Scribd - Good or Bad for Authors?
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Like many independent authors out there, I use Draft2Digital to get my books onto several ebook platforms. I have LOVED it. No seriously, LOVED it. It is unbelievably user friendly and takes a few minutes at most.
Compare that to Nook Press and KDP, which I also use, and it’s a freaking walk in the park!
Now Draft2Digital just announced that they are offering Scribd as another platform for authors to place their books. From the limited research I’ve done, it seems like it’s the Netflix for books? Do you use it?
All of this would sound fine if it wasn’t for the ever looming cloud over every author’s head…. piracy. Scribd states that they have fully dealt with this issue and even D2D said this in their introductory email:
"We know that some authors have expressed concerns about Scribd’s enforcement of copyright claims. We investigated the matter thoroughly before entering into a deal with the service, and we’re entirely satisfied that the administration is committed to combating piracy and providing a robust, legitimate reading platform. All Draft2Digital books submitted to Scribd will be added to their content fingerprinting system, removing any unauthorized copies from the site and preventing new ones in the future."
Well, I took the plunge and opted into the Scribd program on D2D. I can opt out anytime and believe me, I will, if something seems fishy. But the way I see it is this, the indie author world has become a place of fear. It thrives on fear.
Fear that someone will steal your work. Fear that no one will care about your work. Fear that another author will bring ruin to you. Fear of a bad review. Fear that you’ve put your heart into several hundred pages, waiting for someone to come along and tear it apart.
Well, I’m tired of living in fear. If someone is going to steal my book, I can’t stop them. I can take as many preventative measures as I want, but if they are determined- they will succeed. Just like it doesn’t matter where I hide the cookies in my house (even going so far as to stick them in an oatmeal container)- my husband WILL find them.
Can’t stop people from getting what they want, so why don’t we stop being afraid and see where it takes us.
Let’s give Scribd a chance and see what will happen….
