Beware What You Give Away: The Cost of ‘Free’ in a Content-CULTure

When I first started building my website, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

So, like so many others, I signed up for every newsletter that promised clarity. I downloaded every free resource I could find. “Build a homepage that sells.” “10 words you need to use in your author bio.” “How to triple your freelance income.”

All of it sounded helpful. All of it sounded like it was coming from people who knew better than I did.

But over time, I realized something that completely shifted how I view the online writing and publishing world:

Anyone can make a download. Anyone can launch a newsletter. Anyone can build a website and claim to be an expert.

And very few of them tell you how they got there—or whether they’ve ever done the thing they’re telling you to do.

False Authority Is the Real Trap

That was the part that hit me hardest.

Because while I was knee-deep in this content soup, I wasn’t just overwhelmed—I was genuinely trying to learn. I didn’t know what the answer was, and I trusted that the people offering the answers did. I opened email after email waiting for that one paragraph that would get me closer to something real.

What I got instead was a marketing funnel. What I gave away in return was my time, my inbox, my energy… and for a while, my confidence.

I can only imagine how many authors walk into this industry the same way I walked into web design—new, vulnerable, and eager to do everything “right.”

And that’s why I’m writing this.

Because not only did I lose hours chasing empty advice—I nearly lost my own voice in the noise. And if you’re an author doing the same, I want you to know: you deserve better.

The Real Cost of Free

A few months ago, I got a newsletter promoting a $1,000 course on pitching—plus two query passes valued at nearly $800. That’s almost $2,000… for something that amounts to less than a book edit. The sales email was so aggressive, it actually made me angry.

Why? Because I know how it feels to be desperate for guidance.

And I also know what bad advice can do to a manuscript.

If you're new to this industry, you don’t yet know which rules are flexible. Which tips are one-size-fits-all versus meant for someone else entirely. You don’t yet have the toolkit to separate “craft advice” from “content marketing.” So you apply everything. And in doing so, you can break something that was working just fine—or worse, twist your voice to fit a mold that was never meant for your story.

It’s not just inefficient. It’s dangerous.

You Are the Authority on Your Story

This is an industry that should run on community. Mentorship. Dialogue. Instead, it’s increasingly transactional—and that’s hurting the writers who need real support the most.

So I want to say this clearly:

Your story has value.
Your name and inbox have value.
And you don’t have to give them away to chase validation or clarity.

That’s why, at House of Braus, I don’t offer downloads.
Not because I can’t—but because I believe you deserve more than a PDF that tries to guess your needs.

Instead, I offer something else:
A free, one-hour consultation. No strings—except maybe helping you tie up a few loose threads.

We talk. I listen. You bring your questions, your story, your vision.

And together, we figure out what might actually move you forward—not because I want to sell you something, but because I believe in authors, and I believe in the work.

Where to Look Instead

If you’re seeking trustworthy information and community, here’s where I’d start:

• Absolute Write Forums – A long-running forum for writers, with real talk and peer support.

• Jane Friedman’s Blog – One of the few truly transparent publishing voices, with years of experience behind her.

• Your author community – Whether that’s critique partners, Twitter threads, or Discord groups, look for people invested in the long haul, not the quick sale.

If someone’s trying to sell you the “heart of the meal” for free, ask what’s on their actual menu.
Ask who taught them. Ask what happens if it doesn’t work. Ask what they gain if you fail.

And then ask yourself what you’re really searching for.

Because if it’s connection, clarity, and craft that you want—I know where we can start.Let’s talk.

FOLLOW UP:

Where to Look Instead

We’re living in an age not just oversaturated with content—but oversaturated with people using the same high-pressure playbooks. Step-by-step funnels. Manufactured urgency. Emotional manipulation disguised as “inspiration.”

If someone’s trying to sell you the heart of the meal for free, ask:

• What’s actually on their menu?

• Who taught them?

• What happens if it doesn’t work?

• What do they gain if you fail?

Then ask yourself what you’re really searching for.

Because chances are, you're not being offered nourishment in that download. You're getting table scraps—the leftovers sacrificed in service of the sale.

And once you've given your email…
Or your name.
Or your phone number.
Maybe even your card?

They now have access to your inbox. To your time.
And they’ll keep throwing scraps until you bite.

But you? You are not scraps.
You have value.

So before you hand over your attention, ask yourself:
Who do you want to share that with?