Do Short Books Sell on Smashwords?

MV64 · 01-05-2011, 03:48 PM

I've got tons of ideas floating around and I've been writing for years, yet I never seem to get above 7-10,000 words with my fiction stories. I just run out of steam. However, I do tend to think these short stories are really good.

I've heard, however, that short stories don't sell as e-books unless you are an established author. So let me pose the question to you:

Would you ever buy a short story individually that was 7-10,000 words if it was only for a dollar? If you wouldn't, would you ever buy a collection of short stories from an author you've never heard of before?

jasonkchapman · 01-05-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MV64

Would you ever buy a short story individually that was 7-10,000 words if it was only for a dollar? If you wouldn't, would you ever buy a collection of short stories from an author you've never heard of before?

1. Yes, if it were by an author I already know, or recommended by someone who's opinion I trust.

2. No

JP36 · 01-05-2011, 04:13 PM

I would buy a short story for a dollar but wouldn't buy a collection of them from an author I knew nothing about unless it had several good reviews, explaining why it was good not just "Great/nice work/etc" and was cheap. Otherwise I'd want to know about the author having read several of their stories/novels first.

I'd suggest if you have many stories put a few up as freebies sell some others then look at a collection maybe even similarly themed ie fantasy/western but I'm not in the know of how writers sell their works.

CWatkinsNash · 01-05-2011, 04:16 PM

Some authors have put collections for sale, and offered one or a few of the included stories as freebies to get people interested. It's worked on me - I read a couple of free short stories from an author, then purchased a collection because I liked the freebies.

Lemurion · 01-05-2011, 04:27 PM

Most books run between 60,000 and 100,000 words. Most independent authors sell their books on Smashwords for $2.99. Therefore I would bundle my stories in collections of six to ten depending on length, to provide the same perceived value.

Then I'd go ahead and put a few stories up for free, so that people have a chance to judge the value of my work.

MrsJoseph · 01-05-2011, 04:44 PM

It'd have to be a pretty engaging summary to make me pick it up. I remember finding "Kushiel's Dart" in B&N one day. I only saw the spine but the rose symbol was interesting enough for me to pick it up. The summary started with "When love cast me out, it was cruelty who took pity on me"

Just call me

nashira · 01-05-2011, 05:11 PM

Short stories are fine, and I'll pay for them. But I won't pay $5 for ten thousand words....

Yes I did find something like that on smashwords earlier. Sigh. I'll also try anthologies of short stories if they're a decent price, and with a good sized sample.

01-05-2011, 03:48 PM	#1
MV64 Addict Posts: 271 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	Do Short Books Sell on Smashwords? I've got tons of ideas floating around and I've been writing for years, yet I never seem to get above 7-10,000 words with my fiction stories. I just run out of steam. However, I do tend to think these short stories are really good. I've heard, however, that short stories don't sell as e-books unless you are an established author. So let me pose the question to you: Would you ever buy a short story individually that was 7-10,000 words if it was only for a dollar? If you wouldn't, would you ever buy a collection of short stories from an author you've never heard of before?

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01-05-2011, 04:13 PM	#3
JP36 Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 20 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East Coast of America Device: Ipaq 2200, Pocketbook IQ 701, Sony PRS350	I would buy a short story for a dollar but wouldn't buy a collection of them from an author I knew nothing about unless it had several good reviews, explaining why it was good not just "Great/nice work/etc" and was cheap. Otherwise I'd want to know about the author having read several of their stories/novels first. I'd suggest if you have many stories put a few up as freebies sell some others then look at a collection maybe even similarly themed ie fantasy/western but I'm not in the know of how writers sell their works.

01-05-2011, 04:16 PM	#4
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	Some authors have put collections for sale, and offered one or a few of the included stories as freebies to get people interested. It's worked on me - I read a couple of free short stories from an author, then purchased a collection because I liked the freebies.

01-05-2011, 04:27 PM	#5
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Most books run between 60,000 and 100,000 words. Most independent authors sell their books on Smashwords for $2.99. Therefore I would bundle my stories in collections of six to ten depending on length, to provide the same perceived value. Then I'd go ahead and put a few stories up for free, so that people have a chance to judge the value of my work.

01-05-2011, 04:44 PM	#6
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	It'd have to be a pretty engaging summary to make me pick it up. I remember finding "Kushiel's Dart" in B&N one day. I only saw the spine but the rose symbol was interesting enough for me to pick it up. The summary started with "When love cast me out, it was cruelty who took pity on me" Just call me

01-05-2011, 05:11 PM	#7
nashira Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 73734 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Short stories are fine, and I'll pay for them. But I won't pay $5 for ten thousand words.... Yes I did find something like that on smashwords earlier. Sigh. I'll also try anthologies of short stories if they're a decent price, and with a good sized sample.