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Possible to make good money with a Kindle novella?

by ckbank
12 replies
Authors have found big success with shorter works of fiction such as Clockwork Orange, The Time Machine, Of Men and Mice, and Animal Farm. Can one find this type of success on Kindle with novellas? I'm asking only because I see many reviewers on Amazon who complain that their $0.99 purchases were not worth it due to the eBooks being "too short." This doesn't make sense to me, because short stories also cost $0.99, but I guess it's all about expectations. Anyway, I'm just wondering if a novella or a short story around 30,000 words can turn into a bestseller or even a decent seller.
#good #kindle #make #money #novella
  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    If you write a 'ClockWork Orange' you'll do great. So make sure the quality is literary award winning by penning a timeless classic and you'll earn a Kaboodle on KDP.
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    • Profile picture of the author ckbank
      Originally Posted by PerformanceMan View Post

      If you write a 'ClockWork Orange' you'll do great. So make sure the quality is literary award winning by penning a timeless classic and you'll earn a Kaboodle on KDP.
      Your answer is sardonic yet encouraging. I like it.
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      Now that's what I call Guerrilla Marketing.
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      • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
        Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

        Your answer is sardonic yet encouraging. I like it.
        LOL, I'm sure in the end length of the novel is not the most important element.

        I can see it mattering when people feel 'shorted' by a weak effort. But if you can pack the punch, why would they mind?
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

    Authors have found big success with shorter works of fiction such as Clockwork Orange, The Time Machine, Of Men and Mice, and Animal Farm.
    They're not that much "shorter". None of the above is far off a full-length novel, as I remember?

    Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

    Can one find this type of success on Kindle with novellas?
    Yes. Especially by having multiple books available, and attracting a following from people who will buy everything you write.

    Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

    I'm asking only because I see many reviewers on Amazon who complain that their $0.99 purchases were not worth it due to the eBooks being "too short." This doesn't make sense to me, because short stories also cost $0.99, but I guess it's all about expectations.
    Yes, partly that, I think.

    Also, expectations vary from genre to genre.

    I think it's also safe to say that "literary fiction" (of the type expemplified by all the books you've mentioned above) is never going to sell as well online as "commercial fiction", just because its market is so very much smaller. (And because its readers tend to be more "bookshop types" than "Kindle types" too, perhaps?).

    Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

    Anyway, I'm just wondering if a novella or a short story around 30,000 words can turn into a bestseller or even a decent seller.
    I believe that 30,000 words, or not very much more, is around the length of all John Locke's books. He was one of the first people to sell over 1,000,000 Kindle books (in the space of about 5 months). But he's the first to admit very openly that his books have absolutely no "literary" aspirations at all.
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    • Profile picture of the author ckbank
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      They're not that much "shorter". None of the above is far off a full-length novel, as I remember?



      Yes. Especially by having multiple books available, and attracting a following from people who will buy everything you write.



      Yes, partly that, I think.

      Also, expectations vary from genre to genre.

      I think it's also safe to say that "literary fiction" (of the type expemplified by all the books you've mentioned above) is never going to sell as well online as "commercial fiction", just because its market is so very much smaller. (And because its readers tend to be more "bookshop types" than "Kindle types" too, perhaps?).



      I believe that 30,000 words, or not very much more, is around the length of all John Locke's books. He was one of the first people to sell over 1,000,000 Kindle books (in the space of about 5 months). But he's the first to admit very openly that his books have absolutely no "literary" aspirations at all.
      Alexa, as always, you're very insightful. I'm surprised that John Locke's books are around 30,000 words or so. In your opinion, what sort of fiction sells the best on Kindle? I've been reading that romance sells a lot, but then there's tons of romance for readers to pick from.
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      Now that's what I call Guerrilla Marketing.
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      • Profile picture of the author TinkBD
        Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

        Alexa, as always, you're very insightful. I'm surprised that John Locke's books are around 30,000 words or so. In your opinion, what sort of fiction sells the best on Kindle? I've been reading that romance sells a lot, but then there's tons of romance for readers to pick from.
        Not Alexa, but... ;-)

        Market Share of Romance Fiction

        Romance fiction generated $1.368 billion in sales in 2011.
        From 2007-2011, romance was the second top-performing category (based on consolidated ranking across the NYT, USA Today, and PW best-seller lists).
        Romance fiction sales are estimated at $1.336 billion for 2012.
        74.8 million people read at least one romance novel in 2008. (source: RWA Reader Survey)


        Romance Market Share Compared to Other Genres


        Romance fiction: $1.368 billion in estimated revenue for 2011
        Religion/inspirational: $715 million
        Mystery: $709 million
        Science fiction/fantasy: $579 million
        Classic literary fiction: $467 million

        myRWA : The Romance Genre : Romance Industry Statistics

        It is also important to note that the deeper we get into the Indie Publishing Revolution, the more likely that these numbers will fluctuate. This is because the gatekeepers of Traditional Publishing are no longer dictating what reaches readers...
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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        Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

        I'm surprised that John Locke's books are around 30,000 words or so.
        Yes - I remember being very surprised, when I first worked it out.

        Apart from his book on "How I Sold A Million Kindle Books" (or whatever it's called), I've only bought and read one of his fiction books (kind of to see "what the fuss was all about"), but someone told me that they're all about the same length. I can't swear to this, but I think it's not far off, anyway. (In a way, it's so surprising to me that I'd rather be wrong about it than right!).

        Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

        In your opinion, what sort of fiction sells the best on Kindle? I've been reading that romance sells a lot, but then there's tons of romance for readers to pick from.
        Not sure, sorry. Others here will know more than I do about this.

        I suspect Romance is very popular. Also maybe Crime Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, and Books About Poxy Vampires And All This Nonsense (as I call the genre, myself - it might be called "Horror", really, I think :rolleyes: ).

        Oops, sorry, I replied without seeing that Tink had replied above ... I needn't have posted this.
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        • Profile picture of the author TinkBD
          It is important to note that with genre fiction, it is highly unlikely that ONE of anything will earn you a lot...

          On the upside... genre fiction readers are addicts of a sort, so plan to meet their expectations and plan to write series...

          Also, allow the time to find your readers...

          Publish one, then write the next... rinse and repeat.

          If you have accurately met that genre's expectations... the more books you write/publish, the more they'll buy. ;-)

          Rather than promoting, spend your time writing the next release.
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Even in the dead-tree world, series seem to be the way to go. Head to a major bookstore and wander the fiction shelves. Whether it's Tom Clancy's high-tech thrillers, Stephen King's horror, westerns, mysteries, you name it. Series are where it's at.

            Why would the Kindle marketplace be any different.

            Another thing that is more of the same - a good book in a lesser genre will outsell a crappy book in a hot one.

            I could probably put together a pretty decent sci-fi, western or murder thriller, but if I tried to write a teenybopper angsty vampire romance? I'm pretty sure it would suck... :p
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            • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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              Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

              if I tried to write a teenybopper angsty vampire romance? I'm pretty sure it would suck... :p
              Most suitable: I think this is what those poxy vampires do, anyway ... :confused:
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            • Profile picture of the author TinkBD
              Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

              Series are where it's at.

              Why would the Kindle marketplace be any different.
              I totally agree... but, there are a surprising number of folks who haven't made that leap.
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          • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
            Originally Posted by TinkBD View Post


            Rather than promoting, spend your time writing the next release.
            I need to print this and put it on my desk...
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