If you’re a writer on Inkitt, chances are you either have set up a subscription or have at least thought of doing so. The Inkitt Writer Benefits available to Inkitt writers are objectively better than any other writing platform.
If you are thinking of setting up a subscription, here are some reasons you may want to consider the Inkitt Author Subscription Program.
Inkitt Writer Benefits in the Author Subscription Program
1. The Money: Inkitt Pays Writers 100% of Earnings
Authors keep 100% of the profits after payment processor fees, while our competitors take a percentage of your earnings. Inkitt takes 0%. All that money is yours.
2. The Inkitt App Experience With Dark Mode
Inkitt is available on iOS & Google Play, making it easy for your readers, and it features a dark mode with options for reviews and chapter comments/emojis.
3. No Censorship
Inkitt has open content guidelines. We don’t discriminate, regardless of genre, to include stories with mature content.
4. Automatic Audience
We have a pre-existing user base of millions of users that authors can immediately access as potential subscribers. As an author, you can bring your existing audience with you to Inkitt or you can grow your audience with us.
5. Publication Gateway
Whether or not you decide to make money with the Inkitt Subscription program, your story is eligible to be picked up by Galatea. In addition to the author subscription program, Inkitt has a tried and true path to publication via Galatea and a proven track record of making authors successful.
Set Up Your Inkitt Author Subscription
Read how to set up your subscription where you upload stories.
But once you set up your subscription, there are two crucial questions you need to answer.
- How much should I charge my readers?
- How do I keep my readers engaged?
Fortunately, the Inkitt community has successful writers who have set up subscription programs and are willing to share their experiences with you!
Here are seven tips for setting up and maintaining your subscription from the Inkitt community!
Inkitt Authors Share How to Succeed With the Author Subscription Program
1. Don’t Stress – Just Have Fun Writing!
As much as possible, don’t stress yourself out over this.
Take it easy, take it slow, and start small. Don’t think of it as a job but as a space for you and your friends.
Remember, you didn’t walk into this thinking you were going to get rich. You walked into it because you wanted to be heard.
Focus on that (the riches will hopefully follow). Write what you love and enjoy the engagement of your readers.
Your subscription program isn’t going to earn right away. It’s going to take time, and that’s perfectly okay. Keep working at it, but don’t burn yourself out.
Stephanie Light: Don’t let any numbers discourage you. Every famous author you know started out with zeros. Be patient with yourself, commit to your work, and you will grow beyond what you thought was possible.
Lulu Waters: At the end of the day, these subscriptions aren’t just an income revenue for you; it’s YOU—your BRAND, your NAME, your BOOKS, your FANS, your FRIENDS, and hopefully someday, your FAMILY. When I stopped treating my subscription like a job and started treating it like a clubhouse, a community, I found my tribe. And when you find your tribe, they become your ride or die. Don’t start a subscription with any expectations because they’ll change on you at any second. Have fun.
S.Glassvial: If people leave, it’s also not because of you (unless you are lacking in updates). People leave because of various reasons. Some will return, some will not. Don’t make your subs too important. You are the writer. You don’t have to listen to their ideas just cause they pay you a few bucks.
Jay Mhekzy: Remember, you might not start earning immediately after setting up your tiers, but don’t be disheartened. Readers will eventually discover you.
Jazmin_G: My advice to someone who is just starting is, and will always be, to write what you love. Write what inspires you, and write what you know you want to write now and in the future. […] What matters is not losing the passion and drive you have built over time for your art. It is easier to burn out, feel imposter syndrome, or completely lose willingness when you are forcing yourself to produce content that is not true to you and your desires.
2. Underpromise and Over-Deliver Your Writing
Figure out what’s the least amount of work you can consistently deliver even under less-than-ideal circumstances, and make that your standard.
You can always do more than that set standard, but it’s a bad look to set a standard with your audience and then not reach it. Promise less, deliver more (when you can).
Stephanie Light: My advice would be to come prepared and know that creating a subscription comes with a certain level of responsibility and trust. […] Be consistent and always communicate if any issues occur. There’s nothing readers hate more than being left hanging.
Lulu Waters: [I] can’t stress this quote enough: UNDER PROMISE. OVER DELIVER. Read that again… There’s nothing worse than promising your fans and subscribers content you don’t have on the days/times you promised they’d have said content. We’re all human; we all get sick and have personal lives, so take that into account when you’re creating your tiers and content. I’m definitely not perfect in this, but people understand it happens occasionally. Occasional is okay. Every single week? Not so much.
S.Glassvial: My advice would be to know what you are getting yourself into. It can be stressful. So don’t start a subscription if you know you might suddenly get busy with life and can’t write. People are paying you for a service. Yes, they are also your fans, but most expect something in return, like updating according to a schedule.
kaylynx: [G]et yourself a good backlog of content and schedule it all. That way, if you miss some time due to sickness, holidays, [or]life in general, you won’t feel as stressed with needing to catch up or worried about losing any followers. [S]chedule, schedule, schedule. [A]nd not just chapters – social media posts, too! Link everything you can and utilize Buffer – Buffer is my best friend.
3. Keep Communicating With Your Audience
This cannot be understated. You have to keep communicating with your audience.
Even if they don’t respond, they’re listening. They like knowing you’re there and feeling like they’re a part of your life, that you and they are part of a community. So, keep talking.
Stephanie Light: Engage with your readers and try to make the subscription worth it for them. Post on your wall, make polls, do games, and create a community for your readers to truly enjoy your work.
S.Glassvial: Talk on your wall and in comments, but don’t expect any replies. People who pay often comment less. It’s not you.
CSDreamer: My advice? Just keep working at it. Involve your readers in what you are doing. Don’t get discouraged.
Jay Mhekzy: Engage with your readers through wall posts or at the end of chapters. You might receive limited responses, but don’t let that discourage you. Many readers prefer silent appreciation. Just maintain consistent communication, and you’ll see them warming up to you.
4. Be transparent & Give Your Readers Value for Money
Once you have your audience and you’re ready to start a subscription, talk to your fans about it. This is a big transition, both for you and for them.
Talk about the pricing.
Figure out what people would be willing to pay for your work and tell them what you’re offering them that would make subscribing worth it, like exclusive content and early releases for subscribers.
S.Glassvial: Think about your price. You can’t easily change it. You don’t have to go too cheap. Make sure to provide early access for chapters. This works better than exclusive stories. Pull the readers in with content months ahead.
Arri Stone: Start with one tier as an early subscriber to your stories. Depending on what you have to offer story-wise, you can expand your tiers and give more with exclusive stories hitting your tiers first. I have complete stories which are not available to read anywhere else. Also, [have]an update schedule.
Jay Mhekzy: My advice for people just starting out is not to focus solely on the money. I believe considering your readers is crucial. Discuss the pricing tiers openly with your readers, and aim for an affordable option if you want to keep them engaged. While it’s true that those who love your work will stick around, it’s also important to be considerate and not see this as a way to make quick money.
kaylynx:[S]tart with one small tier and offer something simple: bonus content, deleted scenes, NSFW if you’re comfortable with it, short side stories, etc. […] You can always build/add to what you offer after you get going and comfortable with what you’re doing.
KristiferAnn: Be upfront with your readers; let them know what you are doing. Don’t lock up everything to start; be sure to honor your readers [who]have been with you from the beginning. Have some tier exclusives; it’s important they feel they are getting the value they are paying for. Have fun, and don’t focus on how many subs you have.
5. Raise the Quality of Your Writing
Once you do have a dedicated audience and a successful tier, put some of that money into raising the quality of the work.
Show the readers that you’re not only committed to providing them with stories but that you are also committed to crafting better stories and growing as a writer.
Stephanie Light: Use any income you earn to invest in your work, be it with covers, character art, proofreading, and even book merch.
S.Glassvial: Make sure to invest. With the money you make, you can hire proofreaders, beta readers, and cover makers, so you will look more professional and grow.
Jay Mhekzy: Keep honing your skills and ensure your work has minimal errors. Readers are investing in your work; make sure it’s something meaningful with few mistakes.
6. Put Your Loyal Audience First
But before you do any of the above steps, you’re going to need some followers. Setting up a subscription is fine, but it’s going to go a lot more smoothly if you already have a dedicated audience.
And while that audience doesn’t have to start with Inkitt, Inkitt does have millions of users on the platform to whom authors have immediate and automatic access. In contrast, other platforms don’t have a built-in community, forcing you to find your audience elsewhere.
But wherever you begin, work on building an audience for starters. Fans first, subscription later.
Do the groundwork of promoting and updating your work, and then when you have followers, you can start thinking about subscriptions.
Stephanie Light: Yes, being active is a lot of work, but in the end, you’re creating loyal readers who will be more willing to support you. Building your following is just as important as your writing itself.
kaylynx: [B]uild a fanbase first.Can’t get any subscribers if you don’t have followers. Promote, promote, promote. Schedule, schedule, schedule. The only way you’ll build your fanbase is to do all these things. Update your stories regularly and consistently. Be active on social media. And don’t be afraid to ‘sell-out’ to trends. They’re trends for a reason.
7. Remember the Inkitt community
Finally, remember that there is a community here at Inkitt ready to support and help. Give us a shout if you need help or support or if you want to chat. We’re here, and we’re listening. Join us on Discord! 🙂
Lulu Waters: There are NO rules but your own. Put your personal twist on it, and never let anyone tell you you’re doing it wrong. And if anyone ever needs help, there are loads of authors willing to help. I am one of them.
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