The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes
“A short story is a different thing all together – a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger.” Stephen King
Not every great story is encased in a novel. According to Edgar Allan Poe, the short story which can be read in one sitting is the “perfect work of art.” A short story can allow you to escape the intrusions of reality. By capturing your uninterrupted attention for the duration of the tale, a short story can consume your mind in ways that longer works cannot.
“A good [short story] would take me out of myself and then stuff me back in, outsized, now, and uneasy with the fit.” David Sedaris
While Poe was one of the first strong advocates for the importance of short stories, the ebook format has provided authors with new opportunities for shorter works. Benefiting both authors and readers, the ebook format allows for the publication and distribution of individual short works, making the genre more profitable for authors and more available for readers.
“The short story, I should point out, is perforce a labor of love in today’s literary world; there’s precious little economic incentive to write one…” Lawrence Block
While other ebook publishers offer short stories, Amazon has embraced the concept with Kindle Singles, its hand-picked collection of short works that meet its requirements. Kindle Singles are short stories, essays, memoirs and narratives that Amazon has included into its program. Kindle Singles range from $0.99 to $4.99 and about 15 to 90 pages. The program was launched in June last year and over two million Kindle Singles were sold as of March.
You can find Kindle Singles at Amazon by searching for Best Sellers, Highly Rated or Hot Releases. You may be surprised to discover that your favorite author has published Kindle Singles. Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Amy Tan, Jodi Picoult, Jon Krakauer and many other famous authors have published Kindle Singles.
Not all Kindle short stories are Kindle Singles. Many short stories are published as Kindle ebooks and are outside the requirements of the Kindle Singles program.
Some Kindle Singles and ebooks can be borrowed for free by Amazon Prime members or from other Kindle owners. You don’t need to own a Kindle ereader to read a Kindle ebook. Free Kindle apps are available for computers and mobile devices. If you’re reading this blog on a screen, you can read a Kindle ebook.
“I love short stories because I believe they are the way we live. They are what our friends tell us, in their pain and joy, their passion and rage, their yearning and their cry against injustice.” Andre Dubus
Jens Berget, author of Sly Marketing and Wonder of Tech reader, published his first Kindle ebook last week, fuzzy. His haunting short story shot up to the #25 rank in its Kindle category soon after it was published.
Another Wonder of Tech reader, Ashvini Kumar Saxena, author of Thoughts on Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Motivation, published his collection of short stories as a Kindle ebook earlier this year.
If you’re looking to escape reality with a dose of Orwellian futuristic fiction, check out Margaret Atwood’s short story I’m Starved for You.
“A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick — a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.” Neil Gaiman
Shorter works go beyond the realm of fiction. They can educate and entertain you in other ways.
If you’re taking a short flight or train ride and want to figure out how to get started with Google+, check out Guy Kawasaki’s What the Plus!: Google+ for the Rest of Us.
If you’re wondering how to use Twitter effectively and have some free time, check out The Tao of Twitter, by Mark Schaeffer, author of {grow}.
If you’re in a bit of a funk and could use a giggle, check out Kindle Singles An Unexpected Twist, by New York Times humorist Andy Borowitz or Keep Swinging, by Rick Marin.
If you have a few hours to spare want to read an in-depth explanation about the recent Higgs boson particle discovery, check out Higgs Discovery: The Power of Empty Space, by Harvard University professor Lisa Randall.
“I’ll give you the whole secret to short story writing. Here it is. Rule 1: Write stories that please yourself. There is no Rule 2.” O. Henry
Do you enjoy reading short stories? Do you enjoy reading works from beginning to end without interruption? Please let us know in the Comments section below! If you have published a Kindle book, please feel free to link to it in your comment.
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*Author quotes are from Good Reads.
Great article!!!!! I often use my Kindle for short stories.
Hi Lee, Thank you so much. I’m a big fan of reading short stories on my Kindle. Glad to know you are too! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
These are great. I am writing a novella and I am thinking of publishing it on the Kindle. I’m asking my blog readers for help writing it first, every Wednesday! I hope to have more writers for a Zillion Ideas soon.
My friend has the third novel in his series out on Kindle. Jake West | The Estian Alliance – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jake-West-Alliance-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B008SW6EF2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344190099&sr=1-1
The Kindle is offering opportunities for writer and readers. I want colour Ebook readers and then I can do a story with pictures! 😛
Hi Mike, Great news! You can publish ebooks in color. Apple’s iBooks are in color and Amazon is now publishing Kindle ebooks in color for its Kindle Fire and iPad apps.
Your photos would be great in a Kindle book!
Thanks for the tips on Kindle Singles. I have gotten one or two of them in the past (not sure if one was a short story and not a single) and they are nice for that quick read. I will have to check out the ones you have listed here. Haven’t heard of any of them. And, seeing that I will be traveling next week, I can use a new read!
Hi Carol, You’re right, short stories will be great for travel. They’re the perfect length for a plane ride. I can’t read when I’m riding in the car, so I prefer audiobooks for car travel, but I know some people can read in the car.
I hope you have a great time on your trip! :-h
Let’s see, if I sell my short story for .99 I’m guessing I don’t get all of that but if 500,000 people buy it maybe I’ll get half? Sweet, that would be a nice year’s work, huh? If I could do one a year I would be cooking with gas…….
I did read Jens on my Kindle and I have checked out a book from the library on it as well. Pretty cool; how do you share between Kindle users?
Welcome back, hope you didn’t bring back any cruise virus widya. It sure didn’t seem like you were gone 11 days; too quick, huh?
Hi Bill, Actually, Amazon gives you 70% of the proceeds, so you could do quite well. If you sold one to each of the commenters on your blog, you could retire early!
Having read your fiction, I predict great success for your stories, Bill!
70%…..suuuhhhhweeeeeeet; maybe I would only have to do one every other year…………….
Don’t stress yourself, Bill. Just write one and make it totally awesome. That will do just fine. Your fans can do all the publicity (and you know we will! 😉 )
I had no idea but thank goodness for you Carolyn. I really do love to read but I have had no time with my Mom’s move. I downloaded Jens Kindle book and can’t wait to dive in. Ashvini’s was wonderful so I personally know these two guys have put out some quality content on Amazon.
I love short stories so I might have to check these out.
Again, thank you Carolyn for always sharing the best information with us. I swear I would be in the dark if it weren’t for you. I appreciate you so much and what you share.
Enjoy your week and welcome home.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, I know you’ve been very busy with your mom’s move. Congratulations on making that happen! I know that you will be so happy once she gets all settled.
I really enjoy short stories so I went a little crazy researching this article. Let’s just say that I have enough new short stories on my Kindle now to keep me busy for a while!
I’m glad you have read Ashvini’s stories and I think you’ll enjoy fuzzy as well. I hope you enjoy some other short stories as well, Adrienne! :-bd
I enjoyed Jens’ story. It really motivates me to push hard to write one of my own.
I don’t have a kindle, but I love reading short stories! I have a collection of those right now.
Short stories have a certain charm; it is tough to be minimal in words and maximum on the appeal!
I did want to download Jens book; but seems like the pc application is not available for download in this part of the world! 🙁
I do not YET have a kindle, but I would love to read short stories..maybe a good reason to get one soon !!!!!
I like all kinds of stories, whether it’s a novel or a short stories as i consider books are my best pals which guide me in many aspects of life. anyways Carolyn, nicely written article. high five to you.
🙂
Hi Jessie, I’m a big fan of books just like you are. Sometimes short stories are a wonderful treat when we don’t have time for longer works.
Hi Carolyn
I enjoy reading short stories rather than huge indepth novels these days. More because of time constraints than anything else.
I didn’t even realise there was a Kindle app for my iPhone until I downloaded Jens’ short story the other day!
I’ve not heard of any of the other stories you mentioned, so I will check them out.
Thanks for sharing.
Tim
Short stories ….? i guess i have just gave a look to them in my school days…..after that i don’t have much time to read stories Carolyn 🙁
Hi Aditya, Exactly, a lot of people are pressed for time, which is why shorter works are ideal for many folks. 🙂
Absolutely right Carolyn,The shorter the better but it should be interesting too so that one who don’t read short stories will get interested while reading them.
I have a kindle fire with Amazon Prime. It allows me to rent one book a month for free by having the prime membership. I love our kindle because of the added freedom it gives me. I can search through all sorts of free books and through kindle singles. It gives me the ability to take a library with me without the extra baggage!!
Aaron
Hi Aaron, You’re absolutely right, it’s great to be able to have all of your books with you wherever you go. If you finish a book early when you’re on vacation, you don’t have to worry about getting a new one to start. You can have one handy wherever you are. :-bd
KIndle book downloaded but not enough time to check it because busy in my work so much.
Thank you for this…………..:):)
Hi Bhushan, I hope you have a chance to take a breath soon and read. You are very busy! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
Jens is too good!story is interesting take some time from sleeping hours and get it .Really good work derived here.
thanks for shown this to us.
Thank you so much for letting your readers know about my short story, and your help has been awesome.
Thank you.
I’ve bought several Kindle Singles, and my first one was a story by Lee Child. The reason I bought it was that it was part of the books he writes about his main character Jack Reacher. I had read all the books and I had to read this as well 🙂
Hi Jens, Thank you for sharing your creative talents with us!
Yes, I have seen short stories by authors that are based on characters from novel series. What a great way to enhance character development.
Hi Carolyn, I learned something from one of your older posts and wrote a blog referencing it. I’m still trying to figure out why my iPhone still sends and receives with all the apps turning off. Anyway, thanks. The link is below.
Hi Corky, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you very much for the kind words in your article. I’m glad you’re spreading the word about closing your apps.
I suggest three things for you. First, go into Settings => Mail, Contacts, Calendars then set Fetch New Data to Off. Your iPhone may be constantly looking to see if you have a new email message.
Second, while in Settings, go to Location Services and look to see which apps are using your location data. You can turn off location services for all of them or just turn it on for the apps where you need location services. Some apps want to track your location even though they don’t need it for the app to function. Eliminating Location Services on apps will reduce your data usage.
Third, check out Mind the Cap!, a Wonder of Tech article about data usage. You may want to invest in the DataMan app that will help you track your data usage.
Data use can be hidden so I understand your frustration. I hope these suggestion help!