It can be hard to find a book by an indie author at a brick-and-mortar bookstore. Similarly, it can be hard for indie authors to get their books stocked on shelves at bookstores. While a variety of online platforms have helped to democratize reading and writing for many people, some barriers still remain. Storytelling social platforms are another way that people who are passionate about reading and writing further democratize storytelling by adding a social aspect. On these platforms, amateur, indie, and professional writers come together. Anyone can publish their own original work, read other people's work, and build connections over their shared interests. Below, I've compiled a list of platforms that combine reading and writing with social media. Scroll down to learn more.
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Social Reading and Writing Platforms
- Booksie: A free platform for writers and readers, Booksie boasts tens of thousands of writers and tens of thousands of readers. Its interface makes it easy to select for the genres of your choice. Learn more at https://www.booksie.com/.
- Character Hub: An offshoot of Commaful, Character Hub is a platform exclusively the development of original characters, world-building and related artwork. While it's not exactly a reading and writing space in the way the other platforms are, it may be a useful tool for developing detailed stories in a social space. This platform is a recent creation. Learn more by visiting https://characterhub.com/.
- Commaful: This platform combines art and short-form stories for those who have limited time and prefer illustrated stories. It's not great for people looking for long-form pieces but works well for folks who want quick reading "bites" throughout the day. It is compatible with Apple, Android and desktop devices. Commaful recently became a read-only platform and is no longer accepting new posts. They have begun a new project called Character Hub which is a platform dedicated to original character development, world-building, and artwork. Learn more by visiting https://commaful.com/.
- Galatea: Only available on mobile devices, Galatea is an offshoot of Inkitt. On this platform, Inkitt stories are reformatted into immersive reading experiences with art and chat features. This reading platform is available through your app store.
- Inkitt: This platform has a combination of original work in a wide variety of genres and fan fiction. It offers both a reading and writing side to the platform as well as spaces for chatting about related topics. Learn more at https://www.inkitt.com/.
- Miraquill: Formerly known as Mirakee, this free platform supports writers by hosting prompts and contests as well as writing tools which you can use to improve your craft. It is geared toward mobile devices and is available through your app store. You can also learn more at https://www.miraquill.com/.
- Medium: With a focus on a diverse range of topics, Medium includes both fiction and nonfiction, with a slight bend toward nonfiction. Many writers on this platform share essays and articles as well as stories and the platform is geared more toward long-form content. Writers have the potential to earn some income from their writing but readers may not appreciate that some work is behind a pay-wall. Learn more about Medium at https://medium.com/.
- Movellas: Currently under reconstruction, Movellas is a free platform that is only compatible with desktop devices. It is open to all genres but focuses on young adult readers. Learn more at https://movellas.com/.
- Neobook: Dedicated to fiction, this platform is most comparable to the better known Wattpad in that it is a social community of readers and writers. It is also quite new and, therefore, has less content to compete with as a writer and less to sift through as a reader. It's user-friendly and has the capacity for writers to monetize their stories. It is currently ad-free. Learn more at https://neobook.org/.
- NovelCat: While this platform is free and available on any device, it also supports writers who wish to monetize their work. It is optimized for twenty genres. The app also permits some customization so you can adjust fonts and backgrounds as needed. Visit their website at https://www.novel-cat.com/.
Sources:
- 5 Best Wattpad Alternatives for Readers and Writers: https://medium.com/@JasmineDawsonWriter/5-best-wattpad-alternatives-for-readers-and-writers-3800f3a941ef
- 7 Wattpad Alternatives that Readers and Writers Should Consider Using: https://www.makeuseof.com/wattpad-alternatives-readers-and-writers-consider-using/
- 10 Best Wattpad Alternatives for Readers and Writers: https://launchspace.net/general/wattpad-alternatives/
- 13 Websites and Apps like Wattpad in 2024: https://windowsradar.com/sites-like-wattpad/
- 14 Best Apps Like Wattpad in 2024: https://www.rankred.com/best-apps-like-wattpad/
- Booksie: https://www.booksie.com/
- Character Hub: https://characterhub.com/
- Commaful: https://commaful.com/
- Inkitt: https://www.inkitt.com/
- Medium: https://medium.com/
- Miraquill: https://www.miraquill.com/
- Movellas: https://movellas.com/
- Neobook: https://neobook.org/
- NovelCat: https://www.novel-cat.com/
- Penana: https://www.penana.com/home
- StoryWeaver: https://storyweaver.net/
- Tap by Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/stories/tap/new
- Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/
- Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/home
- Writing.com: https://www.writing.com/
- YourQuote: https://www.yourquote.in/
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