#online publishing

[beansbeen]

I tell myself I'm writing and posting for myself.

But boy, why am I refreshing hoping there's a notification popping up??

[trout-scout]

I am looking for good original-fiction posting websites that aren’t ao3- I love ao3, but I want to branch out! Any suggestions or recommendations?

[nanowrimo]

Unlocking the 8 Secrets of Web Novels

If you’re looking to try something new this Camp NaNoWriMo, why not a web novel? Participant Eitan Estheim talks about what a web novel is and how to get started on your episodic writing adventure! The act of writing has been with us for a long time, but that doesn't prevent us from learning different ways to approach it, especially when we take advantage of the new technologies that are emerging.

Web novels (and their variants) are original stories that are published on the internet in chapters, instead of offering the finished product from the beginning. They resemble self-publishing because the author takes care of the entire process (writing, editing, publishing, promotion), and fanfiction because they maintain close contact with the readers.

Generally, authors usually offer their content for free on the internet. However, some authors will publish in advance on Patreon to offer incentives and get monthly paid subscriptions as if it were the Netflix of books.

I've been doing this for a while now and, although I don't have the impact of other writers, that hasn't stopped me from learning a lot in the process. With this in mind, I'm going to tell you what I’ve learned, both on my own and thanks to others.

1. Choose where to publish your web novel. Nowadays, there are several platforms such as Wattpad, Royal Road, Tapas or Kindle Vella, among many others. Some are more suitable for romance and contemporary stories, while others highlight fantasy or litRPG. Keep this in mind before deciding where you want to start.

2. Be prepared. Unlike other ways of publishing a book, a web series requires regular updates. This means you need to create content frequently. As a result, many authors choose to have several weeks of chapters prepared. This ensures they can continue publishing while writing the next chapters, along with all the additional tasks that this entails.

3. Be realistic with your time. Referring to the previous point, we need to take a moment to consider everything we must do: write new content, make sure it's in good condition for publication (editing), promote on social media, etc. Many of us have jobs and responsibilities, so we must be aware of how much we can accomplish each day.

4. Every story is unique. What works for one author may not work the same for another. Some decide to publish short chapters from Monday to Friday, while others prefer to do it once or twice a week. Consider your situation and learn as you go to figure out what works best for you.

5. Take care of yourself. If you push yourself too hard, both in external obligations and in your own projects, you will reach a point where you will exhaust yourself (and that's if you're lucky). Just like in life itself, prioritize your physical and mental health, fulfill your responsibilities, and give yourself the opportunity to write under the best possible conditions.

6. Share your story. Maybe you're like me and prefer to dedicate your time to writing, planning, and editing because that's what you enjoy the most. It's understandable, but how will you get others to read your work? Get moving! Use social media, Facebook groups, and other methods because if you want others to value your work, you must make them aware of it.

7. Find your balance. Just like in any other writing project, there will be times when you write less and dedicate more time to editing or preparation. You may have periods where you write less, but that doesn't mean your productivity is lower; it just means there are other equally important tasks you must perform. Finding the right balance will allow you to progress in your short, medium, and long-term projects.

8. Take care of your readers. Remember what I mentioned about Patreon? It's not only a way for authors to receive some compensation for their work, but they also offer incentives to their followers. Most choose to offer chapters in advance, but they can also provide exclusive access to Discord/Guilded servers, EPUB/PDF files to continue reading on other devices, unlimited scenes, and a variety of other things. Just think about what you would like to have as a reader, and I'm sure you'll come up with many ideas. All of us here know how complex and exhausting writing can be, regardless of the project we're working on. However, it's equally rewarding to see our story taking shape and sharing it as if it were our own TV series. You just need to mold it in the way you desire and keep on writing!

Eitan Estheim, a passionate web serial writer hailing from Spain, is a humble virtuoso of storytelling. From an early age, armed with nothing more than a trusty notebook, Eitan embarked on a literary journey fueled by lots of chocolate. His insatiable thirst for knowledge knows no bounds, as he tirelessly hones his craft to captivate readers. Eitan's web books, spanning fantastical realms and heartfelt LGBT dramas, written in Spanish and English, mark the beginning of his promising writing career. Follow his journey on Patreon! You can also visit his website, Tumblr, Instagram, or Pinterest. Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels

[wildstarpress]

September 10th will be WSP's 5 Year Anniversary and we have a big announcement coming for it! However, alongside new books on the horizon we (spearheaded by @pensurfing) have began expanding the WildStar Universe into a few new forms of online publishing. If you haven't checked out the latest newsletter, head to the site to see the new updates: www.wildstarpress.com

[wordsnstuff]

What is your thought on web novels?

I've never really thought about it. I'm not particularly opposed to web novels, but they're not something I seek out. If an author wants to publish their work online in whatever fashion, that is their right and they should do so. I'm not familiar with the industry. Writers should always be in control of where they publish and what the conditions of publishing their work are. Outside of that, it's unlikely that I'll ever form a stronger opinion.

[kelvinpough]

Monetizing your fiction online

These platforms pay writers for web fiction

With the rising popularity of digital publishing, writers are publishing their content online. These are platforms where to monetize your content.

With digital publishing becoming more popular, writers have also been flocking to self-publishing their content using dedicated platforms for book publishing. Some of these platforms have programs where writers can monetize their content, whether from ad-share programs or reader subscriptions. Platforms made for web novels and webcomics will be included.

This will be a list of those platforms where writers can earn. Platforms that won’t be included are those that have no monetization options, and sites like Wattpad which don’t offer monetization to all users. Platforms that only offer monetization through publishing contracts will also be excluded.

DISCLAIMER: Before using any of these platforms, please research and investigate their terms and policies to ensure that they are a good fit for you. Based on my research, none of these platforms have any glaringly obvious red flags (such as terms that state that you transfer ownership) and none have exclusivity clauses (i.e.: You’re able to post to multiple of these platforms at once).

Some of these platforms also have publishing programs in addition to offering a platform. Please avoid signing any contracts which you don’t fully understand.

Novels and comics

Here are the platforms that allow users to post both novels and comics.

Tapas — Offers two ways for users to earn: ad revenue and by creators locking chapters of their series which readers pay to unlock. To start earning from ads, the creator must have at least 100 subscribers.

Inkspired — Allows writers to create paid membership plans to monetize their audience. Allows posting in multiple formats: Story with chapters, interactive stories, short tale, comics, and microfiction. Also allows users to post in multiple languages

VoyceMe — All content on VoyceMe is completely free to read; creators earn from ads and reader sponsorships, which allows readers to pay $5-$40 directly to writers.

Novels

Fictionate.me — According to this platform, writers can “Choose a payment model for your readers — Pay per book, pay per chapter, or have a monthly subscription. You earn the way you want to while giving your readers a choice of how to pay.”

Though it is specifically for books, it seems possible to upload comics as FictionateMe has an option to upload EPUB files.

This platform also allows writers to automatically generate a natural-sounding audio version.

Neovel — Pays writers based both on number of reads.

Creative Novels — Creators can earn by locking their chapters which readers have to pay to unlock.

Odeen — A relatively small app that seems to not have much traffic anymore. Offers 90% ad revenue to writers. All stories are free to read, and it allows writers to post in many languages.

Kindle Vella — Also allows creators to earn by locking chapters. The first three chapters are free and the rest are pay-to-read.

Note: Be sure to read through Vella’s rules. There are multiple content guidelines to keep in mind, such as being unable to publish “content that is in the public domain or freely available on the web.” So, creators are unable to publish on both Vella and Royal Road at the same time, for instance.

Comics

Webtoons — A free-to-read comics platform. Creators earn from ad revenue or allowing users to pay for early access with Fast Pass.

GlobalComix — Creators earn by having users spend credits they buy to gain access to their comics, graphic novels, or manga.

Dillyhub — Offers a variety of monetization options, including selling content, renting content, or selling early access to readers.

[Click here to read more]

[notruercolors]

Future Of Novels

To all my fellow writers out there. Do you think traditional publishing is dead or will be dead in the coming years where blogs and other forms of online publishing take over the novel industry?

[authortango]

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before but I have a bunch of published short stories online right now, and if you want to check them out I have stories here specifically for Reedsy Prompts and then I have a Vocal account as well. There are two - three stories on the Vocal account that are not Reedsy Prompts related, but also if you check out my stuff on Vocal I receive payment for a certain number of views that I get. 

Either way, if you’re interested in seeing all the different stuff I write and supporting me, these are two excellent ways to do it! Thanks for reading!