In case this is the first post you’ve heard about the Amazon Kindle Vella, let’s start from the beginning.

Otherwise scroll down to My Notes

What is Amazon Kindle Vella

Vella is an extension of the Kindle Direct Publishing platform for independent authors, so it includes many accomplished authors but also plenty of ambitious amateurs. … Amazon offers Kindle Direct Publishing authors 50% of royalties based on the amount readers spend on their Vella episodes (via techraider)

Why Am I Doing kindle Vella?

If you’re a long time reader of this website/blog then you know I’ve always done serializations. I took a break in 2019 with so much stuff going on with me personally and in 2020 I took another break due to family problems.

I posted free stories to Wattpad, but I’ve realized coming up with good stories is hard work and a bish need her bills paid or at least premium gas in her vehicle, so I wanted to start making money from these literary endeavors.

I also didn’t want to thin myself by posting to all those paid sites like Radish and so forth even though I’ve watched other authors make beaucoup money. I was tempted but I didn’t.

When Amazon offered this opportunity to centralize my stories and help me connect with new readers, I was all for this.

Who did I put on kindle Vella?

She Works Hard for the Money – sylviahubbard.com/sheworkshardforthemoney

Start reading | Go to book site | Subscribe for updates from author

About this book:

To get over a broken heart, get with a broken man. Renna had never heard that expression, but the idea of being with a man after being in a lesbian relationship for 8 years interested her. It would certainly make her forget about the pain and betrayal she was going through. Renna needed something different, but did she make a mistake by sleeping with the most rude, misogynist & selfish man this side of the Mississippi? Beck had a dark past, but when he saw Renna, he saw his future.

Start reading | Go to book site | Subscribe for updates from author

How am I doing kindle Vella?

One story at a time

Now I was asked why didn’t I put up several stories. Some authors believe posting multiple stories give you a better edge.

I can barely concentrate on one and I’m actually really writing the story as I go because I like to be in the heat with the readers.

I might try double later if this program really takes off but for now, I’m good with one at a time. (see below for other things I do instead of making another story)

Marketing

• Contacting Fanbase – through blogging, my fb group and my mailing list and more

• I try to send out a blog update with longer weekly author’s updates | Click here to subscribe

• On my FB group, I keep them updated on when I post to the story and answer /respond to all comments | Click here to join

• Mailing List – every couple of weeks I send out things or my assistant takes my blog posts and puts it in my mailchimp

• Other FB groups – my assistants take promos I make in canva.com and posts them to reader groups around Facebooks.

• Other social media – For Instagram and Twitter, I post at least twice a week about Beck with short updates.

• Podcast – I talk about what I’m doing and I should go back and post my author’s notes there. https://sylviahubbardlitworld.wordpress.com/
• Make lots of promo pics with the same cover photo with Amazon Kindle Vella information and a tag line about the book.

Start reading | Go to book site | Subscribe for updates from author

Story setup & formatting – it helps to be a Cliffhanger Queen

Since I have history and have practiced writing serializations since 2009. I was built for this type of storytelling or I have taught myself well on how to do this right.

Each episode is between 2400 to 3500 words long. I try to make it bulky so you can get what you pay for but it leaves me room to do what I have to do in order to move the story forward as quickly as possible.

I’m a 40 chapter/episode type of writer, so that’s what I’m pushing for in this book (in case you were wondering)

Since I post three times a week (see below), I make sure when formatting the episodes I leave a little taste to want more, especially if I know it’s going to be at the end of the week.

Posting schedule

I push out episodes 3 times week. Every fourth week I would suggest prompting your readers to invite others by the end of the week and you’ll benefit them by posting an extra chapter.

Three episodes a week seems to work well in keeping the readers steady on your books

The reason I don’t do the 5000 word count is that I’m thinking about the reader and I don’t want reader fatigue. Staring at a screen so long causes tiredness and I want them to get to the next episode or at least try especially if they started the story late and trying to catch up.

Author Notes – it’s important for Authors to talk to the readers after each chapter. You can’t leave links but I can mention to go to my social medias and also other books that are companionship titles to this books.

How do I make money? Honestly don’t expect to pay off bills or live the lap of luxury

First month of being in the program I’d honestly say I made ONE Andrew Jackson. I was cool with that because the first 3 episodes are FREE. On top of that, entry readers that sign up for Amazon kindle Vella get 200 tokens, which mean they can probably get to chapter six or eight depending on how I’ve set up the word count.

But as I said above I’m usually always a forty chapter writer, so it does work out in my favor, BUT writers have to remember, you are in a token online system. Even though Amazon splits the profit of the tokens, they are responsible for any fees incurred on any platform the tokens were bought on and Apple is not kind, imma tell you that. So you’ll be LITERALLY seeing pennies, nickels and dimes before you get to that first dollar. Be prepared.

As more readers got on board it was great to see increases in money and I hope to see more, if I continue to participate. Subscribe for updates on that answer.

1. Groveling for readers in every author’s note. Encouraging like, follows, and FAVES, plus shares helps me keep my crown. (see video above to understand all that). The more readers read the more money I make.
2. In the story itself, I bring in other characters that are in other books. For this current book, there are at least five other companionship novels connected readers can make sure they put in their TBR or go pick them up while waiting for more episodes.
3. Using affiliate links when posting through my blog or online. Even if I don’t get them to read the story. If they buy something from amazon within forty-eight hours using that link, I get the fee from there, so there’s that.
4. Author notes on my website help me build website traffic, where I get viewership fees for the small ads on the site.
5. Listening to the podcasts, I add ads there too and build off that little income.

Not only has this worked to make me some pocket change, but it’s also pushed Beck from nothing to number 31. My goal, to get into the top 20 on the Amazon Kindle Vella page and I’m hoping I can do that soon.

When will foreign readers be able to read the story?

I can’t answer for Amazon when the program will be available in other countries, but we are allowed to put the stories behind a paywall.

A lot of authors have Patreon, but as I said, I don’t like to thin myself out and I’ve decided to add this story on my website, but I want to wait until October, so It doesn’t get in the way with The Trouble with Gabrielle release in September.

Start reading | Go to book site | Subscribe for updates from author

Got questions, ask in the comments

Are you are reader in Amazon Kindle Vella? Add your thoughts below

Just wanna let me know I’m doing a good job or enjoyed this blog read, comment below

And if you could, like, share and if you got’em honor me with some Faves on She Works Hard for the Money. Click here to help me, help you, help me.

Thank you in advance so much for support to my literary endeavors