How to put a Walking the Plank story on Kindle with calibre
You can put a Walking the Plank 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 use calibre to convert it to AZW3 and copy it to your Kindle over USB.
What you need
Have the following ready:
- The Walking the Plank story page
- A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
- calibre, the free e-book manager
- Your Kindle e-reader and its USB cable
These instructions transfer the book directly from your computer to a Kindle e-reader.
Step 1: Copy the Walking the Plank story link
Open the story on walkingtheplank.org and copy its address from your browser. A story URL looks like this:
http://www.walkingtheplank.org/archive/viewstory.php?sid=1234Copy the main story link. WP Downloader downloads complete Walking the Plank stories, so it does not accept links for individual chapters or lists.
You do not need to sign in to Walking the Plank.
Step 2: Download the story with WP Downloader
Open the Walking the Plank downloader and paste the story link into the box. WP Downloader will detect the site and prepare the story.
Choose EPUB as the output format. EPUB downloads are free for everyone, and calibre can use the file for conversion. You can also choose to include the story’s images.
Save the EPUB somewhere you can easily find it, such as your Downloads folder. WP Downloader runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install.
For more detail about downloading the file, see how to download Walking the Plank stories.
Step 3: Add the EPUB to calibre
Open calibre and select Add books. Find the EPUB you downloaded and add it to your calibre library.
You can edit the book’s metadata or cover before converting it. Otherwise, continue with the EPUB as downloaded.
It is useful to keep the original EPUB in your library in case you want to convert it to another format later.
Step 4: Convert the EPUB to AZW3
Select the story in calibre and open the conversion options. Set AZW3 as the output format, then start the conversion.
AZW3 is a Kindle format that you can copy to the device over USB. calibre can also convert EPUB files to formats such as MOBI and PDF.
Kindle e-readers can open AZW3 and MOBI files copied over USB. Amazon stopped accepting MOBI through its Send to Kindle service, but MOBI files can still be transferred directly from a computer.
Step 5: Connect your Kindle and send the story
Connect the Kindle to your computer with its USB cable and wait for calibre to recognize it.
Select the converted story in your calibre library, then choose Send to device. calibre will copy the book to the Kindle over USB.
After the transfer finishes, safely disconnect the Kindle. The story will be available on the device without an internet connection.
You can also read the book on your computer in calibre’s e-book viewer. The viewer has a Read aloud feature.
Getting updated chapters later
WP Downloader cannot add new chapters to an existing EPUB. When the Walking the Plank 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 send that version to your Kindle. The new file will contain the chapters available when you downloaded it.
To use Amazon’s service instead of a USB cable, see sending Walking the Plank stories to Kindle. For a different e-reader, see how to read Walking the Plank stories on Kobo.
FAQ
Does WP Downloader create AZW3 files?
No. WP Downloader provides EPUB downloads for everyone and PDF downloads with a free Discord sign-in. Download the EPUB and convert it to AZW3 with calibre.
Can I use MOBI instead?
Yes. calibre can convert the EPUB to MOBI, and Kindle e-readers can open MOBI files copied over USB. Amazon’s Send to Kindle service no longer accepts MOBI files.
Do I need a Walking the Plank account?
No. You do not need to sign in to download stories from walkingtheplank.org with WP Downloader.
Can I download only one chapter?
No. WP Downloader downloads the complete Walking the Plank story, not individual chapters or lists.
Will the Kindle copy update when new chapters appear?
No. Download the story again with WP Downloader, convert the new EPUB in calibre, and copy the new version to your Kindle.