What Are Mini Books and Why You Should Publish Them?

Mark Thompson
3 min readJan 23, 2025

Last year, I started to write and publish “Mini Books” Short books that can be consumed in a few sittings.

My first took me 14 days to write and publish and was an amazon bestseller within 20 day’s, the second took slightly longer as I hated the editing process!

So, what exactly is a mini book?

It’s not a guide or a report, but it’s not a full-length book either. Think of it as the sweet spot, usually 7,000 to 15,000 words, laser-focused on solving one specific problem or delivering a crystal-clear message.

Mini books are designed to be consumed in one or two sittings, which is exactly what today’s busy readers love.

Here is how I went from Idea to best seller in 20 days

Why Mini Books Are a Game-Changer

1. Fast to Write, Easy to Publish

Traditional books take months-sometimes years-to write, edit, and publish.

Mini books?

They’re quicker to produce, meaning you can get your ideas out into the world faster. This speed lets you capitalise on trends or test new topics without investing a year of your life.

2. Perfect for Focused Topics

Trying to cover everything in a single book can be overwhelming-for you and your readers. Mini books let you focus on one subject, delivering high-value content without the fluff.

And when you do this, readers will come back for more. So they make perfect books for series.

3. Affordable and Low-Risk for Readers

Here’s a secret, people love low-risk purchases.

A mini book, priced affordably, feels like a no-brainer. Readers get valuable insights without committing to a 300-page marathon.

For you, higher sales volume equals better rankings and visibility on platforms like Amazon.

It’s a win-win.

4. Build Trust and Authority

Publishing one mini book is great.

Publishing a series? Now you’re an authority.

Each release reinforces your expertise, attracts more reviews, and gives your audience multiple ways to engage with your content.

This trust-building snowballs into loyal readers who’ll buy whatever you publish next.

5. Avoid Burnout While Staying Productive

Writing a full-length book can feel like climbing a mountain.

Mini books, on the other hand, are more like sprints.

They let you maintain a sustainable publishing pace, keeping your momentum without draining your creative energy.

Plus, the satisfaction of finishing a project quickly? Unmatched.

How to Get Started with Mini Books

Ready to dive in? Here’s how you can start:

  1. Choose a Specific Niche: Think about the audience you want to serve and the problems you can solve for them. The more focused, the better.
  2. Outline One Clear Idea: Forget about cramming everything into one book. Focus on one idea or solution that you can fully explain in 10,000 to 25,000 words.
  3. Set a Timeline: Mini books are quick by design. Commit to a realistic deadline-whether it’s two weeks or two months-and stick to it.
  4. Publish and Promote: Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) make it easy to get your mini book in front of readers. Once it’s live, share it with your audience and encourage reviews.

Don’t Wait

Mini books aren’t just a passing trend; they’re a smart, sustainable way to publish in a world that values quick, digestible content. Whether you’re an established author or someone just dipping their toes into self-publishing, mini books offer an incredible opportunity to share your knowledge, grow your platform, and generate income.

So, what’s stopping you?

Pick your niche, outline your idea, and get writing.

The world is waiting for your mini book — and you might just be surprised at how much impact it can have.

Originally published at https://simpleisprofit.com.

--

--

Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson

Written by Mark Thompson

Veteran Content Marketer, Keeping it Simple and Sharing What Works in my regular newsletter: https://substack.com/@simpleisprofit

Responses (123)