In which Seanan brings up an awkward topic.

[seanan_mcguire]

I hate making posts like this one, so I'm just going to go ahead and get to it. Here we go:

I am not a vending machine. You can't put a quarter in me to get free stuff exactly when you want it. You can't actually put a quarter in me at all. You can give me a quarter--I like quarters--but I am not a coin-operated story dispenser. I am a people.

I give away a lot of free fiction around here, both via my website (InCryptid shorts, Toby Daye shorts) and via this blog (Velveteen stories). In the case of the website shorts, they represent a lot more than just my writing time. I commission (and pay for) the story covers. In order to make the reading experience as easy and pleasant as possible, I have to ask my friend Will to convert the text files to ePub, MOBI, and PDF (which is, by the way, why I tend to shrug when people report typos; they're free, and the conversion is done on a volunteer basis, which means I am not going to ask him to completely reformat a file unless the error is so catastrophically large as to make the story unreadable). Once the stories are prepared, all the uploading and formatting on my website is done by hand, by me.

There is a lot of invisible back-end labor involved with bringing you a free treat. That's part of why I do the tip jars: they don't just justify my making time to write the stories, even if it means I might have to pass on an anthology. They pay for the covers, and for the administrative time I have to take away from writing in order to make sure everything is working correctly.

This is not me gearing up to asking for money, by the way: there was no tip jar in October, in part because one of the stories funded by the last tip jar has not been posted yet. Because even a "prioritized" story has to fit in around all my other publications and commitments, all the release dates I have to promote, all the conventions I have to attend. Because at the end of the day, while I want to tell you these stories as much as you want to hear them, I still have to be able to tell my publishers that they will come first. They pay my bills. They keep my main series going. They have to come before the freebies.

So why am I saying all this?

Because people keep emailing me going "hey when do we get the next free story." And this makes me feel terrible. It makes me feel like a party trick, like a vending machine, like I have no value apart from what I give away for free. I released a novel in November! I had several short stories come out, in several different genres! But when is the next free story. When is the next free story. Why don't we have it yet. Why aren't you doing it.

I understand eagerness. I genuinely do. I understand wanting to know what happens next now. I used to follow Kelley Armstrong's free fiction, back when she posted it regularly on her website; I get frustrated when my favorite fanfic writers don't publish chapters on schedule. But I am so outnumbered, and when all I hear is "why aren't you giving us more," it's really demoralizing. It kills my desire to give things away for free, and it makes it harder to keep working on those stories.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. But please, remember that I am a person, not a vending machine; I am not just here to give things away. And if I'm not posting something new, it's probably because I'm working my ass off at the things that keep the lights on, not because I'm lounging on a beach somewhere. Please have patience.

Thank you.

Comments

[nelc.livejournal.com]

There should be a ~Asimov's Laws of Authoring, of which the first one is "An author must protect their own existence." Maybe the second is about writing for the money (except where it conflicts with the First Law)? And the readers trail along last?

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

It gets complicated, because part of "An author must protect their own existence," for me, is the free fiction. It fills the same niche in my brain as fanfic, and keeps me sane...until people start bothering me about it, and making me feel like they don't want to buy the cow anymore, as they have acquired sufficient milk for free.

[woofiegrrl.livejournal.com]

Can I get a pointer in the direction of the nearest tip jar, please? I just finished all the available Newsflesh material and I want to say thank you again.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

There is not currently an open tip jar; I tend to do them twice-yearly, and don't currently have one running. But thank you so much.

[eoforyth.livejournal.com]

Have a few free hugs. If I was going to try inserting a quarter, it would be a chocolate one straight on your tongue (if not chocolate, something else you like). I like your free stories, but I feel privileged to have the chance to read what you share rather than entitled to demand more. Try not to let it get to you too much, even though I know it is difficult for you.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[cantseemee.livejournal.com]

Just want to throw out a huge "thank you" for basically providing the world with some quality reading material. I'd totally donate to a tip jar.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

There will be another in 2016, but I didn't want to open one before fulfilling the last one, and my publishing schedule in 2015 was such that story posting was naturally slowed.

[beable]

Let me just say thank you for the free fiction!
I love particularly the Incryptid fiction page and the way having all the stories flesh out the universe and back story.
The stories add a lot of depth (and in the case of the Healy ones, a lot of mice) to an already fun to read universe.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I am glad you enjoy them.

[listicath.livejournal.com]

I love that you give us free stories, which flesh out the worlds you create even more than they are already in the books we pay for.

But I think of these as gifts from you to your readers, for which I'm grateful but no more entitled to demand the next one than I am to demand a christmas present from a friend.

So thank you for your wonderful worlds and your generosity to us.

Have a Happy Hogswatch and a prosperous new year.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Happy Hogswatch!

[badgermirlacca.livejournal.com]

You sound like a woman who could really use a tickled penguin about now.

Here!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYitP5iXVPQ

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwwww.

[reedrover]

In case you need a breather - I remembered your Australian story, hope this gives you a smile. http://www.theguardian.com/world/picture/2015/dec/04/giant-lizard-gives-australian-man-a-fright-then-a-photo-op

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

That lizard makes me so happy.

[alinore.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your free fiction. Thank you for being an author that publishes regularly. Thank you for gifting us (the world) with your art. You are truly one of my favorite authors and I appreciate your work.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

[catlein.livejournal.com]

(Sends hugs)

I'm always happy to see more writing from you, both stuff I have to pay for and stuff I do not! With the free stuff, you always announce it on your blog, and I take them as delightful surprises/gifts as they come. Oh look! New writings! This is muchly exciting as I am terrible at keeping track of schedules so this was a total surprise to me! YEAH!

In short, thank you for the gifts scattered throughout the year. I appreciate them a lot and the time you take to give them to us!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

You are very welcome.

[sparrowpunk.livejournal.com]

I read fast, and I don't do much besides, so new fiction is a big big treat, but I'm sad that this post needed to be made, and I wish you were lounging on a beach somewhere (if beaches are your thing. If not, Disneyland?).

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

DISNEYLAND.

[replyhazy.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the free stories. Free stories are the best present ever. It is terribly impolite to be jumping up and down, begging for more presents. And part of the charm of a present is when it sneaks up on you and *BAM* look, it's a present! Much more fun that way. I will wait for the *BAM*!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

You are so very welcome.

[anne_d]

I really enjoy the stories you give us. I also really enjoy and pay for the stories that keep you and the cats fed. Thank you for all of them.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[amelia edwards (from livejournal.com)]

"...not because I'm lounging on a beach somewhere."

Despite the frequent cries in our house of "WHEN is the next book going to be ready....doesn't she know we NEED them? *dramatic sob* ", we would not begrudge beach-lounging activities so long as you are not eaten by a shark and thus be unable to write more books for our enjoyment.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I would like to meet a shark, but not be meat for a shark.

[jenfullmoon.livejournal.com]

Whenever you get to things is fine by me! No rush!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[scholarinexile.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry anyone has made you feel this way. You are much loved, and I think I speak for the overwhelming majority of your readership, and certainly all of us who count you a friend, in saying that we understand that you need to work on what you can work on, and when you offer us free treats, we take them as just that, special extras that come as a gift, not anything we expect or certainly anything we have a right or desire to demand. Hugs tight...thank you for all you do. And Blessed Yule.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

Blessed Yule!

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I am sorry there are rude and impertinent people out there. While I love your InCryptid short stories, by no means do I feel entitled to them on any sort of schedule -- even one you have suggested.

Please feel free to set up such e-mails on a dart board, and treat it as voodoo mail.

I'm afraid there will always be inconsiderate parasites in the world.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com]

The short stories you have provided are absolute treasures, and I am so grateful for them. I loved getting to meet Frances, to see how much of her lives on in the current generation of the Price family. Yeah, it felt like my heart had been ripped out at the end, but I could only feel that because you gave her to us, you made her real and alive and didn't ask for anything in return. Thank you so much for that. You're not just a person; in my opinion you're a pretty awesomely amazing person.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Aw, shucks. :)

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

People are jerks. I am sad that they are jerks to you, you don't deserve it.
On a happier note, I got One Salt Sea from a co-worker. Yays for Christmas readings (I'm a touch behind on that series)!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

FYI - I remain awed, flabbergasted and gobsmacked by how much you write. That there would be people actually asking you for MORE? When you already write at a screaming pace that I'm pretty sure must be fueled by fevered gremlins, somehow?

These people need to STFU.

Of course, maybe that's it! You make it look so easy (it's not, I know) that they just assume you can hammer out more anytime someone asks!

Ungrateful, entitled people seem to be multiplying at a horrendous pace - I being to wonder if it's some contagious disease of some kind that's spreading through the internet.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I think that's part of the problem. Because I'm fast, people assume I'm superhuman.

[anderyn.livejournal.com]

I appreciate the free stories as much as anyone, but I have always understood that they were a gracious extra you were sharing with us, not a right. I would be sad if there were no more of them, but I'd be even sadder if I couldn't buy any longer stories/books. Take your time, do what pays for the catfood and Seanan food, and if you get the time, I will be here to read whatever....

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[anna-en-route.livejournal.com]

I would really like it if you were able to lounge on (a very safe) beach somewhere for a little while, you go far above and beyond what you owe your audience and you deserve a chance to be a relaxed human being for a while.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I would like it if the beach had lizards.

In which Seanan brings up an awkward topic. -A Response

[windstriker85.livejournal.com]

Hello,

I am a great fan of your and there is something I feel must be said.

But first I would like to say how I originally found out about you and your work. It was by going through a search of audible to find my next audio-book fix (audio-books are me version of crack). While searching I came across Velveteen vs. The Junior Super-Patriots and immediately purchased it. While listening to it, I fell in love with Velveteen and her adventures. This led me to then purchase her next book and eventually to branch out into your other universes. After finishing the second Velveteen book I was bummed out because it looked like you were not continuing her stories, until a few months ago I found this blog and found out you were releasing more stories on it.

Please let me say this very clearly I DO NOT come to this blog in order to receive free Velveteen stories. I come to this blog in order to keep in touch with one of my favorite book characters and this is the only source that I know of to do so. I strongly believe that an artist should get paid for her or his work. In fact I sincerely hope you will release another Velveteen audiobook (my favorite format) on audible in which I will haply pre-order and buy it. For that matter I would haply pay for her individual stories if you allowed us to. The meme "shut up and take my money" comes to mind. It is both your right and choice to give these stories out for free. I think it is extremely generous that you do so, but, I think you do a disservice to both you and your fans by implying the only reason they read these stories is because they are free. I think I can safely say the reason they ask is not because they want free stuff but because they truly love the worlds you create and can’t wait for more. The only reason I personally don't send thousands of messages asking when the next story will be available. Is, I know you have other stories and obligations to fulfill (and a life for that matter), and that there are only so many hours in a day. You need time to both write these stories while keeping the up to your standards and time to get away from it so you don't get burned out.

I have never and never will, view you as a vending machine who is only there to release free stuff (or paid stuff). I am truly sorry if people make you feel that way. You are an amazing writer and I can't wait to get lost in your worlds again.

Sincerely,

David Henderson

RE: In which Seanan brings up an awkward topic. -A Response

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I never meant to imply that people read only because things are free: the fact that the anthologies sell proves that's not true, and I am deeply grateful. But the amount of email I've received in just the last month demanding to know where the next free story is? Is pretty daunting, and it seriously killed my desire to prep anything new for release.

I know my fans are awesome. But I am still a person, and when people treat me like a vending machine, I am going to balk, just like a person.

[lazzchan.livejournal.com]

No one is entitled to anything; except food and healthcare and air and such. Fiction that you provide for us is not something that we should expect and that people demand it of you.. :( I write fanfiction whilst I wait for my novel to be accepted somewhere and even fanfic doesn't get a free pass of "update now". I'm truly sorry that you have people that are so eager that they let their eagerness overcome their common sense. I love your free fiction, I'm hunting down anthologies so that I can read the other short stories. I, however, will not /demand/ that you update anything. I see your writing list, your signing list, your convention list, not to mention all the work you do at your home, your free time, your friend time-- etc. *hugs* Thank you so much for all that you've given us, Seanan.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

You are so welcome.

Sometimes I miss the fanfic mines.

[knappenp.livejournal.com]

A friend recently introduced me to your work, and I can't get enough. But, hyperbole aside, I can't read all the time. And you can't write all the time. And people need breaks, sometimes even from the things they love, and it's beyond the pale to expect that an author keep up an insane pace of production. Don't burn out. Take the time you need. Take the time you *want*. We can wait. We aren't going anywhere (in the sense of 'New McGuire in the store! Squee!', not 'we're camped on your lawn').

Someday patreon will allow everyones' favorite authors to live in the lap of luxury...

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

If you were camped on my lawn right now, you would get very wet...