List of Websites for Downloading Public Domain Books

January 1st is known as "Public Domain Day". It is called this because it is the day hundreds of old books enter the public domain, meaning anyone can download that book for free, since it has now lost its copyright.

It starts at midnight January 1st every years. Tens of thousands of books suddenly lose their copyright and effectively become free.

2019 marks the first time a large quantity of books published in 1923 have become legal to download for free now that ebooks are a thing. Including books by Virginia Woolf, Agatha Christie, and Robert Frost.

As the years go by more books will be added to the public domain, giving readers a lot more options to read some fantastic ebooks for free.

So where can you download these free books, and older books which have also lost their copyright?

Well here is my alphabetical list of websites for free ebooks:

• https://archive.org/details/texts
• http://www.authorama.com/
• https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?a=srchls;c=149827760;q1=*
• http://www.bartleby.com/
• https://www.bibliomania.ws/shop/bibliomania/index.html?id=32m2gmtX
• http://en.childrenslibrary.org/
• http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/
• https://www.free-ebooks.net/
• http://freecomputerbooks.com/
• http://www.freetechbooks.com/
• http://www.fullbooks.com/
• http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
• http://manybooks.net/
• http://www.online-literature.com/author_index.php
• https://openlibrary.org/
• https://www.questia.com/library/free-books
• http://www.readprint.com/
• http://www.sacred-texts.com/
• https://www.slideshare.net/
• https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page
• https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Main_Page
• http://worldebookfair.com/
• http://worldlibrary.net/

Free Audiobooks!

• https://librivox.org/

Almost Free List - Not quite free, but inexpensive.

• http://worldpubliclibrary.org/
• https://www.scribd.com/

Note

It is also possible to get free ebooks via Amazon, including books that are not in the public domain. Some authors do promotions and allow their books to be free briefly (or they have countdown promotions where the book is cheaper temporarily). The trick to getting those is to follow the writer on Twitter or Facebook and look out for when they announce promo deals. It doesn't happen much with big name writers, but it is common for writers who do self-publishing to offer such deals.

Some authors will also write a series of books and then offer the first book for free.

For example British author V. Moody used to offer the first ebook of his popular series "How to Avoid Death on a Daily Basis" for free, but it is now $0.99 instead. So what happened was he offered the first book of the series for free for a long time, allowing the book series to become more popular. Then once his popularity was secured, he raised the price of the first book from free to 99 cents. The 2nd, 3rd and other books sell for $4.99 CDN.

So clearly there is some marketing strategy there.

Some authors also do web series, making money off of advertising instead of selling the book. So you read the book for free off their website, and the author still makes money off the advertising.

So there is plenty of options if you want to read good books and don't want to spend much.

Writing Compelling Openings: Tips for Hooking Readers from the First Line

The opening lines of your story are your chance to captivate readers and draw them into your narrative world. A strong and compelling opening can set the tone, establish intrigue, and create a powerful first impression. 

Below we will explore several tips to help you craft compelling openings that hook readers from the very first line. 

Let's dive in!

1. Start with Action or Intrigue: Engage readers immediately by plunging them into a moment of action, conflict, or intrigue. Begin with a scene that grabs their attention, raises questions, or presents a compelling situation. By starting with an impactful event, you create a sense of urgency and curiosity, enticing readers to continue.

2. Introduce an Intriguing Character: Introduce a fascinating or enigmatic character right from the beginning. Create a sense of mystery or curiosity around them, leaving readers eager to unravel their story. Focus on their unique traits, quirks, or compelling backstory, establishing an immediate connection between the character and the reader.

3. Use Vivid and Evocative Descriptions: Paint a vivid picture with your opening lines, immersing readers in the sensory details of your story's setting. Engage their senses with colorful imagery, unique metaphors, or evocative language. This approach helps create a vivid and immersive experience, drawing readers deeper into your narrative.

4. Pose a Provocative Question or Statement: Pose a thought-provoking question or present a bold statement that immediately piques readers' curiosity. This technique invites them to ponder and seek answers as they delve into the story. Make sure the question or statement is relevant to the overall plot or theme, teasing the intriguing journey to come.

5. Begin with a Compelling Dialogue: Open with a captivating dialogue exchange that captures readers' attention and reveals conflict, tension, or intriguing dynamics between characters. Dialogue can immediately establish a sense of voice, personality, and conflict, making readers eager to learn more about the characters and their relationships.

6. Create an Atmosphere of Suspense or Intrigue: Craft an opening that evokes a sense of suspense, mystery, or intrigue. Set an eerie or ominous tone, hinting at hidden secrets or impending danger. By creating an atmosphere of anticipation, you entice readers to keep turning the pages to unravel the mysteries that lie within your story.

7. Use Humor or Wit: Inject humor or wit into your opening lines to immediately engage readers and establish a lighthearted or playful tone. A well-crafted comedic or clever opening can instantly captivate readers and make them eager to experience the story's unique brand of humor throughout the narrative.

8. Establish a Contradiction or Paradox: Present a contradiction or paradox in your opening lines, instantly creating intrigue and sparking curiosity. This approach challenges readers' expectations, encouraging them to delve deeper into your story to reconcile the apparent contradiction or explore the underlying complexities.

9. Utilize a Unique Narrative Voice: Establish a distinctive narrative voice from the very first line, captivating readers with a unique style or perspective. A strong and compelling voice immediately grabs attention and sets your story apart, leaving readers eager to be immersed in the narrative world you've created.

10. Edit and Refine: Crafting a compelling opening often requires multiple iterations and revisions. Edit and refine your opening lines, seeking clarity, impact, and a strong hook. Read your opening aloud, paying attention to rhythm and flow. Consider seeking feedback from beta readers or writing groups to gauge the effectiveness of your opening.

Crafting a compelling opening is an art that requires careful consideration and creativity. By incorporating action, intrigue, vivid descriptions, thought-provoking questions, compelling dialogue, or unique narrative voices, you can hook readers from the first line and set the stage for an engaging journey. Remember, the opening lines are your invitation to readers—make them impossible to resist. 

Happy writing!

Navigating Point of View: Tips for Choosing the Right Narrative Perspective

The choice of narrative perspective, or point of view, is a crucial decision that shapes how your story is told and how readers experience it. Each narrative perspective offers a unique vantage point, influencing how readers connect with characters, perceive events, and interpret the story. 

Below we will explore several tips to help you navigate the selection of the right narrative perspective for your story. 

Let's dive in!

1. Understand the Different Narrative Perspectives: Familiarize yourself with the various narrative perspectives commonly used in storytelling. The three main options are:

   • First Person: The story is told from the perspective of a single character, using "I" or "we" pronouns. It offers an intimate and subjective view of the events, allowing readers to deeply connect with the narrator's thoughts and emotions.

   • Third Person Limited: The story is told from the perspective of a single character, using "he," "she," or character-specific names. It offers a more objective viewpoint, focusing on the thoughts and experiences of the chosen character while maintaining some narrative distance.

   • Third Person Omniscient: The story is told from an all-knowing, objective narrator's perspective. It grants insight into multiple characters' thoughts, emotions, and experiences, providing a broader and more comprehensive view of the story.

2. Consider the Story's Scope and Complexity: Evaluate the scope and complexity of your story. A single character's perspective, as seen in first person or third person limited, may work well for more personal or introspective stories. Third person omniscient, on the other hand, allows for a broader exploration of multiple characters and storylines, which can be beneficial for complex narratives with interconnected plotlines.

3. Identify the Emotional Connection You Seek: Determine the level of emotional connection you want readers to have with your characters. First person perspective often fosters a strong bond between readers and the narrator, as they experience events through their eyes. Third person limited can also create a deep connection by focusing on one character's thoughts and emotions. Third person omniscient may offer a broader emotional range as readers gain insights into multiple characters' inner lives.

4. Consider the Degree of Objectivity or Subjectivity: Think about the level of objectivity or subjectivity you wish to convey. First person perspective is inherently subjective, providing a more personal and biased account of events. Third person limited maintains a balance, offering a mix of objectivity and subjectivity through the chosen character's lens. Third person omniscient allows for greater objectivity, presenting a more impartial view of the story.

5. Evaluate the Need for Unreliable Narrators: If your story involves an unreliable narrator or plays with perceptions of truth and reality, first person perspective can be effective. This narrative choice allows readers to experience the story through the lens of a character with a distorted or flawed perspective.

6. Consider Reader Engagement and Mystery: Think about how you want to engage readers and create a sense of mystery. First person perspective can immerse readers in the character's world, creating suspense and curiosity as they learn alongside the narrator. Third person limited can also generate intrigue by withholding information or presenting a character's limited understanding. Third person omniscient can provide readers with glimpses of information and create anticipation as they piece together the larger narrative puzzle.

7. Experiment and Consider Alternating Perspectives: Don't be afraid to experiment with different narrative perspectives during the planning and drafting stages. Consider alternating perspectives to present different viewpoints or to explore the same events from multiple characters' perspectives. This approach can add depth, richness, and varied insights to your story.

8. Test and Seek Feedback: Once you have chosen a narrative perspective, test it out and seek feedback from beta readers or writing groups. Pay attention to how readers respond to the chosen perspective and assess if it aligns with your storytelling goals. Be open to making adjustments if necessary.

Selecting the right narrative perspective is a crucial decision that significantly impacts how your story unfolds and how readers engage with it. By considering the story's scope, emotional connection, objectivity or subjectivity, unreliable narrators, reader engagement, and experimenting with different perspectives, you can make an informed choice. Remember, the narrative perspective should serve the story and enhance the reader's experience. 

Happy writing!