Amazon to pay authors based on pages read by readers

Amazon has announced that it will pay some authors based on how many pages are read of their book. Normally, authors are paid a consistent amount for every e-book people download, regardless of how much of a page-turner it is.

According to the engadget.com, Amazon will pay Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owners' Lending Library authors based on the number of pages people read starting 1 July. Also, Authors cannot pad things out by using a larger font or extra spacing. Amazon is using a normalized page count that accounts for how much content is actually there, so the rate should be the same no matter the layout.

Also, images will count as content, so readers may see novels with a few extra illustrations. This step taken by Amazon may unintentionally punish authors of industry guides, textbooks and other material that readers are not likely to read cover-to-cover. Moreover, there is a concern that writers may include lots of cliffhangers, epilogues and anything else that might keep readers reading for a little bit longer.