Today, I publish what I write exclusively on Amazon Kindle. For a couple of reasons. Three actually.
First of all, I like trees.
The Kindle is, after about one year of use, what they call “carbon neutral” – and after the first year, the longer you use it the more carbon negative (the better for the environment) it is.
During the first year the Kindle does have a carbon footprint due to manufacturing and distribution, but after that it’s all tree-saver.
Secondly, as a writer I like to write. I like to spend as much time of every day doing just that: fiction primarily (for the heart) and some non-fiction as well (for the belly). I don’t like learning one formatting system after another, or familiarize myself with one publication avenue after another. I’d rather learn one path really well, and then stick with that.
So, which path? To me, the answer is now simple: for maximum exposure and distribution possibilities, go with the market leader; and with roughly 85% of the current (as of spring 2011) e-Reader market, the Kindle is the obvious choice. Amazon even announced recently that they are now selling more Kindle books than paperbacks. Talk about writing on the proverbial (and digital) wall.
So, I knuckled down and learned the Kindle formatting and submission procedures, and based on them devised a work flow that suited, and works for, me. And now I spend most of my time at what I love: writing.
Thirdly, the Kindle, as an electronic reading device, is the best I have found. Its built-in dictionary works like a charm. Downloads of books is nearly instantaneous. The books cost considerably less than their paper cousins (with a host of free classics). Battery life is great. Screen very comfortable. All the while saving trees. What is there not to love?
So, if you don’t already own one, to buy your own Kindle (which I highly recommend), click the top-left image (or here).
And, by the way, you don’t need the Amazon Kindle device to read Kindle books. Amazon has written free Kindle Reader Software for most platforms—see below.
And, another—important—by the way: the Amazon Kindle Store lets you download (whether onto your Kindle device or software platform reader) a free sample—as a rule the opening chapters, or pages—of the novel or story you’re considering buying. In the “Try it free box” on the right, select the device to deliver to, then click “Send sample now” button. Voila, it’s yours to sample.
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Kindle Reader Software
To download the free software for each platform, go here:
- Kindle for PC
- Kindle for Andriod
- Kindle for Blackberry
- Kindle for iPad
- Kindle for iPhone
- Kindle for Mac
- Kindle for Windows Phone 7
Happy reading!
Ulf Wolf