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Kindle Authors: Thoughts on Serials?

by Thriftypreneur
8 replies
No, not Amazon's serials, but the ever-growing mass of authors who are breaking up their novels into novellas series and selling each one individually. With each book in the series ranging from 30 to 100ish pages, these seem to be growing rapidly in popularity.

Here's a good example of one: Amazon.com: The Arrangement (Volume 1)...Amazon.com: The Arrangement (Volume 1)...
This one has been popular for quite a while, and, just based on some simple napkin math, is pretty easily clearing over $1,000,000 this year in royalty payments to the author.

Readers seem to be split on the issue, on the one hand, they clearly hate having the story broken up this way, as a lengthy series can run well over $25. Then, you have readers who rave about the story and buy, buy, buy.

What does WaFo authors think of the trend? Good for business or a good way to piss off a fan base?
#authors #kindle #serials #thoughts
  • Profile picture of the author TinkBD
    First, remember there is a difference between Serials and Series. Not saying you don't know it, just clarifying for others... ;-)

    Second, Serials VS Series is sub-genre specific. For example, Serials are becoming a staple in New Adult Romance -- different genre from Romance, btw.

    If you tried that in Romance, you'd likely have the village folk at your door with burning torches.

    In Romance, readers ADORE Series...

    So, like everything else regarding fiction, do your research and meet your readers expectations!
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    • Profile picture of the author KateD
      Originally Posted by TinkBD View Post

      Second, Serials VS Series is sub-genre specific. For example, Serials are becoming a staple in New Adult Romance -- different genre from Romance, btw.
      I find this is true, as well. I think the younger generation is more accustomed to reading shorter lengthed titles. The "texting" mentality, perhaps?


      KateD
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      --->I can also write other fiction (horror, romance, mystery, etc). Just ask me, I don't bite. :)
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  • Profile picture of the author thedanbrown
    I think it depends on what type of books you sell, non-fiction or fiction, but for me personally it has worked well. I outsourced content and then break it up into different how-to books targeting certain people. I was able to do a lot more with my content and raised the price because it's more "specialized" and targets a more specific person.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      From the author's standpoint, I think writing a series makes good sense. But as Dan states above, I think the types of books one writes and the niche in question probably plays a large role in the success of the books.

      The biggest success factor, IMO, is still the quality of the product. If quality is lacking, there will be no second, or third, or any other chance to make a good impression in the niche.

      I admit that my experience in most niches is very limited, but my opinion is that serials are going to be a tough sell. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that readers today are in a hurry - they want the goods from start to finish right now and don't want to have to buy another book (or 2 or 3 or more) to find a conclusion.

      That's just my two cents . . .

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by Thriftypreneur View Post

    What does WaFo authors think of the trend? Good for business or a good way to piss off a fan base?
    I think if you choose your market well, and create a quality serial, you can have success.

    I just downloaded a free ebook by some screenwriters who are having success with this model:

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FHO9AU/

    They don't try anything sneaky. They tell you that each "season" is six episodes long, and you can either buy each episode as it comes out or buy the season.

    This is a model that is becoming more and more common on TV. Look at USA Network's run of very successful dramas - Burn Notice, Suits, etc.. They run one or two six-episode seasons per year. You can get the episodes on demand via services like Amazon or Hulu, or you can get entire seasons on DVD or demand.

    However you structure things, you still have to please your audience. Just splitting a novel into six installments isn't going to be magic. TV shows flop, so do print books. And so will series or serial ebooks. The ones that find an avid audience and meet their needs will succeed, some wildly...
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  • Profile picture of the author Marketing Fool
    I've had some really good success with serials...I can crank one out in a day or two and they really feed off each other and self-generate sales...of course, you have to write well..have good stories etc or no one will want to read the next one...
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  • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
    Originally Posted by Thriftypreneur View Post

    No, not Amazon's serials, but the ever-growing mass of authors who are breaking up their novels into novellas series and selling each one individually. With each book in the series ranging from 30 to 100ish pages, these seem to be growing rapidly in popularity.

    Here's a good example of one: Amazon.com: The Arrangement (Volume 1) (9781482613766): H.M. Ward: Books

    This one has been popular for quite a while, and, just based on some simple napkin math, is pretty easily clearing over $1,000,000 this year in royalty payments to the author.

    Readers seem to be split on the issue, on the one hand, they clearly hate having the story broken up this way, as a lengthy series can run well over $25. Then, you have readers who rave about the story and buy, buy, buy.

    What does WaFo authors think of the trend? Good for business or a good way to piss off a fan base?

    I love the concept. BUT if you look at her reviews many of them are negative. NOT because the eBook is bad but because the readers feel like they are over paying. Just look through the top reviews on the book.
    On one of her books a reader says they feel priced gauged and will never buy another EVEN though they enjoy the books. So that is certainly one thing to consider.
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    • Profile picture of the author Liesel
      Originally Posted by LilBlackDress View Post

      I love the concept. BUT if you look at her reviews many of them are negative. NOT because the eBook is bad but because the readers feel like they are over paying. Just look through the top reviews on the book.
      On one of her books a reader says they feel priced gauged and will never buy another EVEN though they enjoy the books. So that is certainly one thing to consider.
      Yeah, she has reviews like that but the number of readers who buy, buy, buy outnumber those poor reviews. Also, she explains on her Facebook page that she writes serials AND novels and has separate fans for both. Her novel fans are now buying her serials so she had to explain that the format is different. The serial fans know what to expect when they buy the shorter works.

      I have adopted the same format and it works wonders for me. Yeah, some people complain, but the majority don't. Six figures in less than 12 months from writing ebooks tells me that it works.
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