I was browsing through the Kindle free and 0.99 cents books (because I am balling on a teacher budget) and came across a book that I thought was intriguing.  When I read the reviews, it was interesting to note that most gave the author 4 and 5 stars, but two customers gave the author 1 and 2 stars respectively.  I read the reviews and the following is the reviewer that gave one star:

“If this were a physical book, it would be 90-100 pages. While the story and writing are decent enough for 2 or 3 stars, I am compelled to give this book 1 because of the length and price.”

The reason it got to me was because in the title description, the author mentions that the book is about 60,000 words.  I am not certain when 60,000 words became a 90-page book.  What I have learned as a writer (and from writing manuals) is that each book averages about 250-350 words per page.  So lets average that and say each book page is about 300 words.  Well (and my math is very rusty), if you divide 60,000 by 300, you get a 200-page book.  How is that too short for the $2.99 price?  Traditional paperbacks in stores (especially romance) are about 150 to 200 page books.  Are we spoiled by the Stephanie Meyer of the world that give us 1000 page books?  Yes, it makes for a great read, but if you are not a reader, you would look at that monstrosity and pass it by.

As a self-published writer, I try very hard to give my customers a book worth every penny.  Most of my books that are over 0.99 cents are 45,000 words or longer.  My fairytales series are more expensive than the others, but I figure that the stories are worth it (they are my best-selling items) and are comparable to what customers are buying from other authors, including those traditionally published.  And if I have to get up every few minutes into the writing to get a sip of water, or to jump my husband’s bones, then the price is well worth it.



~ by Adrianna Morgan on February 19, 2012.

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