The 7-Day Mini Book Challenge
By this time next week, you could have a mini book that is making you money.
What if I told you that a 40-page book could earn more than a 400-page one?
Welcome to the booming world of mini books—bite-sized, high-impact reads that are making self-publishers serious money. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a busy professional, or an aspiring creative, self-publishing mini books is one of the most scalable and low-risk ways to earn passive income online.
Let’s unpack how it works—and why now is the best time to jump in.
📘 What Is a Mini Book, Anyway?
Mini books (also called “short reads” or “micro books”) are small-format books—usually 20 to 80 pages long—that focus on solving a specific problem or delivering one clear idea. They’re laser-focused, quick to read, and even faster to create.
Think:
30-Day Keto Meal Plan for Beginners
How to Start a Freelance Writing Business from Scratch
Daily Affirmations for Moms Who Need a Break
In a fast-paced world where attention spans are shrinking, mini books hit the sweet spot. And readers genuinely love them.
Why Mini Books Make Great Money
What I am finding with mini books is that once you find a reader who likes your book and has finished reading it, they generally will pick up other mini books as you publish them. I have had several emails to this effect recently about my series of mini books I’m currently working on and so I want to share some things I’ve learned.
Faster to Create = Faster to Profit
Traditional books can take months (or years) to finish. A mini book? You can write, format, and publish one in a weekend. I’ve done it in under 3 hours.
No exaggeration: I wrote a 2,000-word mini book using ChatGPT, cleaned it up with Grammarly, designed it in Canva Pro, and published it on Stan Store. It was live and ready to sell the same day—for $7. (And I made a dozen sales in the first 24 hours!)
Low Barrier to Entry
No publisher. No editor. No upfront printing costs. Just your idea, your laptop, and a few tools. Platforms like Amazon KDP, Gumroad, and Stan Store make it easy to upload your PDF and start earning—sometimes within 24 hours.
Built-in Search Traffic
Amazon is one of the world’s biggest search engines. Readers go there ready to buy. By targeting niche, long-tail keywords like:
“budgeting for single moms”
“meal prep for truck drivers”
“daily motivation for entrepreneurs”
…you can rank on Amazon and generate passive royalties for months or even years.
Real People Are Crushing It with Mini Books
Here are some real-world examples:
A homeschooling mom sells 5 short guides on organizing homeschool life. Each earns $300–$1,000/month.
A fitness coach turns his 6-week program into a $9.99 mini guide. With simple marketing, it now brings in $2,500/month.
A minimalist entrepreneur (me) publishes short books about digital product creation—and earns through both PDF sales and royalties.
These creators didn’t start with a big audience. What they had was clarity and consistency—and a simple system to get valuable content into readers’ hands.
How to Create a Mini Book That Sells
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. I have created the wheel, now you simply need to put it on your car (message) and start driving! Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Problem
Ask:
What do people come to me for advice about?
What transformation have I helped someone make recently?
What do I Google that others probably do too?
Use tools like AnswerThePublic, YouTube search, or Amazon’s Look Inside feature to validate your idea.
Step 2: Outline a Simple, Focused Book
Mini books work best when they promise one result. Some great examples:
Go from couch to 5K in 6 weeks
Get your first 1,000 email subscribers
Declutter your home in 30 days
Structure:
Introduction – Who it’s for and what they’ll get
3–5 value-packed chapters
Optional bonus or checklist
Call-to-action (email sign-up, next offer, link to your store)
Step 3: Write Fast, Keep It Simple
Use ChatGPT to brainstorm, draft, and outline. Then use your own voice to refine it. Keep paragraphs short. Use bullet points, checklists, and action steps.
Shoot for 2,000 to 5,000 words. That’s plenty.
Step 4: Make It Look Good
Use Canva Pro to design your book with clean templates or import into Google Docs for simplicity. Your cover matters—a lot. Design one that’s bold, readable, and easy to spot at thumbnail size.
Step 5: Publish + Sell Everywhere
Top platforms:
Amazon KDP – reach millions of buyers
Stan Store – ideal for social-first creators
Gumroad – low fees and custom landing pages
Sell as PDFs, eBooks, print-on-demand paperbacks, or even audio if you want to go big. Or start as a simple Kindle book and expand over time.
How to Market Your Mini Book
You don’t need a huge audience to make sales. You need visibility and strategy. And it doesn’t have to be crazy complicated. Here is what I did for a dozen sales in 24 hours:
Use Keywords
Your title should match what people are searching for. Add relevant keywords to your subtitle and product description.
Post Short-Form Video
TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts are gold for showing off your book. Try:
“This 40-page guide helped me lose 15 pounds…”
“Moms, if you’re overwhelmed by homeschool planning, this mini guide is for you.”
Just flip through your book, talk to the camera, or show before/after results.
Build Your List
Include a free bonus in your book (like a checklist or printable) that leads readers to your email list. From there, you can upsell courses, coaching, or additional books.
Mini Books = Big Opportunity
You don’t need a 6-figure publishing deal to make money from writing.
You need:
A small, helpful book
A clear audience
A platform that lets you sell directly
Mini books are a fast, focused way to build digital income while building your authority at the same time. And unlike blog posts or social media, books have longevity. People keep them. Share them. Highlight them.
Ready to Start?
Try it yourself! Here is a 7-Day Mini Book Challenge to help you make money with a mini book by this time next week!
My name is J.R. Heimbigner and I am a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon with 20 self-published books. Learn more about The Minimalist Author HQ!
Also, this post may contain sales or affiliate links, so I might get a little kickback if you purchase anything. Thank you in advance!
I'm currently working on a series of short stories in a mini-book format.
(100 pages) ?
Very cool 🌹 thank you 🙏