About
Inkshares is a crowdfunding-driven publishing house that empowers authors to validate and publish their book ideas through reader pre-orders. Writers start by sketching a book concept, uploading a sample chapter, and launching a draft page on the platform. Community feedback helps refine the idea and build an early audience before any money changes hands. When an author is ready to pursue publication, they launch a pre-order campaign directly on Inkshares. If they reach their pre-order goal, Inkshares takes over as the full-service publisher — covering developmental editing, copy-editing, fact-checking, interior layout, cover design, printing, and broad retail distribution through an Ingram partnership that places books on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and hundreds of independent bookstores. Beyond print and ebook distribution, Inkshares actively pursues movie and TV rights deals in Hollywood on behalf of its authors. The royalty structure gives authors 35% of net receipts, whether books are sold directly through Inkshares or through wholesale retailers. Inkshares is ideal for aspiring authors who want to test market demand before committing to a full manuscript, fiction and non-fiction writers seeking a hybrid between self-publishing control and traditional publishing support, and readers who want to discover and champion emerging voices before their books hit mainstream shelves.
Key Features
- Pre-Order Crowdfunding: Authors launch pre-order campaigns on Inkshares; reaching the threshold unlocks a full professional publishing deal at no upfront cost.
- Full-Service Publishing: Once funded, Inkshares handles developmental editing, copy-editing, cover design, interior layout, printing, and distribution via Ingram.
- Wide Retail Distribution: Published books are distributed to major retailers including Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and hundreds of independent bookstores worldwide.
- Movie & TV Rights Sales: Inkshares actively pursues film and television adaptation deals in Hollywood on behalf of its published authors.
- Community Feedback Loop: Authors can share drafts and sample chapters early to gather reader feedback and build a following before launching a pre-order campaign.
Use Cases
- An aspiring novelist tests demand for their debut thriller by posting the first three chapters on Inkshares and running a pre-order campaign to fund publication.
- A non-fiction author with a niche topic uses Inkshares to validate audience interest before investing months in completing a full manuscript.
- A writing community organizes a themed anthology contest on Inkshares, collecting pre-orders to determine whether the collection gets professionally published.
- An established blogger or podcaster leverages their existing audience to quickly hit pre-order thresholds and unlock a traditional publishing deal with no agent needed.
- A reader discovers and backs early-stage book projects on Inkshares, influencing which titles make it to bookstore shelves before they're even finished.
Pros
- Zero Upfront Cost for Authors: Writers can post ideas, gather feedback, and only proceed to publishing if readers validate demand through pre-orders — no financial risk required.
- Professional Publishing Pipeline: Funded authors receive the full traditional publishing experience including editing, design, print, and distribution without needing a literary agent.
- Built-In Audience Discovery: The platform's community of readers actively seeks new books to back, giving authors organic exposure before their campaign even launches.
Cons
- Pre-Order Threshold Required: Authors who don't meet their pre-order goal do not get published, making success heavily dependent on the author's ability to market their own campaign.
- Lower Royalty Than Self-Publishing: The 35% net receipts royalty is significantly lower than what authors can earn through direct self-publishing platforms like KDP.
- Limited Genre Diversity: The platform's curated approach means not all book ideas are accepted or promoted equally, which may disadvantage niche or experimental titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Inkshares publishing process work?
Authors submit a book idea and optional sample chapter, gather community feedback, then launch a pre-order campaign. If they hit their pre-order threshold, Inkshares publishes the book — handling editing, design, printing, distribution, and marketing.
How much do authors earn per book sold?
Authors earn 35% of net receipts. Net receipts equal gross revenue minus production and distribution costs. For example, a $20 print book sold through Inkshares yields about $4.90 for the author.
Is it free to sign up and post a book idea?
Yes, signing up and posting a book draft or idea is free. Publishing costs are only triggered once an author opts into a pre-order campaign and reaches their funding goal.
Where are Inkshares books distributed?
Inkshares distributes through Ingram, placing books in major retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and hundreds of independent bookstores globally.
Does Inkshares help with movie or TV deals?
Yes. Inkshares actively pursues movie and TV rights sales for its published titles in Hollywood, providing an additional revenue and exposure channel for authors beyond traditional book sales.
