I just tried to publish one of my stories as an ebook on Amazon in KDP. I got a warning that they don't do porn, and they would cancel my account if i did so again. I'm seeing all these stories from other lush writers being published. What gives?
Hmmm. I would like to know that one myself. Erotic different that porn?
Try Smashwords. I Have an account there and it seems legit
Free is good too
I don't want to derail the topic, so please feel free to let me know if I should start a new thread. Aside from understanding what Amazon does and does not accept, which is very interesting, I would also like to know how to obtain cover art that isn't either copyrighted or that I would have to make myself? Maybe you buy it somewhere?
I'll take the time later tonight to write a self pub overall crash course info thingy majig.
It took me months, a lot of research, and trial and error to figure it all out. I don't see the need for everyone to rip their hair out like I did.
Another source is Dragon Guild Publishing, who offer premade covers done by Reed Lane (she did the cover to Profane Grace), and I believe it's a flat fee of $25. Only the title and author's name need to be added.
One writer/editor I know had a title pulled from Amazon just because it had the word virgin in the title. It was posted back up, but only after the publisher wrote to protest their ignorance. They have no problem collecting their cut from the sales of many thousands of titles of erotica, and then randomly fuck with small, independent authors and publishers because it makes them look like they're "paying attention" to morality...or something like that. They're full of shit. Do you think they'd ever dream of pulling a huge seller like 50 Shades of Illiteracy? Smashwords is much more user friendly, and last I knew, they would assign your title an ISBN number for free. On Amazon this can be costly.
Still, as one who's already made this mistake, it's not worth publishing anything that's already been available for free. Your audience has already been there and done that. Keep writing and posting stories right here where you can build a good, loyal readership. Give them stories they can read for free because they good folks (if not totally nuts) but publish something they can't get here for free...and don't be quiet about it when you do.
Chances are your cover art was a bit too revealing. I think it also depends on who is doing the review of your stuff. Some people are more picky than others.
You can always try going through a publisher. They tend to accept more work if you have a publisher, even if it's just a small time one.
To publish on Amazon you can not have any; ass, nipples, vaginas, penises on the cover, not even a hint through lace panties.
You should be careful about using words like; child, children, daddy, mommy, teen.
Amazon will block your book if there is even a hint of anyone under aged in the story if you publish it as an erotica.
Someone mentioned Smashwords and their partners. Yes, Smash is a bit more lenient but Ibook will block your story based on similar words that Amazon look for.
Re-read your story, check for anything that might be "too much". Check for descriptions, like "his load squirted out of his big fat cock and ran down her face." That would not go well with Amazon.
I have had to re-write a few of my novellas to get past the bots and humans they use.
Good Luck!
This post is not about content. I think I'm safe there, but I don't want to publish under my real name. I have a professional reputation to maintain.
How does that work?
If you know and understand Photoshop or Gimp you can do your own cover. Amazon looks at the covers carefully as well as the descriptions of your books. Contents are less likely.
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
Herbert Spencer
I recently went through the book cover art journey. Started by searching for websites that make covers, but found them to be largely uninspiring and expensive for what they do. Those that offer to make custom covers such as 'Go On Write', request you submit the images fro ShutterStock and then they do the rest (which is not much) so not a good deal. I think best solution is per Nicola's suggestion above. Buy 5 images on Shutterstock for $49 and then design the cover yourself on Canva for free.
I haven't had to run the Amazon censorship gauntlet yet, but not looking forward to it. Suspect its even tighter now in 2020 as looks like the original post is already a few years old.
haha. That one's called water.
