When One Door Closes

November 2021

Standing in the cold, I was bundled with my hat, mittens, long coat, stealing heat from my husband. I peeked at my phone while we waited for the winter light show. The notification announced my monthly bonus from Kindle Vella.

That notification changed my life!

Literally!

I posted a few more chapters from my books on Vella, and when I checked my stats, people were reading my stories. Although reads trickled in over the next few months, I didn't give up.

I posted more episodes and learned how episodic fiction worked. What did the readers want to read? Short, snappy stories. Erotic stories. Horror. Romance. I settled on dark fantasy with a twist of romance.

The bonus ebbed and flowed like the tides each month, and the Zon algorithms kept the Vella authors on our toes. Literally.

Something magical happened along the way. I found a community of writers through various Facebook groups, where we promoted our stories, supported each other, and grew together.

Those who had success didn't climb the ladder alone and push the rest of us down to the bottom. They hosted zoom calls and posted videos on how to advertise, what tools worked best for editing, who were reputable cover artists, editors, and so much more.

Can I tell you that the world of Vella was perfect? No! There were drama llamas along the way. Cheaters. Scammers. Mean girls and unsolicited drama! Sometimes, it was fun to watch the drama unfold since I wasn't caught up in its chaotic vortex.

October 2024

But...

As the title says, when one door closes, another opens.

I always knew not to rely only on Kindle Vella as an avenue to reach readers, but I hadn't fully made the transition to other sites when the announcement was made that Kindle Vella would sunset in February 2025.

I felt my world spiral out of control. In the beginning, it was difficult to write. How was I going to share my stories? What platforms worked? Which ones were scams?

The fallout from Vella ending impacted many writers differently. I miss the daily interaction with the authors in all of my Facebook groups, but they are still there in the background. Some have found homes at the same sites I have migrated to, so we are still supporting each other.

But for others, they are opening new doors and opportunities for us to both stay connected and share our stories.

Drumroll, please!

Dom Sabasti has created two online magazines for authors to share their horror and fantasy stories.

The Dread Nosh Cafe is all about snack-sized horror stories, and The Fabula Nosh Cafe is for fantasy lovers. Both magazines are meant for mature audiences.

February 2025

Over the last few weeks, I have discovered other author communities to develop additional networking opportunities. Finding Vocal communities, sharing unofficial monthly contests, and even hosting one has helped transition from Vella.

I've stepped back from the furious pace of writing daily to edit one of my original stories, republish it under my pen name, and give the story new life. It's another part of my journey as a writer, seeing where I have come from and wondering where this journey will take me next.

By the end of the month, my stories will fade away into the cloud, as Vella sunsets, but my stories live on, finding new homes and readers.

~~~~~

Author Notes

Thank you for reading this little story. I hope you find inspiration to keep writing when one door closes and when you feel stuck.

If you're looking for an unofficial Vocal competition, check out the one below through the end of February 2025.

Words From Our Past Challenge