A few months ago, I tried something I’d never done before. I wrote a short, 20,000-word paranormal romance and uploaded it to Inkitt under a brand-new pen name.
Why the new name? Up to that point, I’d been writing New Adult paranormal romance—but I wanted to try my hand at something a little steamier. This gave me the freedom to experiment without giving my existing readers genre-whiplash. New name, new vibe, no pressure.
No big platform. No newsletter list behind it. Just the story, a new username, and the hope that maybe someone would read it.
I had some mixed feelings about it. Would anyone actually read it? I’d tried Wattpad in the past and didn’t find much success—or any real readers, honestly. So I wasn’t expecting much.
But what happened surprised me.
Readers did show up. Not in a viral, blow-the-roof-off kind of way, but steadily. I watched my follower count grow. Comments trickled in. People were actually reading the story—and asking for more.
Then came the email. Inkitt’s publishing arm, Galatea, had taken notice. They wanted to publish my story on their app. I said yes.
Now, that little story is being read by a whole new audience—on a platform I hadn’t even considered six months ago.
But that’s only part of what makes Inkitt worth looking at if you’re a writer trying to reach readers.
Inkitt Isn’t Just a Publishing Platform—It’s a Reader Pipeline
What I didn’t realize going in is that Inkitt is more than just a story-hosting site. They’re building something that gives writers access to real readers and a real revenue model. That alone sets them apart.
Inkitt allows authors to publish stories for free on their site, and if your story connects, it can get picked up by Galatea—Inkitt’s reader app with a much wider (and more mobile-first) audience. Galatea adapts stories into serialized episodes with sound effects, pacing adjustments, and artwork, then promotes them on the app. That’s what happened with my short story, and it’s still wild to see it playing out on a professional platform like that.
Monetizing on Inkitt: Subscription Model for Authors
More recently, Inkitt rolled out a subscription feature that gives writers a way to make money directly from their audience.
You can set your own monthly price and decide which stories are free and which are for subscribers only. Your fans get access to exclusive content—and you keep 100% of the profits (minus Stripe’s payment processing fees). That’s it.
No 70/30 split. No royalties. And no complicated payouts.
Just you and your readers, connected directly.
If you’ve ever wished you could offer early access, behind-the-scenes content, bonus chapters, or serialized novels without relying on outside platforms like Patreon or Substack, this is a built-in option. It’s especially helpful if you want to test whether readers would actually pay for your work before launching on Kindle or other retailers.
It’s also flexible. You can run your stories as “free now, paid later,” or use it to build momentum for a full launch elsewhere.
Here’s What I Learned from the Experience:
1. Inkitt makes it easy to test a story idea.
Uploading was simple. There’s no cost, no pressure, and no gatekeeping. If you’ve got a story and want to see how readers respond, it’s a low-risk way to experiment.
2. Readers are on Inkitt—and they’re engaged.
This isn’t just a place where stories go to sit. Readers actively follow, comment, and cheer you on. It’s refreshing.
3. You don’t need a huge backlist to gain traction.
I had one short story under a fresh pen name. That’s it. The story itself was what mattered—not my platform or publishing history.
4. Galatea is looking.
Inkitt is the front door. Galatea is the house party. They use reader data from Inkitt to decide what to adapt and promote on their app. Getting picked up felt like a quiet little win—a reminder that stories do find their people.
5. They’re building an actual business model—for writers.
The subscription system is still new, but it shows promise. If you're looking for a way to earn money from your writing without giving up control, it's worth exploring.
6. You never know what will resonate.
This story wasn’t something I slaved over for years. It was fun. It came together quickly. I took a chance on it. And it connected.
Final Thoughts
If you’re sitting on a story—or even just a short one—and you’re not sure where to put it, maybe give Inkitt a try. You don’t need a big budget. You don’t need a full series. All you need is a story you love and the willingness to put it out there.
Sometimes, that’s enough to open a new door.
And if you’re looking for a way to turn readers into subscribers, Inkitt might just be a step ahead of where the industry is going.
PRACTICE
Inkitt gave me a platform to try out a new type of story. For today's practice, I'd like you to try something different as well. Pick a genre or age category you've never written in before or don't normally write in (you can get started by choosing a prompt here).
Set the timer for 15 minutes, then write a scene or short story in that new genre or age category. When you're finished, share your story in the Pro Practice Workshop for feedback from the community. And if you share, please be sure to comment on a few stories by other writers.
Not a member yet? Come join us.
Happy writing!
Jamie L. Biggs is an author known for her thrilling paranormal dark fantasy narratives. From a childhood steeped in eerie tales, her fascination with the supernatural has birthed boundary-pushing storytelling. Her writing promises an unforgettable journey into the eerie depths of the supernatural. You can visit her website here.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I’ve a backlog of short stories I composed for an MA program. I might dip my toes into the water and see what happens.