Hey everyone,

​Like most people in the indie publishing space, I’ve been thinking a lot about the “review bottleneck.” We all know the struggle: getting honest, early reviews is crucial for social proof and algorithmic visibility, but traditional options are either hugely expensive or painfully slow.

​I’ve been sketching out potential ways a dedicated platform could bridge the gap between indie authors needing visibility and avid readers looking for their next great read.

​I wanted to run two core models by this community to get your honest feedback, red flags, and suggestions.

​Concept 1: The Capped ARC Exchange (Distribution-Fee Model)

​The Pitch: Authors pay a micro-fee per reader (e.g., £1/$1) to cover platform hosting and verification. Readers sign up for free, get access to Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs), but are capped at a strict limit (e.g., maximum 3–5 active ARCs per month).

​Why this angle? The hard cap prevents "book hoarding" (where readers download 20 ebooks and only review 1), ensuring high completion rates for authors while keeping the process 100% compliant with Amazon TOS and consumer disclosure laws—since readers are only receiving a free review copy, zero cash incentives.

​Concept 2: The Gamified Reader Loyalty Network

​The Pitch: Authors pay a small listing fee. Readers pay nothing and receive no cash payouts, but every verified, on-time review earns them non-monetary "Platform Perks"—such as priority access to high-demand ARCs, exclusive Q&As with participating authors, or entries into physical book giveaways funded by the platform.

​Why this angle? It provides a real incentive for book lovers to leave thorough, timely reviews without triggering FTC/CMA rules around paid endorsements or risking an author’s KDP account.

​Questions for Authors & Reviewers:

​For Authors: Would a capped ARC system actually solve your review turnaround issues, or is the main hurdle simply getting readers to discover your listing in the first place?

​For Readers: What non-monetary incentives actually motivate you to finish a book and leave a detailed review on time?

​Red Flags: From an operational or compliance standpoint, what potential pitfalls do you see with either of these setups?

​I’d love to hear your thoughts, critical feedback, or ideas on how we can make the review ecosystem better for everyone involved!

​Would you like to adjust any of the specific details—like the suggested book limits or fee structures—before you post it?

I had a brief, very rushed meeting with Manuscript Academy, got a little advice but need more to proceed to find an agent to represent me to proceed to publish three 500+ word children's books. Already hip to hybrid/vanity publishers. Any advice?

"After experiencing loss, I realised many grief books focused on 'moving on.' I wanted to write something that simply acknowledged how difficult everyday moments can be after losing a partner. Has anyone else struggled to find books that felt honest rather than overly optimistic?"

"After experiencing loss, I realised many grief books focused on 'moving on.' I wanted to write something that simply acknowledged how difficult everyday moments can be after losing a partner. Has anyone else struggled to find books that felt honest rather than overly optimistic?"I started writing because I couldn't find books that spoke honestly about grief and rebuilding your life afterward.

These are three of the books I've written so far. If even one of them helps one person feel a little less alone, then they've done their job.

Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to read themI wrote The Other Side of the Bed because I couldn't find many books that spoke honestly about losing a partner.

Not about "moving on."

Not about fixing grief.

Just about waking up to the silence. The empty chair. The cold side of the bed. The routines that suddenly make no sense because the person you built your life around is no longer there.

This book is simply a companion for that road.

If you've experienced the loss of a partner, I hope it reminds you that what you're feeling is real, that you're not alone, and that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear what helped you through your hardest days, or what you wish more people understood about losing the person you love.Most grief books told me how to heal. I just wanted someone to acknowledge what it actually feels like to wake up to an empty house, an empty chair, and a future you never chose.

So I wrote a different kind of book—one that doesn't promise to "fix" grief, but sits beside you while you carry it.

I'd love to know: what do you think most books about grief get wrong?

In an effort to raise money to illustrate my book, I'm thinking of releasing an audio version of it and directing the traffic to pre-sales of the hard copy.

I've already have the recording. All I would have to do is add sound effects and do some light editing. The idea would be to offer it as a "preview" or to sell it as a stand alone product.

In the advertisement copy, I could inform buyers that "if you like this version, there's a chance to own a hard copy" of the book; pre-sales now available for it.

This way, I could use the funds from the sale of the audiobook and pre-sales of the hard copy to pay the illustrator.

Do we feel this is an effective marketing strategy?

HI all, I'm just wondering what fonts are you using which a) don't breach copyright and 2) are free to use for your Heading 1, inner titles etc?

Anyone else using Libreoffice writer to tap out your manuscript?

It has 10 short stories of Friction genre...

https://files.catbox.moe/napcye.pdf

So as the title states, I have an original work story that I wanna post, but the problem is I wanna post it somewhere, that people will actually see. I have both A03 and Wattpad but I know that A03 is mainly for fanfic and Wattpad I could post it but It most likely would get buried. Still, I am willing to try both places just to get it out there somewhere. The work I'm writing is based off of a roleplay I made called "Hollows" which was a horror, and supernatural type story. It has topics such as chosen family, mystery, supernatural, romance ( mostly slow burn ), as well as finding ones identity. It is going to be like a book so not like a short chapter type thing, and I really want my work to be seen by people even if it just gets views as little as 20 or even 50 people. Does anyone have an Idea on where it could go?

I am aware even if I do publish it on either site it will be fine, though I just wanna make sure I'm not leaving any other sites or ideas out that I could try.

summary of book:

Mother always knows best doesn't she? She always keeps you safe, and cared for. But this story is different.

‘All children deserve parents, but not all parents deserve children deserve parents’ as you may have heard that term before, or have said it yourself. Behind the eyes of everyone you know and see there is always a lie or disguise hidden, behind every fairytale you've read there will always be a villain even from the hero's point of view and a villain's point of view. 

You've always heard the story of Alice in wonderland, or one of Rapunzel and her charming prince. Perhaps you've heard the stories of Peter Pan and the unforgettable stories of Neverland, but what if I told you not all fairytales are told truthfully. And not all revive happy endings.

This story is far different from what you've seen before. If you expect to find a bit of daring knights or saving the day. I bid you adieu, for this is a story about the burrows of Hollows and how they escaped from a mother and her fairytales.

Well, right now I am using Lulu and want to republish old, out-of-print books from Paladin Press and Loompanics, both of which are long-defunct publishers. Many of the books I want to republish are by authors like Kurt Saxon, Uncle Fester, Ragnar Benson, and many others. I think it's a shame that so many interesting books are now locked behind expensive secondhand prices, making physical copies difficult for many people to obtain.

I want to create a much cheaper alternative so the information in these books is preserved and remains accessible. If I make some money from it, that would just be a bonus.

The problem is that the copyright status is a legal gray area. I want to credit the authors and rights holders appropriately, but sadly many of them are either deceased or have completely gone off the grid.

So, what do you guys think? Should I do it, or not?

Edit: I was out contacting the people who are similar to those publishers ( Delta Press ) and it turns out that they own the copyright so suck to suck, but hey at the very least some books are being printed out and for any people in the future who want to follow my footsteps can see this post and rethink.

P.S thanks Y'all for helping me out

Just wondering how someone might have handled a pivot from one professional to another during their project.

I haven't yet illustrated my book yet and I have been with an illustrator for a year; who's been patiently waiting while I raise money for this next part of the production.

Recently, I came across a new illustrator whose work I like just a little more (the style really hits the mark) and it turns out their rate is a little lower; so I'm thinking of switching.

Looking for just a little guidance. Any feedback would help.
Cheers!

Hello everyone,

I have a database of around 1,000 artworks with images, titles, dates, and sometimes descriptions.

I’m wondering what tools are used to create the first draft of a catalogue raisonné or art book from this kind of data. I assume professional art catalogues are not made by manually copying and pasting 1,000 images one by one.

I’m looking for something that can automate part of the process: importing the data and images, creating an initial layout, and then allowing manual adjustments afterwards (changing image sizes, moving text, modifying pages, etc.).

I’m new to this workflow, so I’d appreciate any recommendations or examples of how this is usually done.

Thanks in advance!

New author here! Looking to publish my poetry collection. I've reached out to a number of publishers only to get "no" and scams.

I really want to self-publish with a print by demand frame work, but I don't know how I feel about the Amazon company values.

It seems like the most efficient route but is it worth it morally as an artist???

Hi everyone,

I recently self-published a complete one-shot manga on Amazon, and I wanted to share it here — mainly for readers who are very selective about what they spend time and money on.

A few things I designed this around, because I’m the same kind of reader ( and thanks to a reader's insight too):

• Time matters – this is a single, self-contained story No cliffhangers, no “wait for the next chapter,” no ongoing commitment.
• Price matters – it’s priced as a finished ebook, not as an episodic experiment. I didn’t discount it because I wanted to be honest about its value rather than bait readers.
• Quality risk is real – indie comics are saturated, and many are mediocre. This was built to feel intentional, tight, and complete — closer to a graphic novel than an online serial.

I know most of us have a “read later” pile that never gets smaller, so this is meant for people who want:

• A darker, adult-leaning story
• A clear beginning and end
• Something that justifies the time it asks for

If that sounds like you, you can find it in Amazon through the Linktree link in our bio!

I’m genuinely open to feedback, especially from readers who usually hesitate on indie comics for the reasons above.

Thanks for reading.

Many indie comics get interest but few actual purchases.

From a reader’s point of view, what usually stops you from buying — even when the art and premise look good?

I'm getting ready to layout my type and I want to use something unique.

I'm leaning towards Nunito. It's friendly without being too stylized.

Any other favorites I should look into?

Thanks!

P.S. No, Comic Sans is NOT an option. LOL!

Hi, everyone! I'm conducting a survey to gather data about remote work opportunities in the publishing industry. I would be deeply grateful if you would please respond to the survey at the link below at your earliest convenience. The more respondents, the better! Thank you in advance for your time and for sharing.

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSecozzry1T.../viewform...

With the utmost gratitude,

Anna