To format a short story collection for KDP, use a 5.5”×8.5” or 5”×8” trim, start each story on a new recto (right-hand) page, include a table of contents with story titles and page numbers, and use consistent scene breaks within stories. Short story collections are thinner than novels — a 50,000-word collection runs ~195 pages at 5.5×8.5 — so the 5×8 trim can be a smart choice to add physical heft. KDP requires a minimum of 24 pages for any paperback.
Trim size
| Collection Size | Recommended Trim | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40K words (thin) | 5” × 8” | More pages per word, feels more substantial |
| 40K–70K words | 5.5” × 8.5” | Standard trade paperback |
| Over 70K words | 5.5” × 8.5” | Standard, comfortable |
| Anthology with 20+ stories | 5.5” × 8.5” or 6” × 9” | Room for the TOC and story headers |
A 30K-word collection at 5.5×8.5 = ~120 pages. At 5×8 = ~140 pages. The extra 20 pages make the book feel less like a pamphlet.
Use the KDP Book Calculator to compare.
Story formatting
Each story starts on a new page
- Start every story on a recto (right-hand, odd) page — this is the professional standard
- The verso (left page) before each story is blank — this creates natural breathing room
- Exception: for very short stories (flash fiction), you can start on either page to save space
Story title page
Each story should have a clear title treatment:
- Story title — centered or left-aligned, 16–20pt
- Author name (for anthologies) — below the title, 12–14pt
- First publication credit (optional) — italic, smaller: “First published in [Magazine], 2024”
Scene breaks within stories
Same conventions as novels:
- Three asterisks ( * * * ) or a thin rule
- Consistent throughout the collection
- Don’t use different scene break styles for different stories
Table of contents
Essential for short story collections. Readers navigate by story title. The TOC should list:
| Column | Example |
|---|---|
| Story title | ”The Last Migration” |
| Author (if anthology) | Camille Laurent |
| Page number | 47 |
For collections with 20+ stories, the TOC itself may run 2–3 pages. Make sure it’s formatted cleanly — it’s the first thing readers see after the title page.
Cambric handles story separators, auto-generated table of contents, and recto-start page breaks. Each story gets its own clean opening.
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Multi-author anthologies
If you’re editing an anthology with contributions from multiple authors:
- Author name with each story — on the story title page, not just in the TOC
- Contributor bios — in the back matter, alphabetical by last name
- Credits page — list previous publication of each story
- ISBN — the anthology needs its own ISBN, separate from any individual story
- Copyright — the anthology copyright belongs to the editor; individual story copyrights remain with the authors
Front and back matter
Front matter
- Half-title
- Title page
- Copyright
- Dedication or epigraph
- Table of contents (with page numbers)
- Introduction / Preface (the editor’s context-setting)
Back matter
- Acknowledgments
- Credits (where stories were previously published)
- Contributor bios (for anthologies)
- About the Author (for single-author collections)
- Also By
Pricing
Short story collections are tricky to price — they’re often thinner than novels:
| Word Count | Pages (5.5×8.5) | Cost | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 | ~120 | ~$2.44 | $11.99 |
| 40,000 | ~160 | ~$2.92 | $12.99 |
| 50,000 | ~195 | ~$3.34 | $13.99 |
| 60,000 | ~230 | ~$3.76 | $14.99 |
Collections from established authors price at $14.99–$16.99. Debut collections are typically $12.99–$14.99.
Related guides
- 5.5×8.5 KDP specs — margins and spine
- 5×8 KDP specs — compact trim
- Front matter and back matter — complete guide
- Scene breaks guide — break styles
- KDP Book Calculator — page count and cost