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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/29620
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/29620
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

You really can't get a free lunch. If there were a way, it would be overwhelmed by any novice writer capable of Googling, and quickly become useless.

That said: The people that do this "for free" are called agents. They actually work on commission, the standard is 15% but IMO can range to 35% and remain within the realm of "ethical" if they are taking on a first time author (there is so much more work to do to get a sale).

Another option is to self-publish on ITunes, they will also charge you fees and commissions, but I have read of authors doing quite well there, developing a following of many thousands.

Any other place you imagine selling for free, you can't. If you have some kind of following, a local bookstore might let you set up a folding table to sell your book, they like the traffic and novelty. But you will pay them something, a few dollars per book sold. If you don't sell any books, or sound like a carnival barker, or they get any customer complaints, they will tell you it isn't working out. The manager may want to read your book before he decides (my end-of-block neighbor manages a large bookstore); if your writing seems unprofessional to him, he will turn you down. If you try to charge him for a copy or get a deposit, things he has experienced, he will refuse immediately --- Obviously you don't realize he would be doing YOU more of a favor than you would be doing HIM.

And finally you aren't going to find places to sell your book without paying some hefty commissions; bookstores are struggling and have to earn money, so they pay much less than the sales price and (almost) always get very liberal rights of return, including full refunds, for any non-selling books you place with them.

Off the top of my head another option (which will cost you tens of dollars a month) is to create your own website, and offer free chapters with an option to buy. I don't know if that works; I have heard of it being done.

If it is only **greed** driving you to self-publish, I'd suggest letting it go and concentrate on writing well enough to get an agent. If you are aiming to self-publish because no agent will represent you (without an upfront fee, and stay away from those guys), let go of of writing instead.

Original score: 2