Amazon’s new Kindle Vella marketplace lets authors self-publish their stories, one episode at a time. Readers can then pay to unlock them and continue reading.
Introducing Kindle Vella
Each story offers its first three installments, ranging from 500 to 5,000 words each, for free. At that point, readers can spend “tokens” to gain access to later installments. Tokens cost between $2.00 for 200 and $15.00 for 1,700, with individual installment prices based on word count.
The platform is designed to provide a more interactive experience with serialized fiction. Authors can leave author notes at the end of episodes to speak directly to readers. Readers can use tags to search for their favorite genres, give chapters they enjoy a thumbs up, and share their favorite stories on social media directly from the app. They can also follow a story they like to receive notifications when a new chapter is published, and token buyers can spend one “Fave” per week to help highlight specific stories.
Authors earn 50% of the revenue generated by tokens spent on each of their episodes, with additional bonuses awarded depending on engagement. It’s also likely that this engagement, and being featured via Faves, will increase a story’s visibility and revenue. Amazon claims that Kindle Vella has hosted “thousands” of authors and published “tens of thousands” of episodes to date.
