Short Stories on Kindle

[I. J. Parker]

I think some of you have published short stories individually on Kindle. I know other authors have done so (Konrath?).  It raises some questions for me.  Is 0.99 too much to charge?  My stories run 8,000 to 10,000 words.  I assume that Amazon will not pay 70 % on this, since they have a cut-off price of 2.99.  And that is too much to charge.

 

Have any of you experience with this?

[I. J. Parker]

That's interesting.  I don't think length will be too much of an issue then for me. My stories tend to be fairly long.  Thanks, Kevin.

[David DeLee]

Hi I.J.,
Your royalties are based on the price you assign to the book/story. Under $2.99 it is 35% (40% at BN). Pricing is also a very touchy subject among indie e-publishers. I have a bunch of short stories up. I charge .99 for them, none of them are more 8000 words. I have a collection of short stories up, RUNNERS, which includes 5 short stories, and I priced that at $2.99. I have a novel up at $4.99. So, here's my pricing strategy--short stories up to around 10-1200 words: .99, 1200-30-40000 words: $2.99, 40+k words to around 100,000 words: $4.99. If I ever write an epic type tale, which I don't see me doing, I might charge $6 or $7 for it.
But, that's just me as I see the value of my work as both a writer and a reader.
Good luck,
David DeLee
Fatal Destiny - a Grace deHaviland novel

[I. J. Parker]

Thanks, David.  Yes, that looks right to me, too.  I do have an epic tale, but I broke that into 3 books.  :)

[David DeLee]

I think that's smart. 3 books @ $3 or $4 will make you more than 1 @ $6, $7 or even $8.
Also, I've figured in the eventual pricing of POD books, $7.99 for a print collection and $13-$15 for a print trade paperback.

Good luck
David DeLee
Fatal Destiny - a Grace deHaviland novel

[I. J. Parker]

Thanks much, and the same to you, David.