Story Building Blocks: Game On!

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Wattpad

WATTPAD

https://www.wattpad.com/

Wattpad is a unique platform where you can upload any kind of writing, including works in progress. You can upload one chapter at a time or serialized fiction. It is on the platform only. There is no ebook distribution.

You cannot infringe on copyright with print or images or plagiarize. From start to finish, you’re in control of the what, when, and where of your project. If you publish using “advanced options,” you can also add copyright language to the story like “All rights reserved” or a “Creative Commons” license.

They have strict rules about copyright infringement and posting content that is obscene or hateful. Read those guidelines carefully before creating content.

Cost: Free to upload your stories.

Rights: Your work is protected as copyrighted upon upload. Wattpad doesn’t ask for the rights to your work, and it doesn’t decide where it gets published. No ISBN is involved.

Distribution: Only on Wattpad or in concert with their other programs.

Services: Writers get direct interaction and feedback. Create an account and upload any of your writing. Anyone can read it or comment on it.

Wattpad Studios works with untapped Wattpad writers to facilitate connections to their publishing and multimedia partners. Over 1000 original Wattpad stories have been published, produced, or adapted to TV or film.

With their own direct publishing division, Wattpad Books, they’re bringing Wattpad stories to bookshelves. They make it easy for readers to share stories via email, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts.

Wattpad Originals makes it possible for you to earn money for your work while providing readers a way to monetarily support writers. It is an invite-only program. They identify content, contact the creator, and provide one on one onboarding support to get stories prepped for launch. This looks different for each story and can include things from full story editing to cover preparation to description/tag support. Wattpad works with some of the biggest brand and studio partners from around the world to provide creators with exclusive writing opportunities.

With Wattpad Brand Partnerships, creators get a chance to work with brands like Maybelline, Tim Hortons, JCPenney, Paramount Pictures. and many more. They can get paid for their work by participating in brand campaigns and initiatives. From writing branded bonus chapters on Wattpad to doing social media takeovers off-platform, working with brands helps creators establish credibility and elevate their own writer brand. To get involved with brands, you can enter a Wattpad writing contest—submit your story to win exciting prizes. Winning stories could also get the chance to be turned into a short film, podcast, commercial or other media. Be enlisted to work with a brand to write a sponsored story, bonus chapters or other seeded entries. Create custom social content and participate in branded social media takeovers. Get featured on a brand’s livestream or podcast.

The Wattpad Creators Program supports writers who are consistently updating their stories by offering access to: Editorial support through our ticketing system, Oracle, where you can ask questions directly to our Wattpad Originals editors and content team scouts. Educational resources focus on helping you succeed on the Wattpad platform, covering topics such as IEC and web-novel style writing. There are opportunities to take part in Creator Workshops. There is a Wattpad Creators Discord channel. There are opportunities to pitch your stories directly to their content team for consideration for Wattpad Originals. Creator Coordinators answer questions and support your writing journey. In order to qualify for the Wattpad Creators Program, you need to meet the following criteria, for at least one story: must be40,000 words or more, written in English, has been updated with a minimum of 500 words at least once in the last two weeks and at least six times in the last three months. It cannot be fanfiction, random writing, poetry, or classics. You also must not have any conduct or content violations against your account. In exchange for entrance to the Wattpad Creators Program, writers are asked to update a story of their choice on a weekly basis, as we know this is key to your story’s success on Wattpad.

They also have articles for writers about story structure, marketing, self-publishing, etc.

https://creators.wattpad.com/writing-resources/

Payment: No royalties but opportunities through their programs to earn money. They are not an aggregator or distributor.

Next week, we look at XinXii, a new player out of Germany.

As always, if you find this information useful, share it, like it. If you want more free information, sign up to follow the blog on blogger or the Story Building Blocks Facebook Page. Free tips and tools are also available on my site https://dianahurwitz.com/.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms StreetLib

STREET LIB

https://www.streetlib.com/

Streetlib is an aggregator of ebooks, print on demand, and audiobooks. You manage multiple distribution channels on their dashboard. They do not require exclusivity. They emphasize their software, tracking, and data analysis.

Distribution: They partner with a fast-expanding global distribution network including transnational retail and subscription outlets, global digital library distributors, and myriad smaller retail outlets and other consumer points across ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts, POD, comics, magazines and online reading apps.

They distribute over 50 platforms, but there is a free tier and paid tiers. They distribute to the Amazon, Apple Books, Bajalibras, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Bibliotheca, Bidi, BookBeat, Book Republic, Casa del Libro, decalibro, Goodbook, Google Play, Hoepli.let, ibs.it, Giardino del Libri.it, Il Narratore Audiolibri, Izneo, Kobo Plus. They are picky about their epub files.

Cost: StreetLib offers a Free plan allowing indie authors and publishers to distribute their ebooks to a limited number of international retailers and subscription apps with no upfront costs and a generous 70% share of revenue. They have higher tiers that run from $29 to $49 per month USD.

Rights: You retain all rights. By default, they assign an ISBN. If you have your own ISBN (which is not used by any other edition of the book on any other platform), you can use it. The ISBN field cannot be changed. If you need to update the ISBN of one of your books, you have to remove it from sale and proceed with a new publication indicating the correct ISBN.

Services: They are picky about your epub file format. With their Write App, you can create ePubs for use on their platform and KDP. It is a subscription app that you access online and is beginner friendly. StreetLib Ready is their publishing service and their experts will prepare your ePub format (ePub reflowable, ePub FXL, or ePub enhanced). Converting your text to ePub format takes about 10 business days with this service and is a for-pay service from $21 to $100. They have an echeck verification process. You can create your ePub using software like InDesign, Calibre, or Sigil if you are confident managing html and CSS codes. They do not recommend Google Doc’s epub tool. Fonts used within ePubs files, as they are easily extractable, must be license-free. In the case of licensed fonts, they suggest you check what the license requires for the use of digital files. If you proceed with InDesign or Calibre, you must ensure the final ePub file is valid from a structural point of view, as the formatting may change. You can order author copies at a discount. Audiobooks can be listened to on different devices: On a computer you can download and install Chrome's Readium.

Payment: You can download your invoices and sales analytics report (which shows details, such as the number of units sold, the library where they were sold, the territory, the currency, and so on) at any time.

Online bookstores apply different sales models: Wholesale, Agency, and Lending and Subscriptions. The latter offer no downloads. The reader accesses their content online on their site. Royalties depend on the model of the various platforms. Like other aggregators, this service collects royalties minus expenses from the platforms, then pays you after taking their cut.

You can offer your book for free for a promotion. However, individual platforms like Amazon do not have to comply and might price match.

If you live in USA or Canada, you can choose to receive your earnings through bank transfer, Payoneer, or PayPal payments; if you live outside USA or Canada, you can choose bank transfer or Paypal payments. You can enter and save multiple payment methods. Different methods have different thresholds you must meet before a payment is made. The sales tracking data may not match your payments.

Next week, we look at Wattpad.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms SCRIBD/Everand

SCRIBD/EVERAND

https://www.everand.com/

Scribd divided into three entities in November 2023. They are no longer a direct upload publisher. Everand is their book division. They offer ebooks and audiobooks. It is like Kindle Unlimited. Readers pay $11.99 for unlimited material: ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and podcasts. Their app is available through Google Play and the Apple store. They do not directly publish your work. You must upload your work to Smashwords, INscribe Digital, BookBaby, Draft2Digital, or Findaway Voices.

Cost: None. You choose distribution through other publishers on Everand.

Rights: You retain all rights.

Distribution: They feature books from traditional publishers and self-publishers. Your books are available on their app.

Services: None except being featured on their app.

Payment: None. You are paid by your upload service provider.

Next week, we look at StreetLib.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Publish Drive

PUBLISHDRIVE

https://publishdrive.com/

PublishDrive is a cloud-based distribution, royalty management, and data analytics aggregator company. They do not require exclusivity. No software installation is required. For a monthly fixed fee, they keep track of all of your titles, sales data, and analytics.

Cost: There are service fee tiers for the use of their management service. For example, one book at 35 distribution sites is $10.64 per month, 6 books at 53 channels is $15.74 per month, and 18 books and 53 channels is $31.49 per month. This fee is nonrefundable even if you decide to cancel mid-cycle.

Rights: You retain all rights. You provide the ISBN.

Distribution: They distribute through Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Odilo, Bibliotheca, Ciando, Bookmate, Doozer, iBooks, Google Play, OverDrive, Scribd, Audible, Walmart, Target, Tolino, Bam, eStories, Indigo, Storytel, Blackwells, Waterman, and over 400 stores and 240K libraries.

Services: They upload your books to the platforms including BISAC and metadata information. They generate data analytics reports. They assist with book formatting. They have templates and a file converter.

They recommend free Calibre software to format your book. They do not proofread or edit your book. They do not read your book. They offer a suite of marketing tools, including running price promotions, optimizing Amazon ads, and free in-store promotions. They can handle bulk import and distribution to hard-to-reach markets like China, India, etc. marketing tools and in-store promotional opportunities. They offer review copies.

Payment: Each platform has their own royalty payment agreement and schedule. They track your sales and collect the royalties then pay you. They claim their benefit is their Abacus software that tracks sales from multiple platforms.

They use a flat fee model to use their service instead of a percent of royalties. You must earn at least $5 in royalties for a payment. You set a payment threshold, meaning you state whether you want to get paid if the royalties reach X amount. The option to select no payment threshold is not available due to transaction fees that are applicable to all payouts. Royalties are paid only after they receive payment from the individual vendors. You are paid in the month they get paid. If the transaction costs (and tax withholding) are higher than the royalties you've earned, they are unable to make a payment.

You provide your banking details after you receive your first sales report. They will report income to the IRS but do not collect taxes. They pay via wire transfer (via Wise), local bank transfer, check, PayPal or intercash. These methods vary in speed and charges. If you are using Payoneer, you can get paid to your Payoneer account. Transaction fees apply.

Next week, we look at Scribd/Everand.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Outskirts Press

OUTSKIRTS PRESS

https://outskirtspress.com/

Outskirts Press offers publishing packages for paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook editions, children’s books, and cookbooks. They offer large print editions. They offer many services but also charge a lot for them. There is a lot of fine print about production and payment you should read and absorb before signing up for anything. They have their own online store. https://outskirtspress.com/OutskirtsPress-Agreement.pdf

Cost: Packages run from $300 to $8000. The children's book option with up to 10 illustrations is $8000. Additional fees will apply for every change and reupload. For a non-refundable down payment of $999, they will initiate an audiobook creation process. Final cost depends on the length above 5,000 words at 8 cents per word. You pay the full amount up front before recording work begins with up to 5 narrator Auditions

This amount will be applied toward your final per word narration cost and will cover the first 5,000 words of your manuscript. Your actual, final cost will depend upon the length of your manuscript over and above 5,000 words and will be billed at 8 cents per word. This final amount will be added to your shopping cart for secure payment before we begin recording work on your audiobook.

Rights: They provide an ISBN and bar code. Author grants Outskirts Press a NON-EXCLUSIVE, worldwide license to distribute and sell the manuscript in print format and an EXCLUSIVE, worldwide license to distribute and sell the manuscript in eBook/audiobook format; a non-exclusive right to exhibit manuscript in part on websites or promotional materials owned by Outskirts Press, and a non-exclusive right to store and transmit digital versions of manuscript to facilitate production, distribution, and sale of manuscript.

Distribution: Worldwide distribution through Bowker, Baker & Taylor, Ingram, Amazon, B&N, BooksAMillion, Powells, Bertram, and aLibris. ebooks are distributed through Apple books, Nook, and Kindle books. If you get a LCCN Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN), it will also be distributed to thousands of libraries through distributors like Baker & Taylor Your book will also be available to libraries around the world through services like OverDrive, Hoopla, Findaway and others. If your book is Christian-focused you will also have distribution to Christian bookstores through Spring Arbor. They partner with print facilities in Australia, Brazil, China, England, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, South Africa, and Spain.

Services: OP offers a menu of for-pay services such as manuscript evaluation, cover design, file formatting, interior book design for print. They offer illustration services as well for children’s books, nonfiction, poetry, cookbooks, etc.

They offer services for book launch, marketing, email, book trailers, press release, social media setup, and Google book reviews. web page with social media integration, marketing coach, etc. They offer ads, reviews, bookmarks, business cards, poetry, postcards, and other marketing materials.

They offer opportunities to have your book submitted to different award competitions. For $35, your manuscript will be reviewed and will be applied to your package selection. If they can’t accept your manuscript, the money is refunded.

They do not proofread your proof to make sure every page is perfect. Covers can have a 1/16^th variance. Any book falling outside the scope of these industry standard specifications may be returned to the printing establishment for, and only for, a free replacement copy. They have an affiliate program where you can potentially earn money by referring people and advertising them.

Payment: They have a sales dashboard to track your sales. Outskirts Press sets the Base Price. Payment is 90 days from the end of the quarter in which sales occurred via check. Authors within the United States have a threshold royalty requirement of $25 to receive payment and $100 outside the US. Royalties less than $25 will be held and paid at the next royalty check cycle that meets or exceeds $25.

You receive royalties when a library subscribes to carry your eBook.

They report your income to the IRS. For international account, OP withholds US income tax from the royalty payments made to foreign authors at the default percentage applicable which is currently 30%, unless there is a tax treaty.

Next week we look at Publish Drive.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms LuLu

LULU

https://www.lulu.com

Lulu is unusual in that it offers unique projects in addition to books with 3,000 possible sizes, paper types, and binding option combinations: print books, ebooks, children’s books, graphic novels, comic books, magazines, cookbooks, educational books, photobooks, notebooks, and wall calendars. They do not require exclusivity.

Cost: There are no fees or charges to upload your files. You can make changes. Print cost is determined by many factors including trim size, cover type, and paper type. . For print books, order a copy to proof and approve for distribution. For ebooks, you pay the one-time distribution fee to submit your ebook for approval. They can refuse the book.

Rights: You maintain all rights. Your book must be assigned an ISBN to qualify for Global Distribution on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Google Play, Ingram, Barnes and Noble, and Scribd. They provide an ISBN or you can use your own.

Distribution: Your book is listed for sale on the Lulu Bookstore. The Lulu Global Network makes your book available for purchase on Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Gardners, Ingram, Kobo, Libri, and Scribd. The individual platforms have to approve your product. You can sell from your own site.

Services: Lulu will convert your docx file into an Epub format. They offer templates with bundle that include book page and cover templates for InDesign, Photoshop, and Word, as well as a Book Creation Guide.

The have the LuLu University, a blog, and other tutorials on their site.

They have a list of partners you can use for the different services like writing, editing, marketing, book coaching, etc.

Payment: They pay via PayPal or checks. Paypal deducts a service fee. They collate payment information from the different distributors which is reflected on their dashboard. Payouts must be at least $5.00 for PayPal.

Royalties are paid monthly on or before the last day of the month. Anything under $5 will be carried over to the next month.

You will receive a 1042S form by March 15 each year. Paypal pays in the following currencies: USD, CAD, AUD, EUR, and GBP. If you select paper checks, royalties must exceed $20 US. You will receive your royalties quarterly, dispersed within 45 days following the end of the quarter. Paper checks are only issued in US dollars. You can run a sales report at any time.

Next week we look at

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Kobo

KOBO WRITING LIFE

https://kobowritinglife.com/

Kobo Writing Life offers ebooks and audiobooks. They don’t require exclusivity. Kobo is very popular in Canada. They have the Kobo ereader, Desktop app for PC, and apps for IOS and Android. Kobo reaches about 160 countries

Cost: Kobo does not charge a fee for distributing your ebooks or audiobooks.

Rights: You maintain all rights. You can make changes.

Distribution: Your book is added to the Kobo catalog. Kobo partners with worldwide online retailers in over 190 countries.

Services: Kobo will convert your manuscript to ePub format for free.

Their Writing Life User Guide offers details about the various steps in your publishing journey. They offer promotion options. Your book must be approved by Kobo for the promotion and you pay for it.

Kobo offers Kobo Plus, an ebook subscription service similar to Kindle Unlimited. They offer a $20 credit if you partner with Reedsy for translations.

They recommend BookBrush, which has a free trial, to create marketing materials. Hourly Concepts, you can hire the Book Brush design team to create stunning social ad & graphics by the hour for your book marketing needs. Purchase a subscription or a la carte hours and they'll create book trailers, author logos, social ads, and more. Book Brush's skilled designers complete your projects in about a week. They assist with social media providing full service posting with images, reels, engagements, and more.

Payment: For ebooks, they pay 70% of the list price for the book (the price the customer pays, not including taxes) depending on the country minimum. If the price falls below the market minimum, you will receive 45% of the list price. For books that are a part of the public domain, you will receive 20% of the list price.

For audiobooks, they pay 32% of the list price for subscription token purchases. For a-la-carte purchases, they pay 45% of the list price, provided the list price is greater than, or equal to the country’s minimum. You can visit their site for specifics.

They pay via direct deposit into your bank account 45 days after the end of each monthly period provided the amount meets a minimum threshold of CAD $50. Sales from your books and audiobooks in all countries are collected and must reach the threshold listed above. They have a reporting dashboard.

Next week, we look at Lulu.

Search This Blog