Kindle Vella: Amazon's KDP eBook Series Platform

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Among Amazon's plethora of offerings is Kindle Vella, a new eBook platform designed for series. Amazon is touting it as a "new storytelling option," and it's being offered to U.S.-based authors. The rollout for the Kindle Vella service will happen gradually, starting with the iOS app and Amazon.com. In this article, we'll cover the Kindle Vella platform, royalties for authors, and the Kindle Vella Token System.

What is Kindle Vella

Kindle Vella is a new eBook offering by Amazon designed specifically for serialized stories. Authors can create their stories for Kindle Vella one episode at a time. 

Royalties for Kindle Vella

The royalty standard for Kindle Vella stories is different from traditional eBook options. For one, readers will have to purchase their episodes using "Tokens." Authors then earn 50% of what readers spend on the Tokens used to unlock each episode. Other incentives include launch bonuses that are entirely based on customer activity and engagement.

Token Breakdown

Amazon's pricing packages for Tokens are subject to change while the service is getting off the ground. Currently, there are four Token purchasing options. 

  • 200 Tokens for $1.99
  • 525 Tokens for $4.99
  • 1100 Tokens for $9.99
  • 1700 Tokens for $14.99
The value of the tokens is set at 1 token per 100 words. For example, a 300-word episode will run a reader 3 tokens. Similarly, an 832-word episode will be 8 Tokens. 

Kindle Vella Earnings Breakdown

How earnings are calculated for authors is based on which Token bundle the reader has purchased. According to Amazon, the formula for earnings is:

(Number of Tokens to unlock episode) * (Price of Token Bundle/# Bundle Quantity - taxes and fees) * (50% rev share) = Earnings per episode

Here's an example of what an author can earn through royalties using this formula for a 3,025-word episode, which will run for 30 Tokens. This breakdown shows an example of earnings when the Tokens are purchased in a 200 Tokens bundle versus a 1,100 Tokens bundle. Taxes and fees are not factored in.
  • Episode purchased from a 200 Tokens bundle: 30 Tokens * ($1.99/200 Tokens - 0) * 50% = $0.1493
  • Episode purchased from a 1,100 Tokens bundle: 30 Tokens * ($9.99/1100 Tokens - 0) * 50% = $0.1362
For more information about the Kindle Vella Token system, visit the Amazon Reader Experience page.

Word Count Requirements

Amazon has limited the word count for all episodes. Authors must stick to episodes that are between 600 and 5,000 words each. 

Free Episodes Requirement 

In order to offer the best customer experience, the first few episodes of every story are free to readers. Stories are currently only accepted if written in the English language, and the service is available only to U.S.-based authors. 

Visit the Amazon Kindle Vella page for more information.

Related:

How to Set Margins for KDP Paperbacks

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