Can you upload a single short story to Amazon?

Rhynedahll · 10-28-2010, 06:42 PM

Wondering if this is possible.

wallcraft · 10-28-2010, 07:44 PM

Amazon has recently announced a new program for short pieces, see Amazon Singles - A new front in the war.

Luke King · 10-29-2010, 05:01 AM

You can upload a short story to Amazon. I have a couple of short pieces there under another name. I write "a short story by" at the end of the blurb.

mr ploppy · 10-29-2010, 05:36 AM

Do you have to charge for them or can they be free?

Luke King · 10-29-2010, 05:57 AM

You have to charge at least $0.99.

Rhynedahll · 10-29-2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke King

You can upload a short story to Amazon. I have a couple of short pieces there under another name. I write "a short story by" at the end of the blurb.

Through the normal DTP process or is there some special route?

Luke King · 10-29-2010, 06:25 AM

Just through the normal DTP.

mr ploppy · 11-03-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke King

You have to charge at least $0.99.

Can you use discount codes like on Smashwords, and then put the discount code in the item description?

Luke King · 11-03-2010, 10:07 PM

I'm pretty sure there isn't any discount codes at Amazon, though I haven't read any of the DTP stuff for a long time. I suppose you could, theoretically, direct Amazon's readers to Smashwords by putting the Smashwords code in your blurb. My guess would be that Amazon would pick this up after you hit publish, and most likely ask you to change it.

What it comes down to in the end is that Amazon wants to retain control over the power of "free" in order to market its own books. Often, the free books you see at Amazon are books that have been picked up by Amazon Encore. They offer them for free, and then, when they get up to the top of a list, they slap a $9.99 price on them.

This is how it seems to me, anyway. I'm no expert.

Hitch · 11-03-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke King

I'm pretty sure there isn't any discount codes at Amazon, though I haven't read any of the DTP stuff for a long time. I suppose you could, theoretically, direct Amazon's readers to Smashwords by putting the Smashwords code in your blurb. My guess would be that Amazon would pick this up after you hit publish, and most likely ask you to change it.

What it comes down to in the end is that Amazon wants to retain control over the power of "free" in order to market its own books. Often, the free books you see at Amazon are books that have been picked up by Amazon Encore. They offer them for free, and then, when they get up to the top of a list, they slap a $9.99 price on them.

This is how it seems to me, anyway. I'm no expert.

There aren't any discount codes at Amazon for smaller publishers, only the big ones (like Harper-Collins). And I don't think a redirect would last long--Amazon hasn't accepted titles from Smashwords for nearly a year now, due to formatting quality issues--so there wouldn't be any economic incentive for them (Amazon) to allow you to essentially advertise a book you were selling elsewhere (Smashwords) on Amazon's site for free, if you see what I mean.

Hitch

Luke King · 11-04-2010, 01:49 AM

Yes, I see what you mean.

I found this on Amazon's price list requirements page:

"You must enter a price at least 99 cents. Publishers cannot offer free Kindle books at this time, but we are reviewing the possibility in the near future. Please check our Announcements section for any updates."

williemeikle · 11-04-2010, 08:18 AM

Yes, it's a 99 cent lower limit. One of my publishers is planning on putting a whole stack of my stories on Amazon -- there's four there so far, and a couple of them sell pretty well considering how short they are (about 8000 words).

mr ploppy · 11-04-2010, 08:31 AM

Would you get away with saying "click here to read the free short story that accompanies this book" and have it go to Smashwords or similar? Or just a html version hosted somewhere that didn't have any selling involved? The short story would be included free with the book anyway, but people wouldn't need to know that.

Hitch · 11-05-2010, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Would you get away with saying "click here to read the free short story that accompanies this book" and have it go to Smashwords or similar? Or just a html version hosted somewhere that didn't have any selling involved? The short story would be included free with the book anyway, but people wouldn't need to know that.

Quite honestly, I think it's a little unreasonable for you to ask Amazon to act as your free advertising agency. If you want people to read your free shortie, put it here on MR; put it on Kobo with coupons; put it on Wattpad, put it on Smashwords. All those places get tons of traffic from people looking for free stories. On those sites, you'll get literally thousands of readers. You will, in fact, get more readers looking for freebies on those sites than you EVER will on Amazon, because freebies aren't really the stock-in-trade on Amazon, and neither are individual shorties.

If your point is to sell your story, then list it for money. I admit I do not understand why you seem so determined to find a way to put your story on Amazon when you aren't selling it.

Hitch

mr ploppy · 11-05-2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

If your point is to sell your story, then list it for money. I admit I do not understand why you seem so determined to find a way to put your story on Amazon when you aren't selling it.

Hitch

Amazon is where the readers are. It would be advertising for a longer (paid for) story and it would make sense to have them both in the same place. Plus you could have a direct link to the buy now page at the end of the short story, like you do with a normal sample.

10-28-2010, 06:42 PM	#1
Rhynedahll Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 504062 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle	Can you upload a single short story to Amazon? Wondering if this is possible.

11-03-2010, 10:07 PM	#9
Luke King Member Retired Posts: 173 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 2	I'm pretty sure there isn't any discount codes at Amazon, though I haven't read any of the DTP stuff for a long time. I suppose you could, theoretically, direct Amazon's readers to Smashwords by putting the Smashwords code in your blurb. My guess would be that Amazon would pick this up after you hit publish, and most likely ask you to change it. What it comes down to in the end is that Amazon wants to retain control over the power of "free" in order to market its own books. Often, the free books you see at Amazon are books that have been picked up by Amazon Encore. They offer them for free, and then, when they get up to the top of a list, they slap a $9.99 price on them. This is how it seems to me, anyway. I'm no expert. Last edited by Luke King; 11-03-2010 at 10:10 PM. Reason: syntax

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10-28-2010, 07:44 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Amazon has recently announced a new program for short pieces, see Amazon Singles - A new front in the war.

10-29-2010, 05:01 AM	#3
Luke King Member Retired Posts: 173 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 2	You can upload a short story to Amazon. I have a couple of short pieces there under another name. I write "a short story by" at the end of the blurb.

10-29-2010, 05:36 AM	#4
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Do you have to charge for them or can they be free?

10-29-2010, 05:57 AM	#5
Luke King Member Retired Posts: 173 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 2	You have to charge at least $0.99.

10-29-2010, 06:25 AM	#7
Luke King Member Retired Posts: 173 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 2	Just through the normal DTP.

11-04-2010, 01:49 AM	#11
Luke King Member Retired Posts: 173 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 2	Yes, I see what you mean. I found this on Amazon's price list requirements page: "You must enter a price at least 99 cents. Publishers cannot offer free Kindle books at this time, but we are reviewing the possibility in the near future. Please check our Announcements section for any updates."

11-04-2010, 08:18 AM	#12
williemeikle Are the stars right yet? Posts: 209 Karma: 250270 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Newfoundland Device: none	Yes, it's a 99 cent lower limit. One of my publishers is planning on putting a whole stack of my stories on Amazon -- there's four there so far, and a couple of them sell pretty well considering how short they are (about 8000 words).

11-04-2010, 08:31 AM	#13
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Would you get away with saying "click here to read the free short story that accompanies this book" and have it go to Smashwords or similar? Or just a html version hosted somewhere that didn't have any selling involved? The short story would be included free with the book anyway, but people wouldn't need to know that.

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