Amazon’s Kindle Vella is shutting down with only a few weeks notice. I never read any stories but I thought it was an interesting idea — serialized novels delivered in short episodes like a chapter at a time, mostly fantasy and romance. Perhaps should’ve been more integrated with Kindle Unlimited.

Mark Stoneman

@manton That's what newspapers did in the
19th century.

Rick Rupp

An author I liked (John Conroe) was on Vella, so I tried the format. I found the format awkward. Each entry was more than a book chapter but less than a short story.

Manton Reece

@palousegeo I can imagine it’s too different for everyone used to regular novels. Still, seems a shame it didn’t work out since it might’ve been good for self-published authors.

Devon Greene

That's unfortunate, though I appreciate the experiment. Given the history of the serialized novel (and the interest in pre-release chapters), I'd love, someday, for Brandon Sanderson to publish a novel in this way - just a chapter or two a week for whoever many weeks, and let those interested discuss and theorize away for months. The full, published novel could come out a few months after the full release. I think it'd work well for a standalone Cosmere novel. Especially paired with one or two other authors' pieces, as a way to get lesser known authors a unique opportunity to engage readers.

Manton Reece

@dgreene196 I'd love that too, having something in my inbox to read in the years between bigger novels. This conversation reminds me of The Wandering Inn. I always meant to read it.

Manton Reece @manton
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