Put a Fiction.live Story on Kindle With Calibre
You can put a Fiction.live story on a Kindle without using Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. First download the story as an EPUB with WP Downloader. You can then add it to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and copy it to your Kindle over USB.
What you need
Have these ready:
- The Fiction.live story link
- A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
- calibre, the free e-book manager
- Your Kindle and a USB cable
WP Downloader is a free web tool, so there is nothing to install. You do not need a Fiction.live account to download a story.
Step 1: Download the Fiction.live story
Open the Fiction.live downloader and paste the story URL into the box. A Fiction.live link usually looks like this:
https://fiction.live/stories/Example-Story-Title/17CharacterIDhere/homeWP Downloader supports links from fiction.live and beta.fiction.live. It detects the site from the URL and downloads the whole story. For Fiction.live, it cannot download an individual chapter or a story list.
Choose EPUB as the output format. EPUB is free for everyone and can be used as the source file in calibre. To keep the story’s pictures, turn on the option to include images before downloading.
WP Downloader can also create a PDF after you sign in with Discord for free. For this method, use EPUB so calibre can convert the story to a Kindle format.
For more detail, read how to download Fiction.live stories.
Step 2: Add the EPUB to calibre
Open calibre and select Add books. Find the EPUB you downloaded from WP Downloader and add it to your calibre library.
Once the story appears in calibre, you can edit its metadata or cover. This is optional, and you can continue with the information already included in the EPUB.
Step 3: Convert the story to AZW3
Select the story in your calibre library and choose Convert books. Set AZW3 as the output format, then start the conversion.
AZW3 is a Kindle format that you can transfer directly over USB. calibre can also convert EPUB files to formats such as MOBI and PDF, though neither is needed for these steps.
Amazon’s Send to Kindle service no longer accepts MOBI files. Kindle e-readers can still open MOBI and AZW3 files copied over USB. The restriction applies only to the Send to Kindle service.
Step 4: Connect your Kindle over USB
Connect the Kindle to your computer with its USB cable. When it appears in calibre, select the converted story and choose Send to device.
calibre will copy the book to the Kindle. After the transfer finishes, disconnect the device and find the story in its library.
The Fiction.live story is now available offline on your Kindle without being uploaded through Amazon’s Send to Kindle service.
When to use calibre and USB
This method is useful if you already manage your books in calibre or want to convert the EPUB to AZW3 yourself. The file goes directly from your computer to the connected Kindle.
To use Amazon’s service instead, follow the guide to send Fiction.live stories to Kindle.
You can also open the EPUB in calibre’s e-book viewer. The viewer has a Read aloud feature, so you can listen to the story on your computer before transferring it.
Updating a story with new chapters
WP Downloader cannot add new chapters to an EPUB you already downloaded. When a Fiction.live story is updated, paste its link into WP Downloader again and download a new copy.
Add the new EPUB to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and transfer that version to your Kindle. It will contain the chapters available when you downloaded it again.
FAQ
Do I need a Fiction.live account?
No. You can download Fiction.live stories with WP Downloader without signing in to Fiction.live.
Can WP Downloader create an AZW3 or MOBI file?
No. WP Downloader creates EPUB and PDF files. Download the EPUB, then convert it to AZW3 with calibre.
Can I transfer the EPUB directly to my Kindle?
For this method, convert the EPUB to AZW3 in calibre. Connect the Kindle over USB, then use Send to device.
Does this use Send to Kindle?
No. calibre copies the converted book directly to the Kindle over USB, without a Send to Kindle upload.
What if I want to use a Kobo instead?
Follow the guide to reading Fiction.live stories on Kobo.