Never put all your eggs in one basket.
Relying on a single publishing platform carries real risk. Even when you follow the rules, enforcement decisions can happen without explanation and without a clear path to appeal. Every author should plan for distribution beyond one retailer.
No creator should build an entire business on a single platform, no matter how stable it appears.
Moving forward, I will be publishing across additional ebook retailers. My books will soon be available through platforms such as Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. I will share updated links as they go live.
Writers adapt, and this is just the next chapter.
Remember, when one door closes, another opens.
Alternatives to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
These are just a few of the many publishing platforms available to authors. There are plenty of other options out there, and the right fit will depend on your goals, genre, and audience.
IngramSpark — One of the strongest alternatives for authors who want paperback, hardcover, and ebook options plus broad print distribution to retailers and libraries.
Draft2Digital — A popular “go wide” platform that helps authors distribute ebooks and paperbacks to major retailers and hundreds of storefronts, with opt-in store selection and author-focused tools. Lulu — A solid print-on-demand option for authors who want flexible print runs, direct sales, and formats like children’s books, comics, magazines, and other specialty projects.
Barnes & Noble Press — A direct publishing platform for ebooks and print books aimed at reaching Barnes & Noble readers, with both personal POD and books-for-sale options.
Kobo Writing Life — Kobo’s self-publishing platform for indie authors, especially useful for direct ebook distribution outside Amazon; Kobo says ebook distribution is free.
Apple Books for Authors — A direct route for publishing ebooks to Apple Books through Apple’s publishing portal and an iTunes Connect account.
Google Play Books Partner Center — A direct ebook publishing option through Google’s Partner Center, useful if you want your book available in the Google Play ecosystem.
PublishDrive — An all-in-one distribution platform for ebooks, print books, and audiobooks, built for global reach and multi-store management.
BookBaby — Best for authors who want more hands-on help, since it combines editing, design, printing, ebook publishing, POD, and distribution services.
Blurb — Especially strong for visual books such as photo books, art books, cookbooks, and magazines, with options to sell through the Blurb Bookstore, Amazon, and Ingram.
StreetLib — A global self-publishing and distribution platform for ebooks, audiobooks, and print, with reach across dozens of retail channels.
BookVault — A strong choice for authors focused on print-on-demand direct sales, special editions, and Shopify/API-based fulfillment.
Fanfic and fandom-first platforms
- Archive of Our Own (AO3) — Monetization: No. AO3 explicitly bans commercial promotion, including paywalls, tip jars, and similar monetization. It is excellent for fandom reach, tagging, and reader discovery, but not for direct income.
- FanFiction.net — Monetization: No built-in author monetization. Use for exposure and readership rather than direct earnings.
- Wattpad — Monetization: Yes, but selective. Wattpad announced a paid Creators Program aimed at engaged writers, with compensation tied to readership and engagement rather than automatic monetization for every account. Good fit if you want community interaction and are willing to play a long game.
Original fiction and web-serial platforms
- Royal Road — Monetization: Yes. Royal Road is one of the clearest options for free serial fiction plus external reader support.
- FictionPress — Monetization: No. FictionPress is a large archive/community for original fiction and poetry, and its public materials emphasize guidelines and standard account terms rather than creator payments. Best for posting original work and getting readers, not for built-in revenue.
- Inkitt — Monetization: Yes. Inkitt promotes a Subscription Program. It is geared toward serialized original fiction and direct reader support.
- Tapas — Monetization: Yes. Tapas offers several revenue paths for creators, including ad revenue, fan support, Premium, and Early Access.
Direct-to-reader monetization platforms
- Patreon — Monetization: Yes. Patreon lets creators earn through memberships, paid posts, and one-time purchases. It is free to start, with creator fees and payment-processing fees applying once you earn. This is more of a membership business platform than a story archive.
- Ream — Monetization: Yes. Ream is built specifically for fiction authors and says writers can publish serial fiction, ebooks, audiobooks, and comics, offer free or paid content, and monetize directly without exclusivity.
- Substack — Monetization: Yes. Substack is free to publish on, and creators can turn on paid subscriptions.
- Laterpress — Monetization: Yes. Laterpress is built around selling books and serials directly on the web.
- Medium — Monetization: Yes, for eligible writers. Medium’s Partner Program pays writers based on member engagement with eligible paywalled stories. It is less of a fanfic/webnovel community and more of a publishing platform for articles, essays, and audience-building through nonfiction or commentary.
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