Webscriptions VS Dead Tree Format

[seawasp]

Or "which one is better for you?".

This is a question I get asked fairly frequently, including just today in a comment by fallenpegasus to my last post.

The answer is not QUITE as simple as it appears. Monetarily, I'm pretty sure that Webscriptions (the Electronic Text version of DK that you pay for) gives me more money per copy than the dead tree format. However, the dead tree format is what most people track, including distributors and large book chains like Amazon, Borders, B&N, etc., so an electronic sale doesn't have any effect on their numbers -- which will very likely affect the volume of re-orders they place with distributors and the future volume of orders for NEW books by me.

OBVIOUSLY, therefore, as loyal readers and supporters of my literary ventures, your only option is to buy BOTH! ;)

Comments

[fallenpegasus]

If you're going to keep lending out copies with the expectation that they will go away, why not sign up for BookCrossing.com?

It makes a lot more fun to lend away books.

[(Anonymous)]

My theory is, if I really like a book, I buy extra copies, so that I can lend them to other people and still have my own.

But in this particular case, I made outright gifts of them.

Now that I'm down to one dead tree version, I'm hesitant to lend it. But my brother has it on his to read list, after he finishes the Vorkosigan books.