On Wednesday, Amazon (AMZN -2.56%) Publishing launched Kindle Worlds, a publishing platform to let writers create fan fiction and earn royalties for doing so.
The company has secured licenses from Warner Bros. Television Group's Alloy Entertainment, which clears the way for Kindle Worlds writers to create fan fiction for Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and Vampire Diaries -- with more licenses on the way, the company says. Any writer can publish stories and make them available for purchase in the Kindle store.
Amazon Publishing will handle payments to the writer and the rights holder. For the author, Amazon will give a standard royalty rate (for works of at least 10,000 words) of 35% of profits.
In addition, Amazon Publishing will pilot an experimental new program for short works between 5,000 and 10,000 words. Typically priced under $1, these short stories will net the authors a digital royalty of 20%.
