I tried, I really did try.
Kindle Vella is an Amazon beta program in the US which allows authors to post serial stories in episodes. The mechanics of setting up a Vella story, posting episodes, and editing them is easy. There aren’t any deadlines, and there isn’t much of a risk since stories can be deleted and republished later as a book.
I was undecided about whether Vella and I were a good fit, but committed myself to giving it a try…
Until yesterday.
I sent Amazon an email, and they deleted the story for me.
Why did I give up?
Much of the decision whittled down to the old saying, “Writer, know thyself.”
I’m a writer who enjoys a challenge, but I should have taken a more realistic view of my writing process, something I’m happy with after more than a decade of producing books.
Which kind of writers might enjoy crafting Vella serials?
- Writers who have experience writing serials. Teagan Genevienne and Kymber of Kymber Writes are talented writers who post serials on their blogs, and Teagan’s serial Dead of Winter is available on Amazon. They’re good at it, and by now, it’s clear they enjoy the process.
That’s not me. I’d never tried a serial before jumping into the deep end.
- Writers who hit the publish button and move on. They don’t feel compelled to backtrack, rewrite, and edit posted episodes. The story moves forward without tweaking to avoid confusing its readers.
That definitely isn’t me! I backtrack, rewrite, and edit chapters constantly as a story evolves. 20% of my writing goes into the first drafts, 80% is massaging the thing into shape, including significant rewrites.
- Writers who stick to schedules. Vella may not have deadlines for episodes, but readers are waiting. Building momentum and holding their attention is essential.
Not me either. My life just doesn’t work that way. Publishing an episode on a regular schedule is difficult. My self-imposed deadlines slipped and slipped, and the pressure started peeling away my enjoyment.
- Writers who can tolerate lots of stress without having a meltdown. Unless a story is already written, producing a FINAL polished episode before the rest of the story is drafted is nerve-wracking!
Honestly, this was the straw that broke Vella’s back for me. My story started whining that it wanted to evolve. Then it began nagging, and I couldn’t deal with the tantrums. Too much drama. I could force myself to finish it, but then I’d have to rewrite it or it would never be happy.
I decided to stop, go back to paragraph one, and craft the story the way I always do, the way it wants to be written. The relief feels liberating.
Myths of the Mirror 
my kindle Vella episode is not performing as I thought. I heard you didn’t need to advertise, but that’s simply not true.
If I were you I would set up my short story episodes in baches. So as to stay one step ahead.
I believe Amazon has targeted all of my books. Kindle Vella is Amazon Zoupoo sidekick.
To anyone reading this, do you ever feel like Amazon has Zoupooed you in any kind of way?
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I gave up on Vella, Max. It just wasn’t working for me. The full book comes out in a few weeks, and I feel much better about it. Good for you for trying it. Happy Writing!
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Thank you …good luck 🤞 with your new book.
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Toldja. I said this was exactly what would happen literally the DAY Vella was rolled out.
Authors do not chapter write. Writers do. And they generally don’t do it well.
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What a great way to put it. Well, I tried it, and it just didn’t work at all. I ended up writing the book the “old fashioned” way and it will be out in August! Thanks for the visit and great comment. 🙂
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Had a similar experience and moved over to Wattpad where I am very happy.
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That’s great to know. I haven’t played on Wattpad. But that’s the perfect platform.
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Wattpad and Vella has not worked out well for me. It’s a lot of hype. I do spectacular on the corner street or flee market.
So far close to one million books. Where as my Amazon ebooks not even a hundred copies even after more then ten years.
I have repeat customers who bought all my books 📚
Amazon Zoupooed me big time!
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I had a real bad problem with Vella. I posted the book and then they lost it and I posted it again and then they lost it again. This was over a period of 3 months.
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That sounds so frustrating! What a pain. I didn’t have any glitches in the system, but it didn’t fit with the way I write at all. I’m not sure it’s as successful as Amazon hoped either. I hope you’re still writing and having a much better experience with publishing through the normal channels. 🙂
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Kudos to you Diana! You are very brave to share your experiences with us.
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I just thought it would be helpful, Srishti. Since I bowed out of the Vella experience, I have no idea how it’s going. It just wasn’t for me. My book that I started on Vella will hopefully be out as a full book this summer, so it wasn’t a waste. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by!
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I’m with you. I even edit my poems every time I read them, even after posting them. I could never stand to have them frozen until they are actually in a book or anthology, and actually I’ve even changed them after they were published! Not in the book they were in, although I approached the publisher requesting they do so in future if they reprinted. They probably didn’t.
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Me too, Judy. I’ve updated most of my books after publication, simply because with each new one, I learn something new about writing and hopefully improve. Poetry is the same. Vella didn’t work for me at all. Now I’m working on it as a regular book and jumping back and forth and making changes to all the chapters. Phew! It’s so less stressful. Thanks for the visit and comment. Happy Writing!
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I totally understand your sentiment here. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, “Now! Now the book is done and is as good as I can make it.” Ha! (After the 50th revision.)
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Yeah, Betsy. I think the quality of my episodes were fairly good, but it felt like such a choppy process and I like going backward as much as I like pushing forward. New ideas are always flooding in. Thanks for checking out the post. And Happy Revising!
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Haha. Happy revising to you as well! I do enjoy it, but not so much the constant thought of, “How could I have thought this was good before?” 😛
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Hehe. 😉
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As a reader/reviewer, I don’t want to read a book one chapter at a time, with no idea when the next chapter is coming. The concept of Kindle Vella just doesn’t work for me either.
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Thanks for the comment from the reader perspective, Bonnie. I agree. I tried to read a Vella story just to see what the experience was like and it felt disjointed. But who knows… for young people on the go who are used to platforms like Wattpad, it might feel completely natural. Live and learn. Thanks for taking a look at the post, and Happy Reading. 😀
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🙂🙂
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Useful info, thanks!!
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Thanks for taking a peek. It’s something for authors to think about before diving into Vella. For some it will be a perfect fit, for others not so much. Have a lovely day. 🙂
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I think writers do their best work in their own time frame. Thank you for following my blog.
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I think so too. I like experimenting, but am not shy about admitting to a mistake (I make lots of mistakes. Lol) And happy to follow. I look forward to reading more of your poetry!
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It’s good to meet you and I look forward to reading more of your poetry, as well.
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I’m with you on this, Diana. What I intend to write usually veers off and goes in another direction. That’s fine – as long as I can adjust the earlier chapters to fit the new model. It’s an organic process. I’d also find the time pressure a huge burden as I’m more productive at some times than I am at others. I’m loving Teagan’s Dead of Winter and in awe of her ability!
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I think a lot of us work and rework and rework our stories, Trish. I’d done an extensive outline and was putting out polished “chapters”, but that little nagging urge to change this or that was so persistent, and not being able to go back and tweak things was driving me crazy! Lol I’m glad I tried it, but also glad I gave it up. And Teagan… she’s amazing. 🙂
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It’s so great to know what works for you. As a writer, there is a lot to look into before putting yourself out there.
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True! Blogging is a great way to practice and learn. And the wrting community here on WordPress is very supportive, so go for it.
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Yes, they are indeed so supportive. As I learn more about WordPress, I couldn’t be more glad about my decision to join the platform.
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Yes, writer know thyself. Excellent post, Diana.
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I’m not sorry that I tried it, Jennie, but I’m also not sorry I gave it up. Trying new things and stretching ourselves is usually worth the learning experience. Have a lovely weekend, and Happy Writing!
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Makes perfect sense!
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It can be discouraging i can only but imagine……keep up your persistence……and happy writing ✍…..hope to start writing too…so fill me in please
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It takes a while to find the writing processes and rhythms that work for you and when you find what works… stick with it. But taking risks is also fun as long as you don’t sweat them. Enjoy the adventure. 🙂
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Thanks so much I’d like to give it a try
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Thank you for posting this. I think I’ll just skip Vella for the time being based on your opinion–which, by the way, I agree with.
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It might be perfect for Wattpad writers and readers who’ve been working with posting episodes and chapters for years, but for “main stream” writers who are used to writing books, it’s a whole different animal. I’m so glad you left a note, Jack. I haven’t been able to get to your blog. Your link just sends me to Yahoo.com. Would you mind replying with your URL so I can stop by and visit? Thanks!
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https://jackronaldcotner.com
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Thanks!
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Nice
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Thanks for checking out the post, Shery. Have a great weekend.
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Never heard of it before. but I get your point. Not for me either, I think. Thanks for this.
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It’s in beta in the US right now. The stories can only be read on mobile devices, so it has a whole different audience than kindle readers. It just wasn’t working for me, Jane, and I figured I’d share my experience. I jumped in and jumped out with a lot of relief. Thanks for stopping by to read. Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
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That is a pity, I am loath to keep trying too many new things because of the time taken trying to master them. Interesting to know what happened when you tried. Such a pain. Enjoy your weekend. x
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Happy Writing, Jane.
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Same to you.
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Thank you for the breakdown on Vella, Diana 🙂 x
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You’re welcome, Carol. I hope my experience with it offered some insights for other authors considering it as a platform. I’m glad to be back at writing the old way. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and Happy Weekend!
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I’ve heard so much about the Vella, but this post gives me a lot of clarity on why it isn’t for me either. Thanks for sharing, Diana!
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One recent commenter mentioned that it hasn’t been as successful as Amazon had hoped, and having tried it, I can see why. It’s a different way of writing and is geared for a different audience than regular book readers. I’m happy to let it go. Thanks for stopping by and I’m glad the post was helpful. Happy Writing.
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I’ve read that Vella is not performing as Amazon thought it would. I agree you have to be a special kind of writer. Good for you for trying it out. I want to read this book! ❤
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Thanks, Colleen. I’m not surprised that Amazon is struggling with it. But it hasn’t been that long either, only about 10 weeks, so who knows. It was just very clear to me that it wasn’t working for my creative processes. I’ll definitely let everyone know when the book (a whole book) comes out. Have a wonderful weekend. ❤
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Thanks, Diana! I can’t wait to read it! 🧡
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[…] Head over to read the post in full and find out why Diana gave up, especially if you are considering using Vella to publish: Why I deleted my Kindle Vella Story by D.Wallace Peach […]
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Thanks for sharing the post, Sally. Potentially good info for anyone considering a serial on Amazon. 🙂
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That doesn’t sound like me either, Diana.
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I should have known, Mark, but I was up for the challenge. And I’m so glad to be done with it now. Live and learn. Thanks for checking out the post, and I’m glad you know yourself as a writer. This is a hard enough vocation without making it harder! Have a wonderful weekend.
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Oh well, ya live and learn. Gotta try it one time. -Michael
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That’s my take on it too, Michael. And there wasn’t much risk as I now how 8 fairly polished chapters under my belt. Thanks for the visit. Have a wonderful day and Happy Writing. 🙂
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And life goes on… You never know if you never know! Now, you know! You know? ;-)))
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I know! Lol. Live and learn is a great motto for me, Kevin, since I tend to jump into things without thinking them all the way through. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and Happy Writing!
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;-)))
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[…] Why I deleted my Kindle Vella story […]
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Thanks again for sharing the post. 😀
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I think knowing yourself and what you want/can do is a good thing. You tried something new, and then found out it wasn’t for you and moved on. That was smart!
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That’s it in a nutshell, Ann. I had posted when I started the adventure, and it seemed appropriate to post when I ended it…. 6 months early. 🙂 Live and learn is my attitude. Thanks for stopping by and Have a wonderful week. ❤
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Creative experiments are exactly that: experiments. Sometimes they don’t work out as hoped/planned/intended, but they often yield dividends in other ways. The novel I’m currently writing was originally designed to be a short film (that never got produced), then a Seth Rogen comedy (that never got sold), and now it’s one of the most intensely personal prose stories I’ve ever written. I tried it in a few other forms first to no success, but the story never loosened its hold on my imagination — it wanted to be told. So, every iteration of it that didn’t work got me closer to the one that did! Good for you, Diana, for trying something challenging — and then recognizing it wasn’t a good fit for your kind of creativity.
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I can’t wait to read your story that insisted on being told, Sean. That’s the kind of writing that I love hearing about and reading. I’m glad you’ve honored the impulse. And I’m fine letting go of Vella. It really wasn’t working, even though I believe that the episodes were of a good quality. I’m back to my old ways now and happily getting a chapter down every day or so. It’s all lousy writing, but I’ll bask in the rewrites and mulling over scenes and tweaking sentences. All part of the process that I enjoy. 🙂 Thanks for the visit and the kind comment. Get writing!
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Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, Diana. It was brave and amazing of you to give it a go and wise to stop when it didn’t work for you. I suspected – as a heavy editor/re-writer – that it would be tough for me to do such a thing, and you’ve confirmed that my instincts were right. I’ll leave this opportunity alone. But I also like your point that it will suit many writers. I think it’s a fun and interesting offering out there for those that enjoy reading and writing that way.
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Thanks for the visit, Sheri. I thought it might be fun to try something new, but it just didn’t suit me, and there was no reason to turn myself into a writing wreck! I also realized that Vella caters to a different kind of reader which would require a different marketing strategy to reach. I’m way too old (and lazy) to take that on. Ha ha. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and that it encouraged you to keep doing what you’re doing. If it ain’t broken… Have a great day and Happy Writing. 🙂
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I can barely get everything done as it is. And I won’t let you call yourself lazy. My goodness, it’s tough enough to keep basic marketing going, let along add new branches. You do a great job and are very industrious! 🙂
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I wasn’t doing anything to “sell” the Vella story, Sheri. I think a strong social media presence is a must, and I just don’t have the interest in Instagram and TikTok. Lol. 🙂
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😉 I hear ya!
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I was wondering about your progress with Kindle Vella, Diana! I met a writer who was an international journalist. He was in China during the Tiananmen Square killings and described how he sent his reports back to NY under fire. He described his writing as “hit the publish button and move on.” As a journalist, he said he couldn’t “backtrack, rewrite, and edit.” I can see that 99.999% of the writers are not journalists.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Diana! Have a wonderful week.
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What a story, Miriam, and what an interesting point about the difference between most writers and journalists – definitely journalists writing under those conditions. Yikes. He must have been fascinating to talk to. Well, that’s not me, apparently Lol. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a lovely stress-free day! Hugs.
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His comments about writing and editing gave me a lot of thoughts, Diana. Do the writers have too much time to read and rewrite their writing or something else? Are books very different than news reports?
I’ll try hard not to take on any stress! Same wishes to you, my friend! ❤
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I think fiction books and journal articles are quite different, but your question about “too much” revision time is an interesting one. I know some writers have a very difficult time letting go of their stories and can get stuck in editing. There is a point where a book doesn’t get better, it just gets different. 🙂
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One of the Critique group coordinators said her memoir got cut by 1/3. That was her first book. It must be painful. 🙂
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That happened to me too, Miriam. It felt like getting flayed. But I had no idea what I was doing and the book was a whale. It needed the huge trimming. 🙂
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Oh man, if I attempted using a platform like that my readers would never get to the end of the story because I’d never get it written. 😂 Know thyself, indeed. Whatever your process is, Diana, I support it because it has brought so many wonderful stories to my world, and I am so thankful for that. Keep being awesome. 💕
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Ha! You’re a beautiful writer, Tanya, so whenever and whatever works for you will work for your readers <3. I'm a terrible hack with just about everything in my life. I have to do every project twice because the first attempt is a disaster. Lol. It's how I learn. So, honestly, letting this go wasn't riddled with guilt or regret. It just didn't work and now I know to stick to the tried and true. Such a relief. I hope you're doing well, my friend. Giant Hugs. ❤
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You are the sweetest. Thank you, Diana. ❤️
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I don’t think this would be for me, either. I’m a slow writer and like you, I need to made significant changes sometimes. I’d probably reach epic fail after two weeks, lol. Thanks for the insight, Diana!
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I stuck with it for 8 weeks/8 episodes, Teri, and then I stalled, like completely crashed. I just couldn’t get ahead of the story enough to take the pressure off. Stick with what you do because clearly it works! Your stories are great. 🙂 Happy Writing!
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Sorry Vella didn’t work out Diana, but it sounds like you made the right decision 🙂
I used to write fanfiction and whilst posting chapter by chapter can be really fun, especially receiving encouraging comments and suggestions after each chapter, I also found it super stressful. People want the next chapter asap, and being under that much pressure doesn’t work for me either!
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I think you are one of the writers that Amazon wants to pull from other platforms, Louise. Lol. You have experience and a fan base! Vella doesn’t have a way for writer and readers to communicate back and forth, so that part would be different. But the stress to produce is the same, and because readers are paying for each episode/chapter its a little more hair-raising. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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I tried doing a serialised story on my blog with a regular posting schedule … yeah, not my cuppa tea! 😀 … it’s a good story though, and I might get back to it, on my time though. 🙂
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I think we learn pretty quickly whether it works for us or not. My story was good quality, I think, but I hated the pressure to produce. Much happier now. And that’s cool that you have a good story ready for another look. Your time wasn’t wasted. Thanks for the visit and Happy Writing!
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Very interesting. I guess sometimes you have to try to know… I have written several serials and posted them “real time” on my blog, but I completely changed them from beginning to end when I edited them for print – I do not think I would want to try to sell those rough drafts! Anyway, at least you have a start on your new novel 😉
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Live and learn is my motto, Trent. And I like challenges, but this wasn’t a good fit after all. I admire you and others who are comfortable with serials. And interesting that you do beginning to end edits when the serial is done. That makes perfect sense to me. And yes. I have 8 decent chapters into the new book! Happy Writing!
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The first think I did when I took The Old Mill off-line was rewrite it front to back. I changed it from 1st person to 3rd with each chapter being from a different character’s POV. I added several major characters and almost doubled the number of chapters. When I do an on-line serial, I understand that I am pretty much showing people the rough draft that most writers never let a soul see, but I actually do a very good job of creating a consistent story from front to end, even if it is a bit rough and can stand much improvement.
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Teagan mentioned at she also does a lot of editing before turning a blog serial into a book. And I can definitely see using a blog to post an early draft. One of the challenges with Vella is that readers pay for episodes, so there’s the expectation, in my mind anyway, that they had to be highly polished. That was hard to do without a fully written story to work from. 🙂
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Well, thanks for this. I didn’t think I wanted Vella, but now I’m sure. No more research required. : )
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You’re welcome, Cathleen. It may be fine for a bunch of writers, but not for me. I’m too set in my ways and I don’t want to do anything that turns writing into a stressful chore. I can’t describe the relief and how much my writing energy has improved. Have a lovely evening and Happy Writing.
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Hello,am new here
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Welcome to WordPress and thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy your blogging journey. 🙂
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I think so
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