch-munch-disposable, an easy delete from the hard drive. Yet ravenous fans fundamentally underestimate the time and effort that is required to create the content they consume. They can’t help this. They undervalue creative work because they do not create; they consume. They’re not initiated.
Time for a schooling. Did you know that a 30-minute episode of my podcast fiction requires more than 20 hours to write, edit, record, produce and post? Did you know even more hours are spent promoting that content? Presented in these terms, spending 20 hours busting ass for zero pay is crazy talk. New Media creators have only themselves to blame for this; we often bet the farm on ephemeral goals such as audience size, eventual mainstream publication, and bestseller lists — and completely ignore the risks and tangible real-world costs of time, effort and money required to meaningfully play in this space.
Make no mistake: If you want to become a meaningful leader in this space — and indeed, any space — it ain’t a hobby. It’s a fucking lifestyle. (Which is why there are hundreds of podcast novelists, yet less than 10 who’ve actually secured those coveted New York publication deals.)
More, More, More. Audiences demand it — and creators do too. There is a great misconception in the podcast creator community — particularly in the podcast fiction space — that creators must produce and release more content, and must do so consistently and immediately. The rationale: If they quit sprinting on this Free-fueled treadmill, they’ll vanish into obscurity. Or in the less business-oriented vernacular so many New Media creators use: People won’t like you anymore.
This is crazy-making bullshit.
Many of the novelists who consistently produce Free content often do so because they release “trunked” content — meaning, content that’s served time in a dusty drawer — or because their financial circumstances permit them to be full-time content creators. (Or both.) These creators are rare. The rest of us heap those creative responsibilities upon the commitments of a 40-plus-hour work week and family obligations. Unchecked, this can lead to a disconnect between being faithful to yourself as a creator, and running the risk of becoming a cafeteria slop-slinger. It is very difficult to effectively scale when you’re a one-person show.
Further, life on this treadmill can confuse short-term creative validation with long-term career goals. It also nearly always prioritizes praise over profits. Grinning at the emails from happy Free-fed fans is delightful … until the rent’s due. If your ambition is to merrily swim in the overcrowded Free fishbowl and nothing more, keep producing More for Free. If you aim to make a living wage with your words, you must be far more strategic in how you spend your creative time, and how you distribute your creative content — and for fuck’s sake, do something about getting published, or getting paid. Anything less is crowdsourced masturbation.
Also understand that unless you are a truly great writer, running the Free rat-race in an effort to desperately feed your audience will eventually compromise the quality of your work. Sure, you’re entertaining your peeps, but you’re cranking out shit. Don’t crank out shit.
And don’t give away any more than you wish to give. You are not a hostage to your audience. The only thing you owe your audience is quality Free content released on a schedule that is dictated by your terms. If those terms transform into hanging up your Free hat and moving on to other important aspects of your career, you can do that. I did, and I assure you, life goes on.
With few exceptions, creators cannot sustainably dedicate their creative lives to performing heroic tasks for Free to please strangers. This can quickly lead to consensual enslavement, not artistic empowerment. That’s no way to live.
And sometimes, as in the case of the email I received today, you cannot give any more than you already have. This is because you’ve freely provided everything there is. There is no More.
–J.C.
I don’t even know what to say, other than bravo! For continually speaking out against the masses who want, want, want, but don’t want to see you succeed.
I have been trying to make a meager living as a writer for years. Now that James and I are planning our wedding, going through the filing processes with fees up the ole-wazoo, money is tighter than ever. When I pulled back on my free podcast after server and site trouble to focus on my freelance work, I got a bit of slack from some who wanted new episodes in a more timely manner. I understand the disappointment, I really do, but life does not run on the free model.
As much as I love sharing my work with the world… hell, it’s why I write… I also like to eat. I like to put clothes on my teenager daughter, and gas in my car.
Thanks for another good blog, and know that there are people who support the decisions you are making for your own good and welfare. You work hard, and you deserve to see the payoff in more ways than a pat on the back.
There will always be parasites that crave you to give all you have to give until you’re a wasted dried out husk then bitch and moan that there wasn’t any more. We failed to help you, at least I feel so. We weren’t able to get the numbers and help get the word out enough to make this a sustainable creative outlet for you. I respect your decision, (there is a difference between respecting it and liking it but I’ll cope) and hold no hard feelings toward you for making it.
And like I said anytime you need a random bigmouth to start pimping for you let me know (regardless of the project). You’re one of the reasons that random pimpage came into being.
It almost seems redundant to keep saying you’re right, but you are. I remember listening to you and Sigler and Mur and others several years ago warning people that even giving stuff away only minimally lowered the tremendous odds.
When I finished my podcast novel, I released shorts stories, mostly my own, but a few by others as well. I did this for exactly the reasons you outline – keep the audience interested. It wasn’t a big deal because I had the stories in the can and I was happy with them. Afterwards, though (this was about March 2009), I hit a dilemma. I was trying to finish the second novel while at the same time continuing to deliver audio content. I just couldn’t make it happen. And I learned so much after getting my first novel out there that the editing process for the second novel took a long, long time. Bottom line is that last summer I had to let go of the idea of providing continuous content.
Life is short and I could be dead tomorrow. I want to create and I want to interact. I don’t want to be a slave to deadlines for a hobby when doing so really has little value. And I’m not interested in making the relentless building of an audience my primary goal – that doesn’t mean I won’t work hard, it’s just being a realist.
One other note about not pleasing everyone. Look at goodreads or Amazon for any book with fifty or more ratings and I can almost guarantee you you’ll see a couple 1-2 star ratings along with some fives. It doesn’t matter how good the book is, someone’s not gonna like it. Look at 7th Son, look at any book out there. People who don’t like the book literally do not matter. It’s the number of people that do like it that matter. that is not just a feel-good, avoid-responsibility, man we’re soft these days observation, it is a fact that all authors would do well to heed. Think about how many people consider Stephen King’s stuff to be crap and he’s done OK (for the record I love a lot of his writing).
Take care, J.C.
Yet another reason why the upcoming organization can help the masses.
And for the record, quality p0wns quantity any day of the week. When I came out with my infamous “Astral Audio Experience: Episode 5″, it was 18 hours of production work minus everyone’s time spent recording lines. I was worn out, a zombie, going on autopilot, and yet the episode was a big success. (Who knew that people would dig the mix of music as a segway in between audio drama scenes?) I personally got caught in the race to give people content and am glad that I’m allowing myself the chance to get back to my roots so to speak. Keep on keepin’ on!
Apparently I’ve been in a self-dug hole lately (I blame rl being so FRIGGIN task-mistress lately) and missed your post about leaving podcasting.
The real story is my friend (as you know) people whine because they can. They’re little no ones who can’t produce their own life so they feel justified to rain on your fracking awesome parade.
I bemoan with you about the time spent. Thankfully I have a group of awesome people who make it worth it, but lately I’ve been lacking the spark to continue to spend so much time creating stuff that doesn’t get any feedback. Passive fans who seem compelled to complain about everything are soul-suckers.
But yes, write to write. Not because of any other reason. You also need to take vacations to fill yourself back up. I think a lot of writers forget that.
Don’t be gone long my friend. I’ll miss ya too much.
I think what you said needs to be said. While free content is great for us consumers, and yes at times we can be a bit demanding, this turd as you called him crossed the line so far it’s unbelievable. He makes all of us look bad. I will miss hearing your voice, but I look forward to new fiction from you.
Sorry for the turd in your email, you certainly deserve better.
Please know that there are many of us that respect and value you and what you’ve created and given to your readers, and that we anxiously await your next publication.
Now, flush the turd and don’t give it another thought.
JC -
I’ve felt the clamoring pressure of “more free stuff!” since I first started releasing Stranger Things. I haven’t minded, but I also haven’t buckled to the pressure of it, primarily for one reason: I didn’t get into any of this to put out bad work.
I’ve had plenty of jibes and ribbing about my release schedule, and I take it in good humor. And I challenge the audience to find a better program made on the same budget with a more regular release schedule.
For me, podcasting is a proving ground. There’s a loyal fanbase there that I’ll never take for granted, but I’m never going to count on them for a solid income, either. That’s the primary reason I’m in LA – to find the resources I need to see my work done right.
Maybe I’m the only one that thinks so, but I never saw the situation with 7th Son as a falling-short. You proved time and again that you could build an audience and draw attention with your stories. And we both know you can do it again – at will.
To quote a manager from one of my first LA meetings: “You’ve already done the hard work. Taking it to the next level is the easy part.”
Your books rock my world, and you deserve all the financial support you can get. I look forward to buying your next work, in whatever form it takes.
The freeloaders can go fuck themselves.
You could include a $100 bill with every book and people would complain it wasn’t $200. I’m not saying ignore criticisms — sometimes they bring up things you hadn’t thought about. But once you read an email and decide it has no merit, delete it and move on. These haters aren’t worth the emotional energy you’re spending on them. You should be spending that energy writing new stuff for your loyal fans to buy!
I still like you…
Hey, I still have to laugh at the multiple reviewers who said they would have given me five stars on iTunes if I just hadn’t wasted time thanking so many people. Some people will never get it… ever.
J.C.
Here is the thing and there’s no getting around it. When it comes to people and given the choice between paid or free. They will pick free most of the time and demand the same quality as the paid products. I think its just human nature and your turd is a classic example of this.
I learned of you after you had produced all the 7th son pod-cast. I was excited to listen and energized by your words and your excitement of what the series could become. I often thought to myself where is the pay off for J.C. When will he be compensated for all this hard work and make no mistake what you did was hard dedicated work.
You gave to us a story that evolved into an audio drama to then became a world that we could immerse ourself into. you gave this to us at no cost and then it was converted into a book which I wished would of hit the best seller list but it was not to be. I own both the 7th son and Personal Effects and enjoyed both
You are a creator of things. The written word, pod-cast, marketing strategies, and a host of other thing I won’t even know about. So you will be opened to people who both love your work and hate your work. It the way of the world and you have to suck it up and know your stuff is great and it will sell.
The true fan understands it time for J.C. To get his. To earn that money for all that J.C is worth. We will buy your products to help support you and we will spread the word the best we can. It may take time more then you or I want but I know it will come. I know this because I know your work, I know you the writer and I am your fan and I know that you will see your reward in the future.
So do what the rest of us do when we have a turd to deal with. Just flush the damn thing and wish it well on it’s spiral journey through the sewer it belongs in. Because you don’t have time to waste pondering the value of a turd.
I was sad to hear that you would no longer be podcasting. That being said, I still wish you the best of luck in all that you do. Any true fan would feel the same way. I’m sorry that people are talking shit about you. They make the rest of us who support you seem like whiny little brats.
When it’s all said and done, you can’t please everybody know matter how hard you try. Pay no mind to these turds, and focus on what makes you happy.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I’m sorry you received such a ridiculous email. This writing/publishing pursuit is not for the faint of heart, and learning about your situation is both helpful and discouraging.
I started tweeting and promoting my novel (podcast version–free and print version–not free) in the fall of ’09–right about when your print version came out, I think. In fact, Evo did ads for your book at the beginning of my first podiobooks.com episodes! Anyway, I was SO impressed by how well you communicated with your audience and how many devoted fans you had. I was also surprised about how much you gave away. But I do think it helped you build up such a big following, and I’m confident that your fans will continue to support you now.
I know it has to be really frustrating, but you’re not done yet and I think the work you’ve done so far to get your stories out to people, will pay off. I also fully believe that quality work takes time and it’s unwise to cut corners and crank out new material when doing so means what you’re producing is subpar.
So for what it’s worth, I think you are making a very smart decision, and I really appreciate that you are sharing your experiences–even the negative, frustrating ones–with us.
Take care.
Hey, don’t pay this lame ass any mind. You do it the way you want to and if nimrod fucks like that give you shit then screw him. Trust me for every asshole like that there are plenty who gladly buy the books…….
I myself own books from plenty and will continue to buy, whether or not theres “exclusive” content.
thanks for your hard work!
You know what? I think you, and other new media creators, should be paying attention to turds like this. It’s people like this that represent a great majority of others out there who suck like leeches off of their favorite content creator until they’ve gotten every single drop of blood out of them, and then when they’re done, when the Free is all dried up, they’ll move on to the next creator without so much as a thank-you, an email, or a monetary donation to support their continued work. Instead, you’ll only hear from them when an episode is late, or when they’re disappointed in something you’ve done or haven’t done.
Turds like this take the fantasy that all content creators have in their head that putting your work out their for Free will garner instant gratification and validation, and bring it all back to reality. It’s not all roses and wine. It’s fucking hard work, lots of hours, and no money; and when you do something that people may not agree with, they’ll jump on you like a pack of wild hyenas, which leaves a bitter taste in your mouth that makes you say, “Why the fuck do I bother.”
And for those people that may follow-up on my comment with a, “but I bought 7th Son and Personal Effects,” to you I say; great, that’s fantastic. Where the hell were you in the 4-years prior to the books release? Did you contribute anything of monetary value? Did you leave a donation on Podiobooks.com? Did you donate anything to monetarily support the Free content you were getting when there was no publishing deal? To support Hutch when he was (and still is) working a 40-hour work week at the day job and then staying up until 1 and 2 AM to pump out the Free content you so enjoy, and now miss?
Think about that the next time you’re listening to something you really enjoy for Free, or else you know what? Others like J.C. are going to pack it up and there will be no more blood to suck.
Amen.
I am experimenting with Scribd. I am also experimenting with an ebook label(Book Merah), using it as an umbrella for myself and other writers. Twice we’ve been featured on Scribd. About 1500 reads per da resultedy. As a writer, I’m thrilled. As someone who eats and pays rent, I am not…zero sales.
Those were not total giveaways, however, just samples.
Again, great article. Thanks
SB
I am not that familiar with your work but I hate to read anyone who provides something and complains about not making money. IT IS NOT THE CONSUMERS JOB TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MONETIZE. Not now, not ever.
LIke I said I know nothing to very little about you or your industry. I am going to make two assumptions:
When you provided something for free you expected something measureable not just knowledge, community, experience, exposure, etc.
You have lost your love for what it is you are are providing. I do not volunteer and than try to collect a pay check. My payment was in joy.
Nothing is wrong with making money. I love money. There is however something wrong with “volunteering” and than expecting something more than our attention.
I apoligize if I mis-read what you said and that this is the 100th blog I have read where the writer wants my attention and to make a business model for them.
@eradke: It sounds like you’re unfairly projecting onto me your frustrations of reading 99 other blogs in which you’ve (likely incorrectly) assumed that those creators were personally asking you “to make a business model for them.”
You did indeed misread my post, and fundamentally misunderstood its point. My post was not written for you, the consumer. My post was clearly directed at New Media content creators who play in the Free space.
This post is not an indictment of the Free model. The post clearly illustrates the potential pitfalls of funneling one’s complete creative energy into the Free model, and the unreasonable, unattainable expectations some audience members will always have. By pulling back the curtain and offering a genuine and seasoned perspective on the risks New Media content creators presently face (and often outright ignore), the post is designed to get New Media creators thinking about the very topic you mentioned: monetization and/or compensation … and most important, career goals.
You are certainly right: It is not the consumer’s responsibility to provide monetization models to creators. (Contrary to your insinuation, my post never asks you or any other reader to provide those models.) But I’m certain you’ll agree that it is not the responsibility of the creator to mindlessly slave away at providing Free content simply because his ever-ravenous audience demands it. That model is a losing one, and leads to lackluster content. It also leads to a forever Free gravy train that heaps all accountability and obligation onto the shoulders of the creator, and none onto his audience — an audience that, under the worst of circumstances, can become spoiled, fussy and entitled.
If you had read the blog post I linked to in the fifth paragraph of this essay, you would have seen that I do indeed have a monetization model in place, and am no longer giving away my fiction. This post, the one upon which you’re commenting, isn’t written for my benefit — it’s written for the creators who are still producing Free content, and who may be operating under several false assumptions that, sadly, have become mantras within the New Media creative community.
It’s interesting that you suggest that I’ve “lost my love” for the very philosophy that played a pivotal role in my becoming an undisputed leader in the podcast fiction space, and securing a two-book mainstream publishing deal. I love the Free model, and believe it has personal, professional and creative worth. It is because I love the model — and greatly admire the creators, many of whom are close personal friends — that I wrote this post. To love a thing requires to love it for its beauty, promise … and potential pitfalls.
Educating others on avoiding those pitfalls leads to professional and creative insights. This can lead to savvy entrepreneurship — which can lead to creators building robust business models. So, it’s a good thing that you publicly announced your refusal to provide advice on “HOW TO MONETIZE”, or how “to make a business model.” You would’ve been wasting your time, had you listed them. Those models already exist, and are used by many creators.
–J.C.
J.C.
First I want to say, “What a great post.” Your warning needs to be taken, and if I ever do get off my ass and start producing content, I shall remember.
Of course persons such as yourself spend many, many hours of their lives to produce the quality work you create. Time that can never be refunded. So it is normal to desire, nay, expect some form of compensation, money being the universally accepted form of said compensation. Anyone suggesting that you are not is deluded, or just plain evil.
As for wanting more free content. I find it hard to blame the public, while at the same time condemning this attitude. Too often “free” and “the web” have been connected. When the creator of the Web released the web to the world, it was with the provision that everyone would have free access to it. Providing they had access to the Internet of course. That was his decision, but that does not mean that all who create and share over the net must follow suite.
The public is like a baby, that refuses to get weaned. Creators of content on the web, such as yourself, offer their work to generate interest in their work, so as to generate sales opportunity. Well, not really precisely this, but somewhat like it. You do not provide this content because a spaceman came down and told you it was your destiny to entertain the public at your own expense. But the public once given free [as in no cost] access to something doesn’t want to start paying for it. I would say, “I can’t blame them.” if it weren’t for the fact that this view is very shortsighted. You left, if I understand correctly, the world of podcasting. That is a consequence of this shortsightedness. And unfortunately more will follow.
Another factor, no one would call a plumber and expect him to come fix the drains in their home for free. Do you expect your local baker to give you free cakes just because he offers free samples? No, but a writer is often expected to do so. Because there is nothing tangible in what we produce [save for the paper and ink the work is printed on] many feel that there is no value in it and that it is no great strain for a writer to produce something, Therefore they should give it all away for free.
I liked the model that Podiobooks uses. Like an honor based system, you listen to an author’s audio book and contribute what you feel it was worth to you. I have donated to a few authors after listening to their books. However, I have no clue as how many leach without ever contributing.
Anyway, this rant has gone long enough. Thank you for all you have done, and I hope to see your work on the book shelf of a store someday soon.
– Marc “De Puma” Lombart
AKA Beta Clone 101
I just keep thinking: NPR, although it gives everything away for “free”, still has premiums to get you to donate. Usually interrupting the normal news or programming to plug themselves over and over. It’s easier to do premiums in this new media world, but since the feed is the feed, it’s harder to interrupt it to ask for $$ in a way they can’t just skip.