Pay If You Want

The Internet connects creative people with a worldwide audience, with no printing, distribution, or marketing costs. So, many people offer their work for free.

One of the best things about the Internet is that it links creative people to their audience, anywhere in the world. People can post nearly anything they want online, and be as risqué as they like. The Internet removes the need for printing, distribution, and marketing, so a writer or musician can offer their work to the world at little or no cost. Unsigned bands can distribute their songs through so many web sites there is now a website called simply, ‘a semi-comprehensive list of MP3 hosting & music streaming sites that accept original music by underground artists, as well as mainstream acts.’ (http://www.therecordindustry.com/record-mp3sitelisting.htm)

In addition to hundreds of fiction and fan fiction sites offering free text fiction, there are also some brilliant online comics. One I remain devoted to is ‘Freefall’ (http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff100/fv00001.htm), which is both amazing science fiction and incredibly fun, at least in my opinion. Another one is ‘Sluggy’ by Pete Abrams (http://www.sluggy.com/), probably the most linked-to comic after Dilbert. Interestingly, people can pay for Sluggy if they wish. True ‘Sluggites’ can become a ‘Defender of the Nifty’ and support the site with a $30 donation. $25 yearly donations in subsequent years will get ‘Defenders’ ad-free viewing. People can also buy Sluggy books and merchandise. Or, devoted fans can read Sluggy religiously for years, praise the comic to their friends, and discuss it for hours, all without spending a dime. Pete Abrams offers it purely as ‘Pay If You Want’.

Isn’t the Internet, and the generosity of creative people, wonderful?

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