When I started blogging writer friends questioned my inclusion of free ‘flash stories’ in the form of crafting pieces.  The tone was definitly, “Oh–Didn’t you know?  That’s considered published.  Oh well.”

Their logic was that paid publication is the goal, and flash pieces are widely accepted amongst the semi-pro markets, so I should be submitting them, not posting them to my blog.

I disagreed.  First of all, I’m still honing my craft, especially my flash pieces, so it’s not likely that all these little excerpts would be accepted.  Second of all, even if they were accepted I might be better off in the long run putting them on my blog.

What!?  Why?

Because I’m trying to build a readership that will stay with me, and enjoy my writing throughout my career.  Attracting people to my blog is an important part of my plans to do this.  Plus, the number of readers potentially available online is higher than the circulation of even pro magazines, and when readers come to my site and like what they read they are more likely to remember my name than if they find me sandwiched in a magazine.  It makes sense to give them a sample of my work, and hopefully get them hooked.  Then they can spread the word amongst friends, and my readership grows that much more.

But I could be wrong.  After all, I’m a newbie to blogging, and still unpublished in professional markets.  So I didn’t argue with my friends (okay, maybe a little bit) and just did my own thing.

Now I’ve come across someone who is a published pro writer and respected in the field–and he agrees with me.  Eric Flint over at Baen’s Universe says (rough paraphrasing) that offering a book for free–whether online, in promotion, or when loaned amongst friends–has always improved sales, and continues to do so.  Eric Flint was the first author I know of to offer an entire published, still in print, novel online for free.  You can read it at the Baen Free Library, and take out several other books for free too.

With the advent of the internet, more people can be reached than ever.  And just like the little lady with the plate of samples in the grocery store passing out a taste of the new and improved pizza pockets, your sales and/or exposure will go up as you share what you have to offer with your audience *before* they shell out from their paypal account.

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