Amazon Kindle now has another option for writers, “Kindle Singles,” particularly aimed at short stories, novellas and other shorter works. I admit to being unaware of this program until I saw a post on Facebook last week. I couldn’t find a way to contact Kindle Singles, so I had to send my questions to Kindle customer service instead. But they were prompt with a reply.
I took a look at their store. The longest work I could find was 46 pages. Prices ranged from $.99 to $3.99 for the ones I polled. Kindle limits prices to between $.99 and $4.99. I saw both indie and traditionally published authors represented there, even Stephen King, so indie authors will be competing with well-known authors. Is that important? I don’t know.
So why did we not hear of this sooner? I had never heard it mentioned in any of the on-line groups I participate in. Is that relevant? Perhaps – if the platform is pitched to well-known authors at the expense of lesser known indies. Again, I don’t know if that is the case.
Here is the inquiry I sent to Kindle. “This is an intriguing new idea. If I understand correctly Kindle Singles is aimed primarily at shorter works. Am I correct in thinking that this would not be an appropriate platform for longer novels or series? I am doing a post on this for Indies Unlimited, which will be read by Indie authors, many of whom are already published on Kindle.”
This was their response, which I received within hours. “You may propose any content you own the digital rights to for consideration as a Kindle Single. We consider books recently published via Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), manuscripts or pitches. To nominate your self-published book, send us the title, ASIN, and a brief summary of your work. If it’s not yet published in the Kindle Store, please provide either a manuscript or pitch and a writing sample. All manuscripts submitted as attachments must be accompanied by a cover letter with a detailed summary of the submission.
To qualify, works must have a word count between 5,000 and 30,000 words. At this time, the following works are not being considered for Kindle Singles: How-to manuals, Public domain works, Reference books, Travel guides, and Children’s books. Complete guidelines can be found at www.amazon.com/singlessubmissions
Please send your submission details to [email protected]. Your proposal will be reviewed within 4 weeks, and you will be notified by email about our decision.”
Here are the highlights of their submission requirements:
• Length: 5,000 to 30,000 words
• List price: $0.99 to $4.99
• Original work, not previously published in other formats or publications
• Self-contained work, not chapters excerpted from a longer work
• Not published on any public website in its entirety
Royalties work the same as for other Kindle books.
I admit to mixed feelings about this program.
On the one hand it offers writers of short works a separate platform where they will not be lost among longer works such as novels. This can be a boon to those with shorter pieces who have difficulty reaching their target audience. The pricing limits could also draw readers to the site.
On the other hand I am concerned with the problem of needing to be approved to be included. It raises the ongoing issue of ‘gate-keeping’. Kindle is a self-publishing platform where anyone may publish their work. The Kindle Singles program changes that. Is Amazon trying to find a way to put the brakes on the ability to market self-published work by separating those with their stamp of approval from those without it? Will that harm those who choose not to take advantage of the program? Will it create the illusion of an elite, those who are better than the rest? Is Amazon now acting as a publisher, albeit without the added expense or service of editing the work?
My second concern lies with the prohibition against being published anywhere else. KDP Select asks for exclusivity as well, but only for 90 days, after which we may return to regular KDP and publish wherever we like. I could find nothing to that effect in the Singles Guidelines or Terms and Conditions. This suggests that Singles publications remain exclusive unless you withdraw from the program.
Is this a pilot project to see if they can then extend their ‘approval’ system to longer works? If they do, what effect will this have on self-published authors, indeed, on self-publishing? Perhaps I am being paranoid but it is worth considering.
In the end, I am left with more questions than answers.
Nice post, Yvonne, thanks for writing about it. Seems to me this is Amazon flexing a bit more of its muscle. Open-ended exclusivity is the most worrying aspect, certainly, and can be taken as a strong attack on places like Smashwords which, I think, carry an awful lot of shorter works.
What’s interesting here is that price range. With so many authors giving full-length novels (by which I mean 80k to 120k words) away for free or selling them rock bottom to get somewhere, I wonder if this isn’t a bit of a marketing con for the ADHD generation. The flip side of it will be that the percieved value of longer works should increase.
Another obvious reason for this, imo, is to give Amazon something to crow about when the first few writers sell a million through Kindle Singles, much as they did with the first million sellers on the Kindle itself a couple of years ago. Doubtless the results will be the same: thousands of wannabe authors will bash something out, not edit it, publish it, and wonder six weeks later why they haven’t sold a million copies.
I don’t hate Amazon or anything like that, but with every new development, I can’t shake the feeling of being played. Kindle Singles reinforces that feeling.
Thanks Chris. Yes, it leaves a lot of questions, both as to motives and result. Add that to the furor over disappearing reviews and I really begin to wonder what they are up to.
This has actually been around for nearly two years. I always thought it was more along the lines of providing Amazon with their own publishing imprint (outside of the very basic “Kindle”) since of the vetting required. I suppose if you can get a book into it, it might be a good sales point for the rest of your catalog.
All I’ve seen in the program is a lot of supposed “literary fiction” type works, something I personally am not interested in reading (I’m a sci-fi, pulp, reference and mashed taters man myself).
I guess it’s another way an author can can feed their egos, though I think it defeats the purpose of self-publishing. Me, I ain’t got that kinda vanity to placate.
Thanks Rich. Brings back to mind the discussion on ‘approval’ sites and systems.
Feed an author’s ego, you say? Hmm… Maybe I’m being a little harsh here. It might be worth a second look… 🙂
Excellent post, Yvonne. I read the same Facebook post as you. I also went about enquiring the same way, is it ‘Great minds think alike’ or ‘Simple minds seldom differ’? I can never figure out which one! Anyway, I came to very similar conclusions: more questions than answers!
Here we say “fools seldom differ” lol
Hasn’t Amazon started its own imprint (or two)? I thought I read on Joe Konrath’s blog awhile back that he had signed to write a book for them. I wonder whether Amazon is using Singles to find talent for their imprints.
Anyway, as long as Amazon keeps running KDP, I don’t see much harm in Kindle Singles. But maybe I’m being wildly optimistic here.
Lynne, I think you’re right on with it. And I believe Barry Eisler was the first author to sign on with Amazon directly. I could be wrong, but I was pretty sure that Konrath did make that announcement on his blog.
Great post, Yvonne. On the one hand I think it’s awesome to give short stories and novellas their own place to showcase, instead of joining the novels and longer works. If a reader’s interest lies within the shorter stories, they can go have a look see. Though, I suppose one can refine ones search to do the same thing. Anyway. On the other hand, the ‘pitch’ bit is worrisome. Anyone and everyone (currently) can publish on Amazon whether they should or not. I wonder if this is the first hint at a ‘gatekeeper’ situation Amazon is testing out. If it sticks, how long before the company starts to demand pitches for novels and ‘will get back to you within four weeks with our answer’?
Thanks. Yes, that is one of my concerns as well.
Sounds mostly like a marketing gimmick to me, Calling attention to shorter works by giving them a Kindle Singles label and giving them such exposure leads to quick buys(because of price), quick reads(because of length) and then readers are on to their next purchase and thus more money in Amazon’s pocket. Although, I have to agree with some of those above that the exclusivity and approval process could be a sign of things to come with the general KDP program in the future. I sure hope not, though.
I hope not, too, Brian.
At first I thought this was an exciting new opportunity to showcase my shorter work. I have a pretty good number of short stories already listed on Amazon and Smashwords. Then I got to the exclusivity bit. I have one short story that isn’t either trad or self published so I think I may take a shot just to say, done it, but not sure it’s worth the work. If there is some sort of extra marketing provided, maybe. Otherwise my digital shorts sell pretty well without being in a special place. Here I am again, right on the middle of the fence.
It’s hard to get off the fence when our information is so limited.
Well, I’m going to stick my neck out and publicly admit to submitting my book to Kindle Singles a week or two ago. It’s well within the word count, after all. But now, if I am rejected, you all can ridicule me mercilessly. 😉
Oh, and I meant to add: I see the gatekeeper concerns, for sure, but as someone who loves short stories, I see this as a positive for that once-endangered literary form.
You can be our guinea pig. 🙂
LOL, this won’t end well, will it?
Never!
I would think if you can shed some light on this – either good or bad – I’d say that’s not a bad ending. 🙂
Potentially sacrificing my dignity and ego for the good of the IU collective. Sounds fair. 🙂
David, I hope you’ll keep us posted with your progress. I, for one, would love to know what kind of benefits (if any) Amazon gives authors in that program.
Will do, even if it doesn’t end well. 🙂
Thanks to all for your interesting observations. We’ll have to keep an eye on this and see what happens.
I was very disappointed to learn that Kindle Singles was not a dating service for people who own Kindles. Now I have to go back and adjust my “profile”.
lol
Sorry to appear dense…(I’m pinning all my hopes of retaining my dignity on the concept that there’s no such thing as a stupid question) but I can’t find the bit in the Kindle Singles submissions that says that you have to sell exclusively on Amazon and nowhere else. Is that what you mean by “exclusivity”?
No worries Tracie, we all miss stuff. If you look at their guidelines (I quote them above) they say:
• Original work, not previously published in other formats or publications
• Self-contained work, not chapters excerpted from a longer work
• Not published on any public website in its entirety
I take this to mean that it cannot be anywhere else. But I am ready to be corrected if that wrong.