I've also released The Vampire Shortstop as a standalone short story, which won the international Writers of the Future award waaaay back in 1999. It's free at Smashwords, BN.Com , and other markets, and I hope Amazon matches it, too. It's currently 99 cents at Amazon, so please help by clicking the link on the book's page that says "Tell us about a lower price." It's probably my best story, so I not only want people to read it and try my other books, I just want them to share the feeling. It's the only one of my stories that I like to re-read, and it makes me misty-eyed every time.
I'm considering releasing a few standalone short stories this month. It feels like 99 cents is too much for one story, since many of my story collections are 99 cents, but other writers accept it as a standard. I am putting out some other content, too, continuing the age of experimentation. How do you feel about 99 cent short stories? Too expensive, or a fair price?
I hope your Halloween season is off to great start! Let monsters and mayhem rule! And candy...don't forget the candy.
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6 comments:
I think 99 cents is a great price. I do feel ripped off if it's not a certain length though--what that length is I don't know. But adding in another short as a bonus would go a ways to ensure some matter of satisfaction.
I agree, it's tough to balance because reader expectations are so varied.
Sounds good, Scott. I'll download it. Good luck with it.
I think 99 cents is a bit much for a short story, unless that story borders on novelette length. Bundling two or three short stories, each story about 5,000 words, is a better deal for readers and would probably help authors avoid the "I got ripped off" rants. But, then again, there are always going to be folks who feel like they were ripped off.
-Neal
yeah Neal, that's kind of my thinking. My shortest collection is six and I believe my longest is 15 stories, all for 99 cents or $1.99. I usually try for around 10 stories total--a dime a story is a bargain. I'd rather give a little more than have someone feel they got a little less than they deserved.
Thanks Scott. Read the first few pages and am hooked. Had to picture Billy Bob Thornton as the coach in my head though. Hope you don't mind.
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