A FANTASY READER'S GUIDE TO KICKSTARTERS

a fantasy reader's guide to Kickstarter

how kickstarter works & whether you should support a campaign

Guest Credits: Vellaut

What is Kickstarter?

Kickstarters and special edition books seem to be all the craze these days.

You know the platform has something to do with "crowdfunding," but what does that mean and how does it work, especially for readers?

Kickstarters allow indie authors to make possible to produce new or "special edition books."

A crowdfunding platform like Kickstarter is where many indie authors such as myself pitch either new books or special editions in a project proposal Kickstarter calls a “campaign.”

It can be used for other industries outside of publishing, however for our purposes today, we're going to explore one of Kickstarter's biggest niches: fantasy special edition books.

Why do so many authors use kickstarter?

In my case, I use Kickstarter because believe it or not, it costs anywhere from $5,000-$10,000 USD to produce a high-end special edition hardback of say 500 pages (with special edges, a foiled jacket, a new foiled cover, deluxe illustrations, and so forth.)

When we add platform fees, shipping, and fulfillment for a 300 book run plus special swag, that can skyrocket close to $20,000 (more or less, depending on the book's special perks).

Most of us don't have $20K casually lying around to create a book, so many authors like myself take special projects to Kickstarter to appeal to interested “investors” (backers) to crowdfund the product. If everyone "invests" in a little bit, the creators then have a pool of funds to produce the project at a lower cost per unit, then ship all investors the special or limited edition they funded.

What are the reader benefits of kickstarter?

Although many authors such as me later list these editions on private online bookstores, Kickstarter campaigns commonly offer perks unavailable anywhere else. As an example, the Realm Breaker series has offered RARE annual short story commissions where the investor can appear as the main character in a printed story.

Also, because of the way most retailer platforms set up their payment model, it doesn't make sense for authors to list special editions on retailers like Amazon. Neither does it make sense for readers to buy there. The royalty fees and costs are significant. It becomes much more beneficial readers to purchase directly from the author's bookstore to obtain specials at the lowest possible cost.

Using "A Breaking of Realms: Special Edition" as an example, you'll see a different "tiers" with different amounts you can "back" (buy into/invest in). Depending on what you buy, you'll get a different set of rewards.

Think of this as like "preordering" a special set of bookish goods at different price points that best suit your interests.

You can find an additional “Kickstarter for Dummies” brief summary here.

do readers face risks on kickstarter?

A project only goes through if it funds, so risk is minimal.

However, risk is a real thing.

You might occasionally hear of readers who backed a project, paid for their special edition book, and years later, are still waiting for their investment.

Maybe it'll come through soon--or maybe it never will. The downside is that Kickstarter can't guarantee that all campaigns you back will always give you your rewards.

Fortunately, this occurrence is pretty rare. But it's still something to be wary of.

What to look for before backing a campaign to minimize reader risk

For first-timers or folks who don't often make purchases on Kickstarter, how do you ensure you aren't pledging ("investing in") a project that might never get delivered to your door?

I recently asked our Discord community about what parameters to look for when they decide whether to back. Doing your due diligence upfront will save you the headache and grief investing in a campaign that might never give you what the creators said they were going to produce.

From one of our most veteran Kickstarter readers, Vellaut, below are top things he suggests we look for before backing a campaign, no matter how "shiny" and tempting it may look.

Using "A Banishing of Kings: Special Edition" as another example, you can browse through the project's "Story" to see if it resonates with you--visually, emotionally, and financially.

as told by vellaut, one of our veteran readers:

Check for these things to back Kickstarter special edition book campaigns like a pro...

Creator's Effort in Campaign Presentation: Look into how much work the creator put into their campaign page. If it is minimal, not a great sign. The more work that is put into it the more author likely cares.
Stretch Goals: Stretch goals are very telling, too many people overshoot and have high amounts, or stretch goals aren’t as good, or some don’t even have stretch goals. See if they make sense to you, a potential investor.
Pricing: Pricing of books vs the size of the book. If it’s a 200-300 page book it shouldn’t be $85 type of thing. Are the rewards reasonably priced for what you get?
Creator Experience with Kickstarter: How many times has the author created a project? What past projects do they still have live and unfulfilled? Read comments and updates in those campaigns.
Creator Communication & Delays: How often does the creator update? If delays are present, are they sincere? Do they communicate these delays within a reasonable amount of time?
Creator's Backing History: How many projects they have backed? (The more they've backed themselves, the more likely it shows they understand how KS works.)
Project Features: Does the book feel like a special edition? What special features does it have? Faux Leather, smyth-sewn, special paper? Is art bound in book or overlays only? B&W vs Color? Does project use AI?
Book's Premise & Content: Summary of the book: Will I enjoy this book? Check if author has a website bookstore and what that looks like. Amazon reviews, etc. Make sure it's a premise and niche you're actually interested in.
Creator Location & Shipping Fees: Where they are based location-wise and where books will ship from? Shipping from different countries often involves higher fees and VAT.
Special/Limited Edition Offerings: How are the rewards tiers laid out and is it clear? Do they offer limited tiers? Early bird tiers?
Kickstarter-Exclusive Perks: Is there anything limited to only this KS version or will it always be sold?

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop on Kickstarters for a fantasy reader

Kickstarter can be a lot of fun--a space where you gain access to a boundless pool of creative projects you'd be hard-pressed to find on traditional retailers.

Readers who love indie fantasy - especially epic and romantic - will benefit the most from the unique and limited edition offerings.

The rewards can be great, but even then, first-timers and even veterans should stay informed on when to back a campaign so as to minimize personal risk.

If you're interested in checking out current open campaigns for Dragonfyre Books, follow Jasmine Young here!