Why we Chose to Have our Stories be Free to Read
Updated: Sep 2
Why are your stories (well, just the one right now) free-to-read? It is a simple enough question. It is also one that I get when I share that I don’t actually plan on charging anything for them. Then I inevitably have to launch into a long winded explanation of why I have an alternative model that I want to experiment with and try to grow.
What is the Retinue of House Walker?
The Retinue of House Walker is the name of our storytelling and ren faire project. It consists of ourselves and some of our close friends and family. Broadly, it is us and our “retinue”. We also encompass a lot of crafts and hobbies. If we look at it as we have some people who enjoy leatherworking, jewelry making and water coloring, but we also have people who enjoy sewing, acting, and cosplay with some ren faires and historical fencing sprinkled in there, then we have a whole range of retainers in service to our little house.
The project is simply a space for us to show off our crafts, storytelling and performance art. Those just happen to land most often between the medieval through early modern time periods.
Why are our stories free-to-read?
A core version of all of our stories include a free-of-charge .pdf version. Right now, our library is frightfully small, but we do have our proof of concept novelette Three-Blade Will available. We are also working on our second release at this time and hopefully many more will follow.
So why is it free-to-read? That is part of our commitment to accessibility and lowering barriers. Someday project support versions or physical copies may be for sale as a means to support the project, but for now we have removed the economic barrier for accessing our fiction works. You can simply read our written works without having to pay for it.
We have made other purposeful choices in our commitment as well. We self-published the free version using Lexend font because it is available for commercial use and is often recommended for digital readability, including for readers who may benefit from clearer text design because of ADHD, dyslexia, or screen fatigue. The goal was to provide a comfortable, and easy to read experience without trying to make it look like an old printed book.
Additionally, and this may be a bit of a teaser or spoiler, but we are also planning on releasing a narrated version for our YouTube channel as well. When that is available, there will be a free audio version as well. So, we have low barrier ways to experience our fiction pieces in a way that is accommodating and accessible to a broad range of readers and listeners. That matters to us because access isn’t only about price. It is also about format, attention, time, and the different ways people experience media.
We are also planning a narrated version for our YouTube channel. When that is available, there will be a free audio version as well as the free written PDF.
Stories, or just story?
Another completely fair question. We kept our debut novelette a pretty closely guarded secret until it was finished. Like I have seen many other fantasy authors lament, I was scared that it might never actually get to the point where it was finished and released. So, until it was official, I just didn’t say anything. That way I couldn’t promise to have something and then fail to deliver.
Right now we have a complete catalogue of… One. Three-Blade Will, a 12k word novelette that grew out of an idea I had for a ren faire performance. Writing takes time. Editing also takes time. Also there are a lot of different editing passes that must happen. Beta readers need time to absorb and provide feedback, and then any changes and following edits also take time. That is before formatting, developing cover art, or actually getting a .pdf exported “just right”.
Is there another story coming? Yes. When will it get here? I don’t know.
Now that we have a library of one, I feel like I can be more forward and forthcoming about future releases as they develop. So, as far as the next free-to-read story goes… Yes, it is on its way. It is fully outlined and will start being written soon. It will be a similar setting but a slightly different genre. I like the idea of developing performance pieces or writing that can also be acted out, and this one will have the feel and performance possibilities of a murder mystery.
I get ideas all of the time so a third and fourth release are also probable, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. Right now the first one is finished and the second one is underway. Besides, I still have work preparing the audio version of Three-Blade Will anyway.
How do we plan to maintain this?
Websites aren’t free. Writing, recording, editing, and someday actually performing all take time and resources. That is a lot to maintain for something that we aren’t charging for. It is true that we don’t have any near term plans for monetization. Also, what we are working ever so slowly towards is passive support.
We want the first step into the project to be open. Readers should be able to experience a story without having to buy a book first. Listeners should be able to enjoy narrated versions without needing a paid subscription. The goal is to make the work easy to access and allow the project to grow through audience interaction over time.
Someday we hope to have enough web traffic to explore the occasional ad on our website through something like Google AdSense.
We also hope that someday we have the subscribers and watch hours on YouTube to join the YouTube Partner Program and our videos can also passively support producing additional content. So, each free written release and subsequent narrated audio version expands our catalogue and with luck, also our community and viewership. Then someday that community could grow large enough to support the project passively through content interaction and not through paid subscriptions or direct sales.
What if it never grows?
Well, then we just have fun dressing up at ren faires and fencing with our children. In part they prefer HEMA and historical fencing to modern olympic-style fencing specifically because they like the outfits better. If the project never grows, then I am content using it as a means of creative expression and an excuse to spend time with friends and family.
How can you support the project?
You do not have to buy anything to support the Retinue or the project. Reading, sharing, watching and subscribing all help the project grow. In fact, the best way to support the project in this early stage is to help the work reach more readers and viewers.
Our written releases are intended to include a free-to-read version whenever possible. Instead of asking every reader to make a purchase, read the story and then share the official release page with others who might enjoy the story as well.
You can also support the project by subscribing to the Retinue of House Walker on YouTube and watching our content there. YouTube subscribers and watch time help the channel grow and may eventually allow video content to help fund future stories and other Retinue projects.
To follow future written releases and announcements join our mailing list on Substack. That is the easiest way to hear when new stories, narrated versions or project announcements are available.
You can also follow along on TikTok and Bluesky for short updates, behind-the-scenes work, ren faire adventures, swordplay, and craft work.
Every read, watch, share, comment, follow and subscription helps the project grow. Free access and low barriers are the front door, and audience support helps to keep it open.
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