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Writer's pictureAmy DeClerck

Kindle Vella: What is it and how does it work?



In January of 2022 I discovered that there was a new platform available from Amazon for writers. In July 2021, Amazon launched Kindle Vella, a platform for serial content. There are lots of apps that are designed for serial reading, including Wattpad, Radish, and Medium. Readers who like to find their stories in bite-sized chunks instead of novelettes and novels, can read on these apps on the bus, the subway, in the car while waiting on their kids, at soccer practice and in the fifteen minutes of quiet time before bed.

WHY DID I CHOOSE KINDLE VELLA? In 2020 I put writing aside to pursue a bachelor's degree in healthcare management. I completed the four years worth of work in eight months between Sept 2020-May 2021. It sounds crazy- and it was. When my degree was complete, I accepted a promotion at my day job. With the promotion came more hours and more responsibility and less time to pick up writing again. I felt like I'd taken ten steps back from where I'd been before I stopped focusing on writing. I wondered if I should just give up on writing to publish all together because I just didn't have the time to focus on marketing and writing anymore. A friend mentioned Kindle Vella to me. By writing and publishing in smaller increments, I could accomplish many things at once. A) I was writing again! B)I was able to work on multiple stories at once without feeling overwhelmed. C)I had time to market and promote my stories. D)My novel readers would get to read the completed work when I publish as an ebook once the story is complete.

HOW DOES KINDLE VELLA WORK? Writers publish episodes of stories on the Kindle Vella application. Readers can access Kindle Vella in many ways. They can read Kindle Vella stories on their Kindle, or in the Kindle app on their favorite device. Unfortunately, Kindle Vella stories are not available to read on the Amazon app itself. Readers can access Amazon via their browser, however, and read the stories that way. The first three episodes of Kindle Vella stories are always free for readers. Once the reader gets to episode four, they have to purchase the episode by buying tokens from Amazon. Each token costs approximately 1 penny. Episode cost is set by the number of words in the episode. A 900 word episode, for example, would cost 9 tokens. Writers must make episodes at least 500 words. All Kindle Unlimited subscribers are given 200 free tokens each month just for being members of Kindle Unlimited. You can check out my TikTok videos to see how to access Kindle Vella on PC and via mobile, and how to purchase more tokens.

WHAT DOES 2023 LOOK LIKE FOR ME? I've talked a bit about what I'd like to accomplish in 2023, and I can't wait for readers to find and enjoy my Kindle Vella stories.

The Case Files of Adelaide Kent (cosmic horror): A young woman has a strange connection to an Old God and he's waking up. **almost complete**

Night in the Garden(m/m fantasy romance): Yoja's only desire to was to live our his life in his garden, until a wounded demon appeared and made him rethink everything.

The Unicorn Conspiracy(LitRPG): The top 4 players of The Game must chase down a hacker and her random-generator Unicorn virus before the whole game collapses, taking the players with it.

Do No Harm (satire): Medicinal lycanthropy was the cure to all that ailed society until it destroyed it all.

UNSEEN (Appalachian folk horror): When dark things comes slithering into the woods near Jasper, TN, the Elder is there to send them back where they belong.






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