Websites for publishing books, stories, poetry or more
Alternatives to Wattpad and Amazon KDP
While Wattpad is one of the world’s leading self-publishing platforms for indie authors and poets, followed by Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for their renowned global distribution options, you may wish to know about some other platforms.
So here is a partially-comprehensive list of websites similar to Wattpad that allow authors to publish stories, novels, poetry, etc. online.
Medium
Medium is a popular blogging platform that also allows you to publish your own stories and articles. You can gain followers and readers, and even earn money through the Medium Partner Program.
😀 Pros:
- Large audience: Medium has a large and engaged community of readers and writers, which can help you gain exposure and grow your readership.
- Easy to use: The platform is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy to publish your articles and build your following.
- Built-in distribution: Medium has built-in distribution channels, such as curated collections and newsletters, that can help your articles reach a wider audience.
- Revenue sharing: Medium has a Partner Program that allows you to earn money for your writing based on the engagement it receives from readers.
- Networking opportunities: Medium can provide networking opportunities with other writers, editors, and publications, which can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
☹️ Cons:
- Limited control: Medium owns the platform and controls the design and layout of your articles, limiting your ability to customize and control the look and feel of your content.
- Limited monetization options: While Medium offers a revenue-sharing program, it may not provide as much earning potential as other platforms or self-publishing options.
- Content ownership: When you publish on Medium, you give the platform a license to use and distribute your content, which could potentially limit your ability to repurpose or monetize your work in the future.
- Algorithmic changes: Like all social media platforms, Medium’s algorithm can change at any time, affecting your visibility and engagement with your audience.
- Competition: With a large community of writers and publications on the platform, it can be difficult to stand out and gain traction for your writing.
Inkitt
Inkitt is a platform that allows you to publish your book online, gain readers and followers, and get feedback from the community. They also offer publishing opportunities for writers who gain a following on the platform.
😀 Pros:
- Large audience: Inkitt has a large and growing community of readers, which can help you gain exposure and grow your readership.
- Reader engagement: Inkitt’s platform encourages reader engagement, with features like the ability to comment on and rate stories, which can help you receive feedback and build a following.
- Publishing opportunities: Inkitt offers publishing opportunities for select authors, including print and digital publishing deals.
- Analytics and metrics: Inkitt provides authors with analytics and metrics about their readership and engagement, which can help you make informed decisions about your writing and promotion strategies.
- Monetization opportunities: Inkitt offers a revenue-sharing program for select authors, which can provide some income for your writing.
☹️ Cons:
- Limited control: Like many publishing platforms, Inkitt owns the platform and controls the design and layout of your stories, limiting your ability to customize and control the look and feel of your content.
- Limited distribution options: Inkitt primarily focuses on its own platform for distribution, which may not provide as much exposure or reach as other platforms or self-publishing options.
- Selectivity: Inkitt is selective about which stories it promotes and offers publishing deals to, which may limit opportunities for some writers.
- Content ownership: When you publish on Inkitt, you grant the platform a license to use and distribute your content, which could potentially limit your ability to repurpose or monetize your work in the future.
- Revenue-sharing terms: While Inkitt offers a revenue-sharing program, the terms and payment structure may not be as favorable as other platforms or self-publishing options.
Swoon Reads
Swoon Reads is a publishing imprint of Macmillan that accepts manuscripts from unpublished writers. Users can upload their manuscript to the website and readers can rate and comment on the book.
Radish
Radish is a serialized fiction platform that allows writers to publish their work in episodes, with readers paying for access to each episode. Radish also offers opportunities for writers to earn money through their Writer Accelerator Program.
😀 Pros:
- Revenue opportunities: Radish offers authors the opportunity to earn revenue through its coin system, where readers purchase coins to unlock premium content, and authors earn a share of the revenue generated.
- Focus on mobile reading: Radish is designed for mobile reading, which can be advantageous as more and more readers consume content on their mobile devices.
- Support for serialized fiction: Radish is focused on serialized fiction, which can be a good fit for authors who write in that format.
- Promotion and marketing: Radish offers promotion and marketing for its select authors, which can help authors gain exposure and grow their readership.
- Engaged readership: Radish has a highly engaged readership, with readers often leaving comments and feedback for authors.
☹️ Cons:
- Selectivity: Radish is selective about which books it chooses to publish, which may limit opportunities for some writers.
- Limited control: Like many publishing platforms, Radish owns the platform and controls the design and layout of your stories, limiting your ability to customize and control the look and feel of your content.
- Revenue-sharing terms: While Radish offers a revenue-sharing program, the terms and payment structure may not be as favorable as other platforms or self-publishing options.
- Content ownership: When you publish on Radish, you grant the platform a license to use and distribute your content, which could potentially limit your ability to repurpose or monetize your work in the future.
- Limited distribution options: Radish primarily focuses on its own platform for distribution, which may not provide as much exposure or reach as other platforms or self-publishing options.
FictionPress
FictionPress is a platform for original fiction where writers can publish their stories and get feedback from the community. The platform allows for a variety of genres, from romance to science fiction.
RoyalRoad
RoyalRoad is a platform for original web fiction where writers can publish their stories and gain followers. The platform is dedicated to science fiction, fantasy, and other speculative fiction genres.
And if you truly are looking forward to publishing books on print, then here is another list of such platforms :
Barnes & Noble Press
Barnes & Noble Press allows authors to publish and sell their ebooks and print-on-demand books on the Barnes & Noble website.
IngramSpark
IngramSpark is a self-publishing platform that allows authors to create and distribute their ebooks and print-on-demand books to a wide range of retailers and distributors.
Smashwords
Smashwords is a self-publishing platform that specializes in ebooks and allows authors to distribute their books to a variety of retailers, including Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Kobo.
Draft2Digital
Draft2Digital is a self-publishing platform that offers ebook and print-on-demand publishing options and allows authors to distribute their books to major retailers like Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble.
Lulu
Lulu is a self-publishing platform that allows authors to publish and sell ebooks and print-on-demand books on the Lulu website and through major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Blurb
Blurb is a self-publishing platform that specializes in photo books and allows authors to create and sell their own print-on-demand books.
Hope this article helps you pick the right path. If you’re interested, feel free to sign up for an account with us to connect with a marketing agent to handle the rest!
