Amazon has been a pioneer in many ways. From becoming the largest ecommerce store in the world to revolutionizing the publishing world with its eBooks and Kindle, Amazon has unparallel accomplishments. To add a feather to that cap, potentially, Amazon has launched Kindle Scout.
Kindle Scout is a program that allows authors to upload their manuscripts which readers would read and rate. Following the rating process, manuscripts would be assessed on the basis of nominations or backings from the readers. Manuscripts with substantial nominations or backings would get published as an eBook. Amazon would be the publisher and Kindle will be the platform. Kindle Scout is pegged as a game changer in the publishing industry and if it works then the world of publishing will be changed for good.
Authors who would upload their manuscripts and get enough nominations to get published will get an advance of $1500 and 50% of the eBook price as royalty. Also, the authors getting published will be featured on Amazon and Kindle platforms. In other words, authors get a complete publishing package if they get the nominations and it is a great deal for any unpublished author or aspirant. Readers would also get to play a role by letting their opinions known and in a way controlling what they get to read as eventual books.
The concept works in many ways for all parties. Amazon gets to assess a ready market and gets opinions of potential readers. Books get a degree of popularity even before being published and essentially everyone wins except the conventional publishers. Amazon is already in a fight with all traditional publishers and this may tilt the battle heavily in favor of the ecommerce giant.
What remains to be seen is the effectiveness of the concept. Harper Collins had launched a similar initiative with Authonomy which has not worked very well for the publisher, for authors or for readers. If a similar fate awaits Kindle Scout then it would be a dud. However, Amazon has played a smart move with its intended eventuality. Harper Collins has remained noncommittal on what would happen to books that get to the Editor’s Desk on Authonomy. The manuscripts merely get reviewed by Harper Collins editors. They don’t get published. With Kindle Scout, there is a definitive end and authors know that they are going to get published. There is more purpose with Kindle Scout and it may just be the thing that would make many dreams come true and also make Amazon loads of money.
