Top Publishing Apps to Post Your Writing Online
6 Top Publishing Apps to Post Your Writing Online
Almost there. You made a meticulous plan, you turned it into a reality, and you fine-tuned it to make sure everything was top-notch. Now, you’ve just got to get
it out there.
For some writers, this step comes automatically. Maybe you write scripts, or internal documents. You might write for a publication, or produce physical media.
For the rest of us, you need a publishing app. Which platform is right for you can depend on a few factors. Are you looking to make money, build a following,
promote your business, or just get your work out there?
Whatever you need, these 6 publishing apps for writers have you covered.
1) WordPress
Publishing stories and articles is one thing, but if you’ve got a business to promote, WordPress is the platform for you. It’s one of the most popular sites for building websites, with free tools for beginners and advanced tools for teams.
WordPress’ robust community and plugins make it a great app for writers who want to build an audience. You can customize your site to stand out and attract new users by utilizing SEO.
While some website builders like Wix and GoDaddy have more design options, WordPress was designed with writing in mind. It best straddles the line between a site builder and a blogging platform.
2) Wix
Beauty website template on Wix
Pricing: $o Free tier, $16–45/mo website plans, $27–59/mo business and e-commerce plans. Enterprise plans also available.
While WordPress is primarily geared towards writers, Wix offers a wider array of website design options. Still, if you’re passionate about design, Wix makes it easier to make your website your own.
Like WordPress, Wix has tools to help boost engagement. WordPress has more of a community vibe, but a website is a crucial part of building your brand, and Wix has the most robust tools out there to make your vision a reality..
3) Medium
Blank document being written in Medium editor
Pricing: Free to sign up. Unlimited membership costs $5/mo or $50/yr.
Let’s say you’re not a designer. You’re a writer, and you want to get your work out to an audience. If you write articles, essays, or other medium-form content (get it?), one of the best places to start is Medium.
Writing on Medium is simple, and so is discovering new writers. When you create an account, you’re encouraged to follow writers and topics you’re interested in.
Tag your posts with relevant topics so other users can find them. It’s that simple.
Once you start to develop a following, you can apply to be a Medium partner. People pay a monthly (or yearly) fee to get access to unlimited content on Medium, and partners can get a piece of that pie. The process works like YouTube: the more time people spend reading your posts, the more you can earn.
4) Substack
Blank project being written in Substack editor
Pricing: Free. Substack takes a 10% cut of revenue from paid subscriptions.
Substack and Medium are fairly similar. Both are blogging sites with a sleek design and limited custom options that allow writers to freely publish their work. The primary difference is that while Medium is something of a social platform, Substack is more like a newsletter.
When you sign up, you can import your existing email list if you have one. Substack has options for discovering writers, but it’s primarily set up for writers to reach their existing readers. Substack articles also don’t tend to perform as well in SEO.
If you’re not a writer with a huge audience, there are still a few significant draws to Substack. First of all, it’s a lot easier to get paid. Rather than a shaky
system of monetization like Medium, Substack lets readers subscribe to your blog directly. Substack takes a cut, but you can set up exactly how much your readers pay, what perks they get for paying, and give out gift subscriptions.
The other big draw is that Substack hosts many different kinds of content. While Medium has no word limit, it’s designed for articles that take around 5–10 minutes to read. What you post on Substack can be articles, but it can also be stories, scripts, research, creative and commercial work. They offer free podcast hosting and are currently rolling out a video feature.
5) Wattpad
Feed of recommended writing on Wattpad
Pricing: Free to use, $4.99/mo Premium tier, $7.49/mo Premium+ tier.
If you know Wattpad, there’s a good chance you know it as a dominant hub for fanfiction. It’s true that it’s quite popular among fandom audiences, especially teens, but it’s still one of the most vibrant writing communities online, with millions of monthly users.
Wattpad is ideal for fiction writers. Some authors have turned a Wattpad following into a career in published writing. They have contests and initiatives to help their writers get discovered. Wattpad Studios helps turn work into visual media, while Wattpad Books helps connect authors with publishers.
Like Medium, Wattpad also has great tools to make your writing discoverable. Their vibrant community of writers and readers love to discover new work.
6) Kindle Direct Publishing
Kindle Direct Publishing preview window with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ebook document Pricing: Free to use. 70% royalty for books between $2.99 and $9.99, 35% royalty for books at other prices. Additional costs for paperback copies sold.
What if you have a longer-form writing project you’re looking to distribute? One of the easiest apps for writers to self-publish books with is Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. They allow you to release ebooks and paperbacks free of charge, distributing on the largest book and ebook marketplace online: Amazon.
You’ll have to take care of many of your design elements before you bring your book to Amazon. Still, they do have a number of features to help take it over the finish line, including a cover creator and manuscript templates.
Amazon takes a relatively hefty commission for self-published work, but they’re still one of the quickest and most effective ways to get your book out to the public. Turnaround is less than 48 hours, and you keep control of the rights to your work.
