Start With Free Short Stories?

Sam Best · Nov 15, 2011

Heya everyone.

I want to try something similar to Pete's plan here, but with two short stories used to promote a novel that will be released early to mid December.

Has anyone tried this sort of thing and noticed that they actually gain some interest? I thought about selling the two shorts for $.99 but I want to get a little bit of my work out there, and I figure I can always price them later if I start doing really well.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

J. Tanner · Nov 15, 2011

Getting them published prior to having the novel ready is fine.

I wouldn't set them to free until the novel is ready. Publish at 99 cents for now. The vast majority of the visibility you gain is the first 1-2 weeks of free. If you have nothing to sell at that moment, you'll be missing your window.

(Free shorts have generally been determined to be less effective overall than a free novel in a series. But it's probably better than nothing.)

Sam Best · Nov 15, 2011

I see, thanks for that.

Something I forgot to ask is which platform is best for short stories (if any are superior). Smashwords, Amazon? All?

MartinD · Nov 15, 2011

I'd post my work on every available forum.

Otherwise, if you're only willing to pick one, go Amazon.

FOTSGreg · Nov 15, 2011

Post everywhere you can. Post the stories on Smashwords, Amazon, and PubIt. Post announcements of them here on AW (in the Announcements forum), on your blog, your web page, FaceBook, everywhere you have a voice or audience.

You are your own best marketer and you have to be your own publicist.

Sam Best · Nov 16, 2011

Thanks for all the help. I started at 99 cents for each, and you can see the links in my sig. I'll drop them down to free right before I plan on publishing my book. Time to get the word out!

shaldna · Nov 19, 2011

Bear in mind that Amazon doesn't allow you to set a free price point. The only way to do that is to make it free elsewhere and wait for Amazon to price match it.

Start With Free Short Stories?

Sam Best

New Fish

J. Tanner

Sam Best

New Fish

MartinD

Thought I'd stop by

FOTSGreg

Today is your last day.

Sam Best

New Fish

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.