Serialized Free Novels on the Internet Are Really In

by Bill Stephens

The Good Book says, “Cast your bread on the water and be sure it will return to you.” The publishing industry seems to be hueing to this philosophy more every week as the number of free serialized novels available on the internet increases exponentially.

I have been offering my novel, Horizons Past, for free in serialized form ( www.horizonspast.com ) for about five months. I had no illusions of inventing the wheel with this unusual approach, because I knew a handful of authors had preceded me. Now I read several times a week of yet another novel going out in e-book serialized format for free.

Many of the comments I get speak to the question, “Why would you give your book away.” The answer to that depends on how established the author is. Established authors create markets for their backlist of books and interest in their upcoming releases. They also now get paid for their serialized books from sponsors who display the books on their websites to attract business.

M. J. Rose in the article “Serial E-Authors Make a Killing” told of authors Doug Clegg, Steven Lee Climer, and Charles Compo leveraging their published books by building readership with free serialized novels. Apparently Internet marketers like Cybergold also have latched on to serialized novels as a way to draw customers to their site.

Booktrade.info reports that Headline Publishing’s Contact, the debut novel from British comics writer Simon Spurrier, will be published online for free starting on May 24th. The book will be released over a six-week period coinciding with the release of the print edition. Headline claims to be the first mainstream commercial publisher to make such a move.

For wannabee and lesser authors, the free serialized novel serves to generate visibility and name recognition, but apparently for established authors, giving your book away seems to generate big cash returns.

Bill Stephens has written for newspapers and periodicals for over 20 years. You can read his novel, Horizons Past, for free on http://www.horizonspast.com His essays appear on his Blog, Read It and Weep http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/billstephens