The Amazon Kindle novel is unlike those you will find in traditional bookstores. First, it’s much cheaper, thanks to lower overhead costs related to production. Second, it’s much easier to get a hold of; after all, in most cases you can download an eBook to your eReader in a matter of seconds. Third, it’s usually of much lower quality, because amateur authors are easily able to upload their stories without having to go through any type of editing or quality control. Before you purchase a book, consider the following.

Why Quality Is So Poor

Not long ago, to become published authors, writers had to get past some very picky gatekeepers, including literary agents and publishing houses. These days, virtually anyone can self-publish an Amazon Kindle novel, regardless of how well it’s written. Without any sort of quality control system in place, Amazon.com has opened the door for all sorts of frustrating issues.

Often, consumers end up getting eBooks filled with all sorts of grammatical errors, corny dialogue, and story problems. Some readers have even complained that the names of the main characters sometimes change throughout the story. Although many authors are excited to see agents and publishing houses getting pushed aside; most in the industry agree that literary quality is on the decline, thanks in part to self-publishing platforms.

How to Find a Good eBook

Unfortunately, there’s usually no way to tell which eBooks are digital versions of print books and which are directly uploaded by unskilled, amateur writers. Anyone can design a snappy book cover, which often makes a cheap, poorly-written story look enticing and professional.

To find an Amazon Kindle novel that will live up to the standards of a print book, employ the following strategies.

• Check the cover of the eBook to see if it includes a review; this is usually a clear sign that the story is of high quality.
• Check the New York Times best seller list to find out which print books are most popular; then see if they are available in digital form.
• Ask your friends and family if they can recommend a good digital book.
• Check websites that review Kindle books.
• Disregard “top selling” lists; these may include low quality digital works, which remain popular simply because readers keep buying them from the “best selling list.”
• Take advantage of the one-click sampling option; if you see grammatical errors, formatting problems or clumsy writing, be on your way.