Tag: Publishing

When Writing Free eBooks Still Feels Like Shouting Into the Void

I did not expect this feeling to arrive so quietly.

No dramatic moment.
No emotional breakdown.
Just a soft question that kept returning while I stared at my screen.

Should I stop writing eBooks about IoT, startups, and entrepreneurship?

I have written several eBooks over the years. Some came from years of experience building platforms. Some from scars earned while running a startup. Some from observing founders struggle with the same blind spots again and again.

I made them free.
No paywall.
No upsell tricks.
Just knowledge, stories, and lessons shared openly.

Yet after my last three books (Hello IoT, The Favoriot Way: A Life Built on Curiosity and Courage, Favoriot : The Journey of an IoT Startup), something felt off.

Downloads slowed.
Shares dropped.
The quiet became louder.

At first, I blamed myself.

Maybe the topics are stale.
Maybe I am repeating myself.
Maybe people are tired of hearing from me.

Then another thought crept in.

Or maybe the world has changed.

The Moment I Could No Longer Ignore

I noticed something about my own habits before blaming anyone else.

I no longer Google as much.
I open ChatGPT.
I type a question.
I get an answer.

Direct.
Fast.
Clean.

And here is the uncomfortable truth.

I am guilty too.

I ask AI to summarise books.
I ask for key takeaways.
I skim instead of sitting with pages.

Who am I to complain when I do the same thing?

That realisation stung.

Because I used to love reading slowly. Highlighting sentences. Rereading paragraphs. Letting ideas sit for days.

Now, time feels compressed. Attention feels borrowed. Everything competes for mental space.

The Silent Shift No One Talks About

This is not about AI replacing writers.

It is about AI changing readers.

People no longer want to search.
They want answers.

They no longer want ten blog posts.
They want one response.

They no longer want to explore.
They want to arrive.

Why buy a book when a prompt gives you a clean summary?

Why spend hours reading when minutes feel enough?

That question hurts writers, but it is not wrong.

Books were once a journey.
Now they are treated like databases.

Tell me what matters. Skip the rest.

Short Attention Is Not a Moral Failure

I hear people complain about attention spans all the time.

But I do not think it is laziness.
I think it is survival.

We are flooded with inputs. Messages. Alerts. Updates. Noise.

Reading a 150-page eBook feels heavy when your mind is already full.

The new generation did not lose patience.
They adapted to overload.

They want clarity, not volume.
Direction, not depth.

At least not by default.

When Free Still Feels Expensive

Making my eBooks free was supposed to remove friction.

Yet free does not mean easy.

Reading still costs time.
Thinking still costs energy.

AI removed that cost.

One prompt feels cheaper than one chapter.

So why am I surprised?

The Hard Question I Keep Avoiding

I keep asking myself something uncomfortable.

Am I writing for impact, or am I writing out of habit?

In the past, writing eBooks felt like leaving a trail behind. Something lasting. Something searchable. Something meaningful.

Now it feels like throwing paper planes into a sky full of drones.

They fly faster.
They reach further.
They respond instantly.

Paper planes still matter.
But fewer people look up.

Books Versus Conversations

AI feels like a conversation.

Books feel like a lecture.

That difference matters.

People want interaction. They want follow-up questions. They want context tailored to their situation.

A book cannot ask back.

AI can.

And that changes expectations.

What Writing Used to Give Me

I did not write eBooks just for readers.

I wrote to think.

Writing forced clarity.
It slowed my thoughts.
It made experiences visible.

If I stop writing books, what replaces that?

Blogs?
Short posts?
Conversations?
Voice notes?

I do not know yet.

That uncertainty is unsettling.

Maybe Books Are No Longer the First Door

Here is a thought I am still wrestling with.

Books may no longer be entry points.
They may become reference points.

Not where people start, but where they return when they want depth.

AI gives direction.
Books give texture.

AI answers questions.
Books explain why the questions matter.

But fewer people reach that stage.

The Ego Check I Needed

Another truth I had to face.

I assumed free meant valuable.
I assumed experience meant relevance.

Neither guarantees attention.

The world does not owe writers readers.

Attention is earned every day.

Even by those who have written before.

Am I Really Stopping?

When I say I feel like stopping, I am not quitting writing.

I am questioning the format.

Maybe eBooks are not where my thoughts want to live anymore.

Maybe ideas want to breathe in smaller spaces.
Or in stories.
Or in conversations.

Or maybe fewer books, written slower, with deeper intent.

I am not sure yet.

What I Do Know

AI has changed how we read.
AI has changed why we read.
AI has changed when we read.

That shift is real. It is not a phase.

Fighting it feels pointless.

Understanding it feels necessary.

The Choice In Front of Me

I can keep writing eBooks and accept fewer readers.

I can stop writing books and find new ways to share ideas.

Or I can redefine what a book means in a world that no longer reads the same way.

Right now, I am sitting with the discomfort.

No dramatic announcement.
No final decision.

Just honesty.

A Quiet Ending With an Open Question

I still believe ideas matter.
I still believe stories shape thinking.
I still believe writing is worth doing.

But I no longer believe format guarantees relevance.

Maybe the real question is not whether I stop writing eBooks.

Maybe it is whether I am brave enough to write differently.

If you are a writer, a reader, or someone who quietly stopped reading books, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Have you felt this shift too?

Five (5) Best Reasons Why I Chose Gumroad to Sell My eBooks

WRITER’S STORIES

How I earned extra money online.

Check out Mazlan Abbas Gumroad Store

Although I can earn money from writing stories on Medium, I am able to earn extra by converting my articles into eBooks and selling them on Gumroad.

This is my Gumroad store — HERE.

Selling eBooks can be a fulfilling and profitable venture, especially when you find the right platform that aligns with your goals and needs as an author.

After experimenting with various options, I chose Gumroad as my platform of choice for distributing my eBooks. Here, I’ll share my personal journey and the five main reasons why Gumroad became my go-to for eBook sales.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Introduction to Gumroad

Before diving into the specifics, it’s essential to understand what Gumroad is.

Gumroad is a straightforward, user-friendly e-commerce platform designed for creators of all types — from filmmakers and musicians to writers like myself.

It simplifies the process of selling directly to consumers, bypassing many of the hurdles that traditional or more complex platforms present.

Reason 1: Ease of Use

The primary reason I gravitated towards Gumroad is its incredible ease of use. When I first decided to sell my eBooks, I was looking for a platform that wouldn’t require a steep learning curve.

I wanted to focus on writing and content creation, not on navigating complicated software.

Setting up my Gumroad account was a breeze. Within a few clicks, I was able to upload my first eBook, set a price, and prepare it for sale. The interface is intuitive, clean, and direct. There’s no clutter or unnecessary features to wade through, which made it incredibly easy for someone like me, who prioritizes simplicity in digital tools.

Reason 2: Customer Connection

Another significant factor in my decision was the ability to connect directly with my customers. Gumroad offers tools that allow creators to engage with their audience in a more personal way.

Through Gumroad, I can send updates, discounts, and newsletters directly to the people who have purchased my eBooks.

This direct line of communication is invaluable. It helps me build a community around my work and receive immediate feedback from my readers. Such interactions are crucial for improving my eBooks and tailoring future content to meet the needs and interests of my audience.

Reason 3: Flexibility in Pricing

Gumroad provides remarkable flexibility in how I price my products, which is not as prevalent on other platforms. I can set standard prices, or I can use a “pay what you want” model, which has been incredibly effective for reaching a broader audience.

This model allows buyers to pay more than the base price if they feel the content is worth more, which some of my readers appreciate and take advantage of.

Moreover, running promotions and discounts is straightforward on Gumroad. These strategies are essential for driving sales during specific periods, such as holidays or the launch of a new eBook.

Gumroad’s flexible pricing capabilities enable me to experiment with different strategies to see what works best for my market and genre.

Reason 4: Analytics and Insights

Understanding who buys your eBooks and how they find them is key to growing your sales. Gumroad offers a comprehensive set of analytics tools that help me track sales, visitor traffic, and conversion rates. These insights are critical for refining my marketing strategies.

With Gumroad’s analytics, I can see which of my marketing efforts are working and which aren’t, allowing me to invest more wisely in ads and promotional activities.

This data-driven approach helps me maximize my return on investment and continuously grow my reader base.

Reason 5: Minimal Fees and Transparent Policies

Finally, the fee structure and transparency of Gumroad are crucial reasons why I stick with the platform. Gumroad charges a reasonable fee for each sale, and there are no hidden costs or unexpected charges.

This transparency allows me to plan my finances and understand exactly how much I will earn from each sale.

In comparison to other platforms that might charge monthly fees or have complex fee structures that vary by product type or sales volume, Gumroad’s straightforward approach is refreshingly simple and economical.

Conclusion

Choosing where to sell your eBooks is as significant as writing them. For me, Gumroad has proven to be the best platform due to its ease of use, direct customer connection, flexible pricing options, valuable analytics, and clear fee structure.

It has not only facilitated the sales of my eBooks but also helped me grow as a writer and marketer.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to switch platforms, consider what aspects of eBook selling are most important to you and see how Gumroad might meet those needs.

In my experience, it has been an indispensable tool for connecting with readers and building a sustainable writing career.

Photo by Antonio Scalogna on Unsplash

If you are interested in downloading my eBooks on Startups, IoT, and Entrepreneurship, kindly check out my Gumroad store.

→ Mazlan Abbas Gumroad Bookstore

The Reasons My Medium Stats Are Like a Yo-Yo

New Posting Strategies

Author’s March 2024 stats

It was not always like this (as above).

As you can see, most views can reach more than 1K daily.

Sometimes, it dipped down to a couple of hundred.

Author’s December Stats

My old December stats look something like this. All the views are less than 100.

And my average reads about 20 daily.

I can easily see the number of reads in my December stats, but it was “drowned” in my March stats. I couldn’t figure out the numbers until I hovered my finger over the stats. The reason because of the huge difference in Views and Reads.

This happened mainly because I have a mailing list that receives email notifications, and the articles are non-paywall.

However, the number of views suddenly dropped whenever I posted a paywall article.

My initial intention was to allow non-member readers to read the full article directly from the email received.

However, I felt I might lose the opportunity to monetize if some MPP members also decided to read from their email rather than go to the Medium platform.

Finally I changed my email notification strategy:

  • Post non-paywall only when I want to allow non-members to read full article easily without going to Medium. After posting, I will change the article to paywall.
  • Post paywall article but with a note in the article – “for non-member, they can click the link to have free access.”
  • Post paywall articles without enabling email notifications.

From now on, I will be using the strategy above.

I am beginning to understand the flow of writing and posting on Medium.

-mazlan-

Writing Should Bring Joy – Not Just Cents and Dollars

Writer’s dilemma

Oh, where do I even start?

Are you getting burnt out?

The last couple of months have been a rollercoaster for me, at least when it comes to my Medium earnings.

December 2023 and January 2024 were phenomenal – I mean, I was on cloud nine, seeing those numbers go up. “This is it,” I thought, “I’m finally making a breakthrough!”

But then, February rolled around, and let’s just say, the excitement started to wear off.

The results were… underwhelming, to say the least.

Some days, I’d log in, eager to see my progress, only to find a few cents added to my account.

“What’s going on?” I’d mutter to myself, staring blankly at the screen.

It was like someone had popped my happy bubble with a sharp needle.

I’ve been publishing like a machine – daily, sometimes even twice a day. So, what went wrong?

As I sat there, staring at my laptop, I started to ponder over my recent Medium activities.

A lightbulb went off – “Ah-ha!” It dawned on me that I’d been less engaged with other writers.

My interaction levels had plummeted.

Sure, the claps were still coming in, but when was the last time I left a meaningful comment on someone else’s work? “Hmm, can’t remember,” I whispered to myself.

The truth is, I’ve been so caught up in churning out content that I forgot the essence of being part of a community.

Reading others’ posts and engaging with them wasn’t just a chore; it was what made the platform special.

Perhaps my articles weren’t hitting the mark anymore.

I’ve been writing a lot about Medium tips and stories, but let’s face it – those topics are becoming as stale as last week’s bread.

“Do people even find these interesting anymore?” I questioned, tapping my pen against the notebook.

It’s not just the content, though.

Could it be writer’s block, or am I just tired?

The thought of taking a break crossed my mind. “Maybe I need to step back, recharge, and find inspiration elsewhere,”

I mused, staring out the window.

The idea of reading for fun, without the pressure of monetizing every word, suddenly seemed appealing.

So, what do you think?

Should I give myself the permission to take a step back and just enjoy being a reader for a while?

Maybe that’s the reset button I need to hit. After all, writing should bring joy, not just cents and dollars.

How I Take G.I.A.N.T Steps to Boost My Readership and Engagement by 20X

The image was created using Midjourney by the Author of Startup Journey.

Nothing is impossible.

How frustrated can you be when you get less than 30 views or less than 15 reads almost every month?

I have tried many strategies, and finally, I found one that can help me increase my traffic multiple times.

The challenge for writers and content creators is producing articles and crafting pieces that captivate, educate, and resonate with their audience.

The G.I.A.N.T strategy offers a robust framework to enhance readership and engagement. Let’s dive into each element of this approach, transforming your articles from words on a page to powerful narratives that grab attention and leave a lasting impact.

View at Medium.com

G – Grab Attention

The internet is a bustling marketplace of ideas and information, where your article competes with thousands of others for attention.

The key to standing out? A magnetic opening. Your headline is your first, and sometimes only, shot at grabbing the reader’s attention.

It should be compelling, clear, and concise, offering a glimpse into your article’s value.

But grabbing attention goes beyond the headline.

The opening lines of your article are equally crucial. Start with a provocative question, an interesting fact, or a compelling story.

This initial hook pulls the reader in and sets the tone for the rest of the article.

I – Inform and Inspire

Content that resonates with readers often strikes a balance between informing and inspiring.

Your article should present facts and figures and weave them into a narrative that speaks to the reader on a deeper level.

Use your content to enlighten your audience about new ideas, challenge their preconceptions, or offer fresh perspectives.

Incorporate real-life examples, case studies, or personal anecdotes to make your points more relatable and memorable.

By combining information with inspiration, you create content that is read, remembered, and shared.

A – Audience-Centric Approach

Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of effective content creation.

Who are your readers?

What are their interests, challenges, and desires?

Tailoring your content to your audience’s specific needs and preferences makes it more relevant and engaging.

Conduct audience research through surveys, social media interactions, or analytics tools.

Use this information to craft content that speaks directly to your audience, using language and examples they can relate to.

An audience-centric approach increases engagement and fosters loyalty among your readers.

N – Navigable and Neat Layout

In the digital age, the layout of your content is as important as the content itself.

Readers often scan articles before deciding to read them thoroughly.

A navigable and neat layout helps in capturing and retaining their attention.

Use headings and subheadings to structure your content logically.

Break text into short, digestible paragraphs and use bullet points or numbered lists for clarity.

Include relevant images or infographics to break the monotony of text and enhance understanding.

A well-organized article looks more appealing and makes the reading experience more enjoyable.

T – Timely and Trending Topics

Staying abreast of current events and trends is crucial for creating content that resonates with the times.

Writing about timely and trending topics can significantly increase the relevance and shareability of your articles.

Monitor news feeds, social media trends, and industry developments.

However, it’s not just about jumping on the bandwagon.

Offer unique insights or fresh angles on these topics.

This captures the interest of readers looking for current content and positions you as a thought leader in your field.

The image was created using Midjourney by the Author of Startup Journey.

Take That G.I.A.N.T Steps Now

Implementing the G.I.A.N.T strategy in your content creation process can significantly enhance the appeal and impact of your articles.

By focusing on Grabbing Attention with compelling headlines and openings, Informing and Inspiring your readers with insightful content, adopting an Audience-Centric Approach, ensuring a Navigable and Neat Layout, and covering Timely and Trending Topics, you can create articles that not only attract a wider audience but also engage and resonate with them deeply.

Remember, the goal is to not just attract clicks but to create a memorable reading experience that encourages sharing, discussion, and return visits.

With the G.I.A.N.T strategy, your content goes beyond mere information dissemination – it becomes a tool for connection, education, and inspiration.