Amazon Kindle Vella: New Serialized Story Platform

Amazon Launches Kindle Vella: A New Platform for Serialized Fiction

Following its announcement last month, Amazon has officially introduced Kindle Vella, a store dedicated to serialized fiction. This platform allows readers to access and unlock episodes of self-published stories through in-app purchases.

A New Avenue for Authors and Readers

Kindle Vella presents a novel method for readers to discover emerging fiction. Simultaneously, it offers authors utilizing the Kindle Direct Publishing service a fresh revenue stream.

Platform Availability

Despite the name, Kindle Vella is not accessible on Amazon’s Kindle e-readers. Currently, the service is exclusively available on Amazon.com and the Kindle app for iOS devices. Android support is not yet available.

Initial Limitations

At launch, Kindle Vella is restricted to authors based in the United States who publish their stories in the English language.

Episode Structure and Cost

Serialized stories within Kindle Vella will range in length from 600 to 5,000 words per episode. The initial three episodes of each story are provided at no cost to readers.

Access to subsequent episodes requires the purchase of “tokens.” These tokens are priced in tiers, starting at $2 for 200 tokens and reaching $15 for 1,700 tokens.

The $15 purchase equates to approximately 34 episodes, although the cost per episode fluctuates based on its word count—longer episodes require more tokens.

Author Compensation and Engagement Features

Authors will receive 50 percent of the revenue generated from their stories. Additional bonuses are awarded based on reader engagement with the platform’s social features.

Readers can follow stories to receive notifications about new episodes. They can also express appreciation by giving episodes a “thumbs up” and designating a “Fave” story each week, provided they have purchased tokens.

Sharing options are available via Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Amazon encourages authors to interact with readers directly at the end of episodes, offering “story insights and behind-the-scenes content.”

Early Adoption and Author Response

Since opening Kindle Vella to authors three months ago, Amazon reports that “thousands of authors” have contributed “tens of thousands of Kindle Vella episodes” spanning numerous genres and subgenres.

Author interest appears strong. Bestselling author Audrey Carlan stated, “I’ve published close to 30 novels, and I’m enjoying the adventure of writing The Marriage Auction in this new format.”

The success of this new format now hinges on reader adoption. You can access Kindle Vella here.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Engadget.