Right now, the most powerful word in the English language is Free. I think about this word every day. On behalf of friends, clients and even myself. It is a word and a term, and more than that, a philosophy, that no matter what we do, where we live, who we are, is having an incredible impact on our lives.
One thing I have learned of late is that the people who have the most to benefit from Free are terrified of it. Why are people so afraid of something so simple? Well, there are legitimate, tangible reasons why people would fear Free. Especially for content generators (artists, writers, video producers, musicians). For one, the value of their work, in a Free world, means they are out of job. It doesn’t really, but that is the perception. Perception is reality, therefore Free is the enemy.
Content is STILL King
In fact, in a world of Free it makes content the most valuable commodity in the world, only in a completely different way, both literally and psychologically. When we consider the word Free from, let’s call it the 20th century mindset, or the first millenial mindset, then yes, Free should be feared. But when you look at Free liberated from our adoration and enshrinement of those centuries old strictures, then you start to see the value of Free. It’s like a shadowy dream image that keeps going in and out of focus, a foggy block of text striving to make its way into our viewfinder. It’s coming out, its starting to peek through.
When you finally do arrive at a place that doesn’t automatically envelop Free in a pool of dirty associations, you can actually start to work with the value of Free, and see, in sharp relief the incredible things that Free can do for you. For the purpose of this blog post, let’s just state one one great thing that Free can do for content creators.
When there is no price barrier to entry, you can bet on a much bigger community. As a writer, I want the greatest possible number of people reading my work. Plain and simple. I’d rather have 1000 people reading what I have a say, then 10 people paying for the privilege. Ask me if you don’t know why.
Free is the Only Price for Content
Its too late to consider any other price for content. Despite the few outlying examples: WSJ, Wine Spectator, etc., the reality is that content is free. It wants to be free. It has to be free. And the quicker we come all around to that truth, the more rapidly we can begin discovering the new ways to get paid. They are out there. I am in the woods right now, my heart is breathing fast, I can see my breath, my spear is sharpened. Oh man I am on the fucking hunt for those ways to get paid. I will slay that beast, field-dress it, probably drink its blood, eat its heart, and then bring it back to my community so that we can all share in the spoils. Yeah, I am doing this for YOU.
I am losing my mind doing it as well. Man I am on the edge out here, staring into the vasty nothingness I am scared, a lot. I honestly may have lost my mind. I’ve put my chips on the table, and if I get zero’d out again, I think I’m outta the game. I might be walking dogs the rest of my life.
This has implications for my own life too, and it is interesting to basically be in the same boat as my clients, as my friends. Sometimes I wish that I could just have something to sell, beyond my ideas. Maybe I need a widget?
But no, really I don’t, because I believe in Free, I believe in the knowledge economy. But it is hard to believe in anything these days. Even something we know to be right. I am a sensitive guy. Believe it or not, but I feel things very strongly. I take things personally. I take the problems in our society personally. I take the partisanship inherent in our political system personally. I take the fear and hopelessness of quality content creators personally. And I’ve finally got to the point where I am overwhelmed with all this feeling.
But I have no recourse. And it occurs to me that WE, as a society, have no recourse. We can stand here at the precipice of the gorgeous new age, one that will be beautiful and terrifying and productive and horrible, and we can become paralyzed, begging to whoever will listen to just make it stop, to take us back to when things were safe, when things were comfortable, when we wrote an article, sent it to our editor and got paid. Why can’t we just go back to that soft lovely time when things had rounded corners and I knew what was happening and I didn’t have to wake up every single day and have no idea if today would be the day I lost my job.
Well today I have no job. Except that everything is my job. There is no separation for me anymore. My life and my work, my pleasure and my pain, my profits and losses, they all tabulate at the end of the day, only I’ve decided to take away the columns of debits and credits. Everything is in the same column now.
Image Source: Agok on Flickr
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow. Very Powerful statement Brave New World. As Whitman aptly put it: Now Voyager depart,much,much for thee is yet in store
Dad
Thanks for the comment. Things are definitely coming to a head, both personally and professionally. It is by far the most exciting time of my life. It is hard, but I will persevere.
I have no other option. I don’t know how to stop and I wouldn’t want those skills even if they were offered to me.
Z
Zac,
That was an amazing piece.
It was very touching.extremely honest and really goes straight to the core.
it’s a new world out there for everyone, but especially for you, the youth!
FDR said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Just Wait. the best is yet to come!
Mommy
thanks Jeri!!!
I just re read your article.
this was one of the most profound writings I think I have ever read.
This should be published, as soon as possible.
I think you are to become one of this centuries greatest writers..
I mean that with all of my heart.
And I love you with all my heart as well.
Mommy
Unfortunately, I don’t have anything of substance to add to this. Except to say that I relate. My first thought was, “Well, there are worse things than walking dogs” (probably because I do this four times a day with my own). But as a writer struggling to create my own “product” and constantly wondering how I’m going to “break in,” I have countless moments of self-doubt. In my case so much of my time is spent writing the “product” that I don’t have a lot of time to produce quality free content. That said, I think there will be a time when the two will merge and I will use the “Free” to spark the interest which will result in the “Paid.”
As for the self-doubt, I usually just ignore it as much as possible because feeding it is not productive. I feel like the traditional publishing industry is trying very hard right now to keep things as they’ve always been even when it’s obvious everything has already changed. Aspiring authors everywhere are looking for alternative ways to get published, but unless they do it in an informed, strategic way, they are as misled as the industry they’re trying to bypass.
I end up being a barista at Starbucks, so be it. I’ll still keep writing (and walking dogs).
Holly What I would advise any author young or old is to give their books away ASAP. The book publishing industry is dying and has long been unfair to the majority of writers. It is the same problem as with Hollywood, they bet on a few big blockbusters to make up for the crap they sell. Why not depend less on blockbusters and publish less crap and more decent work. It wont be as glamorous and the profit potential isn’t as high, but they aren’t making money anyway.
Thanks for the comment my dear. Good to know we are in the same boat.
My book’s not ready to give away or sell! But even as I write, I am formulating a plan…
Hi Zachary,
Great piece- been looking forward to reading it for a few days. I love it. Give it away, Give it away, Now! As both an artist and a retailer (and a content creator) I am in favor of this approach as afar as I can . . . allowing downloadable music and videos on is a start, once you have your own website you can do a lot more; including the odd giveaway for shows, beers at shows and more . . For wine you can offer free tastings, and criticism of wines and restaurants. We do most of this, our failing (in both franglais – http://www.myspace.com/franglais & 67 wine) is not meeting the social aspect of social media- we have some media- but not the online social skills to take advantage! working on it though.
Congrats Z, A great idea, and a great presentation.
Ben
Zac, I finally got around to reading this, and I am certainly glad I did. It’s truly refreshing to read writing that is of such a professional and high standard.
As to your point, I’ve been thinking maybe we should be tying to find and apply a value to content beyond the simple consumption of it? Instead of viewing the actual reading of an article as the only potential source of profit, we need to get creative and figure out where the other sources of value are. Maybe it’s the sharing, maybe it’s the association, maybe it’s the mind behind the content. It all strengthens your point that the traditional definition and understanding of ‘free’ has been replaced.
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Are you stepping away from failure or towards success? =-.
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