one of my writer peeps posts about kindle worlds
Originally posted by suricattus at and oh, hey, here's another financial post...
Because all the writer-kids are doing it.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1823219&highlight=
Amazon Publishing Introduces “Kindle Worlds,” a New Publishing Model for Authors Inspired to Write Fan Fiction-Launching with an Initial License of Popular Titles from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment
Like Kindle Singles and Kindle Serials, Kindle Worlds Adds a New Approach to Digital Publishing
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 22, 2013-- (NASDAQ:AMZN)-Today, Amazon Publishing announces Kindle Worlds, the first commercial publishing platform that will enable any writer to create fan fiction based on a range of original stories and characters and earn royalties for doing so. Amazon Publishing has secured licenses from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment division for its New York Times best-selling book series Gossip Girl, by
Cecily von Ziegesar; Pretty Little Liars, by
Sara Shepard; and Vampire Diaries, by
L.J. Smith; and plans to announce more licenses soon. Through these licenses, Kindle Worlds will allow any writer to publish authorized stories inspired by these popular Worlds and make them available for readers to purchase in the Kindle Store.
Amazon Publishing will pay royalties to both the rights holders of the Worlds and the author. The standard author’s royalty rate (for works of at least 10,000 words) will be 35% of net revenue. As with all titles from Amazon Publishing, Kindle Worlds will base net revenue off of sales price-rather than the lower, industry standard of wholesale price-and royalties will be paid monthly.
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This is all I know about the project, which is just now hitting the Internet-waves. But the following is my initial reaction
1. This is not going to be some free-for-all of fanfic. It's carefully curated properties, which means probably most writers don't have to worry about it, one way or the other (alas or yay, depending on your take)
2. If Amazon is licensing these properties, and paying everyone involved, it's legal and even morally fair (for payment levels of fair).
3. Amazon is reportedly prohibiting crossovers and explicit sex. 80% of fanfic's not welcome. :-)
4. I suspect most readers will be "why should we pay for fic we used to get for free? Especially if there's no assurance of quality?"
(welcome to the return of the Why Gatekeepers are Good argument. But I digress)
5. Nobody's property gets put into play without their licensing those right (see #1), so it's opt-in, just like any other subrights deal.
6. This will hopefully finally teach people to HOLD ONTO THE DERIVATIVE RIGHTS ON EVERYTHING THEY SELL, FOREVER AND EVER AMEN.
7. Fanfic writers too will learn that there are wolves in the world... and that they are bunnies. Tasty, tasty bunnies. You sign Amazon's contract, make sure you understand what you're agreeing to....
and yeah, 8. Amazon still isn't in this for anything other than their own profit, up to and including squeezing all competition out of the field in any way possible.
Short version: I'm not thrilled with the idea, but I'm not flipping like a mammal just yet. Engaging wait and see mode.
EtA: and Matt Forbeck has blogged about what it means to pro tie-in writers... http://www.forbeck.com/2013/05/22/kindle-worlds-worlds-burning/
Because all the writer-kids are doing it.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1823219&highlight=
Amazon Publishing Introduces “Kindle Worlds,” a New Publishing Model for Authors Inspired to Write Fan Fiction-Launching with an Initial License of Popular Titles from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment
Like Kindle Singles and Kindle Serials, Kindle Worlds Adds a New Approach to Digital Publishing
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 22, 2013-- (NASDAQ:AMZN)-Today, Amazon Publishing announces Kindle Worlds, the first commercial publishing platform that will enable any writer to create fan fiction based on a range of original stories and characters and earn royalties for doing so. Amazon Publishing has secured licenses from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment division for its New York Times best-selling book series Gossip Girl, by
Cecily von Ziegesar; Pretty Little Liars, by
Sara Shepard; and Vampire Diaries, by
L.J. Smith; and plans to announce more licenses soon. Through these licenses, Kindle Worlds will allow any writer to publish authorized stories inspired by these popular Worlds and make them available for readers to purchase in the Kindle Store.
Amazon Publishing will pay royalties to both the rights holders of the Worlds and the author. The standard author’s royalty rate (for works of at least 10,000 words) will be 35% of net revenue. As with all titles from Amazon Publishing, Kindle Worlds will base net revenue off of sales price-rather than the lower, industry standard of wholesale price-and royalties will be paid monthly.
--------------------------------
This is all I know about the project, which is just now hitting the Internet-waves. But the following is my initial reaction
1. This is not going to be some free-for-all of fanfic. It's carefully curated properties, which means probably most writers don't have to worry about it, one way or the other (alas or yay, depending on your take)
2. If Amazon is licensing these properties, and paying everyone involved, it's legal and even morally fair (for payment levels of fair).
3. Amazon is reportedly prohibiting crossovers and explicit sex. 80% of fanfic's not welcome. :-)
4. I suspect most readers will be "why should we pay for fic we used to get for free? Especially if there's no assurance of quality?"
(welcome to the return of the Why Gatekeepers are Good argument. But I digress)
5. Nobody's property gets put into play without their licensing those right (see #1), so it's opt-in, just like any other subrights deal.
6. This will hopefully finally teach people to HOLD ONTO THE DERIVATIVE RIGHTS ON EVERYTHING THEY SELL, FOREVER AND EVER AMEN.
7. Fanfic writers too will learn that there are wolves in the world... and that they are bunnies. Tasty, tasty bunnies. You sign Amazon's contract, make sure you understand what you're agreeing to....
and yeah, 8. Amazon still isn't in this for anything other than their own profit, up to and including squeezing all competition out of the field in any way possible.
Short version: I'm not thrilled with the idea, but I'm not flipping like a mammal just yet. Engaging wait and see mode.
EtA: and Matt Forbeck has blogged about what it means to pro tie-in writers... http://www.forbeck.com/2013/05/22/kindle-worlds-worlds-burning/