The one thing writers all need, no matter the level of their creative journey, is feedback from readers. Readers who will dive into your work and get back to you with legitimate feedback on what they think/thought about your work. Feedback will help you grow as a writer, and gaining readership will allow you to discover what else you can do with your work.
This post compiles a list of options to use as an author based in East Africa and hoping to grow your readership. From sites to post free content for immediate feedback to e-book and printed book distribution websites to aid your book sales.
Here are platforms that offer authors options on what to do with their work:
Five Free Reading/Writing Sites:
These sites allow you to post your work in chapters or episodes. You can publish your work in one go or post weekly to gain followers and readers.
Ebonystory.com is branded as the Home of Interesting African Stories. It is quite easy to create an account and start posting your chapters. You’ll be in the company of fellow African writers and a diverse readership ready to consume your content. They offer you a slew of story genres for which you can write.
2. Wattpad.com
Wattpad brands itself as ‘…the world’s most-loved social storytelling platform, where new voices write and share, and readers connect with the stories they love.’ Writers can create an account and start posting their story chapters right away. Readers can access books on the web or by using the Wattpad app. It is a highly competitive environment for authors. You need to do some work and social sharing to get your work read. If you hope to get feedback immediately, you must proactively direct readers to your page and your stories. Wattpad.com offers authors different opportunities like Wattpad Stars and Ambassadors and chances to get books in awards like the #Wattys. They also offer paid stories, and authors may apply to join this program depending on content and readership base. ( It is important to note that Wattpad is a platform still finding its footing in the African Continent, and they have yet to trickle down these opportunities to African Authors; if it has, it is happening in a slow trickle.) This aside, Wattpad allows you to have a platform to share your work for free at no cost, and you can gain readership through hard work.
3. Inkitt.com
Inkitt is the world’s first reader-powered publisher, providing a platform to discover hidden talents and turn them into globally successful authors. This platform is similar to Wattpad, allowing you to create an account and publish your stories chapter to chapter to gain readership. The more popular your work, the more likely you will get published by Inkitt’s unique publishing system. It is worth a try if you hope to gain readership and build on your work.
4. Webnovel.com
Webnovel.com – Webnovel is a Chinese-owned publishing platform. They brand themselves as >>>Webnovel a global online reading platform for all kinds of marvelous novels and comics. It updates serialized content daily, dedicated to micro-transactions and in-game-purchase mode, defining new trends in the online publishing industry. They mostly publish stories translated into English from Chinese or Korean. However, they offer a platform named Inkstone that allows you to share your work chapter by chapter. Webnovel’s author platform takes a bit of work to understand. Their library of stories is full of translated Chinese/Korean works. If you decide to delve into this platform, you may create the same types of stories or create your own brand. Either way, it’s a great way to introduce your work to new readers. My only tip would be to read more about Webnovel before you decide to publish. Read more about them.
5. . Dreame Stories – starywriting.com
To write for Dreame Stories is to write for Stary Writing, which offers the platform. They offer the opportunity to become an exclusive stary writer and get paid an income. Dreame Stories does have a large readership base. As always, the work falls to the author to direct readers to the page and gain a following to reach paid status. Please read up on the requirements at starywriting.com so that you know what kind of content they accept and what they expect of their writers.
Ebook Distribution Platforms
Smashwords.com / Draft2Digital
I’ve been a longtime fan of Smashwords. It offers authors a great service in distributing books to various ebook stores like Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Scribd, and Amazon. Smashwords.com also has its own store that allows the purchase and download of ebooks.
To note: Smashwords.com has recently merged with Draft2Digital.com. I hope it remains as amazing as it has been. You can publish both free and paid ebooks.
Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing
This is a great platform to get your e-books published. You can bring your work to a global audience as Amazon’s Kindle is worldwide. Their only downside is payment for Kenyans. Kenyans can only receive $100 checks in their mailbox. Which is very old-fashioned in a world of digital money. Hahaha. Amazon’s payment offer for Kenyans is still wanting. They do not allow us to use PayPal/or our banks. (This might be different for authors with bank accounts and addresses abroad) Your payment comes when you manage $100 in sales in the form of a cheque to your mailbox.
Printed Book Distribution Platforms
Nuria Store – The Honest Online Shop (Printed Books)
Nuria Online Bookstore is a one-stop shop for books in various categories, such as Self-help and motivational, Religion and spirituality, Fiction and nonfiction, Business and Management, African Literature, and Kids and teens. Customers can also shop for a wide range of bookshelves and study desks. You can distribute your printed books through their platform here.
If you have a seller account on Jumia, you can sell your printed books if they have an ISBN barcode on the back cover. All you need to do is follow Jumia’s seller account guidelines and ensure your book is well-stocked to meet Jumia’s delivery demands.
International Book Printing Platforms
These three international platforms have long-established guidelines on how you can sell e-books and get your books printed. If you’re in Kenya /East Africa, these three will require you to contend with fluctuating global shipping rates. If these shipping rates are doable for you, these platforms are a great resource to tap into and get your books to a broader audience.
Please Note: The platforms listed above allow you as a writer/author to sign up with minimal fuss. You register an account, follow guidelines as specified on each website, then do your best to market yourself. Registration is free for all of them, with no money required for membership/or to get your book or work listed. All you need is your own work/ebook, a reliable computer or mobile phone, and internet access.
Happy Writing and Selling.
Check out The Hidden Queen Here
The Hidden Queen
by Elly Ann © 2024, All Rights Reserved.
Book One
Asukai
Asu Kinga has lived all her life in the mortal realm. Her parents are hardworking, and though they don't shower her with affection, they have never let her lack for anything. She has a little sister who she loves to bits. She thinks her grandmother is the best in the world. Asu and her little sister, Hera, spend their school holidays at their grandmother's home.
One rainy November, Asu wakes up in the deep of night to the horror of intruders invading her grandmother's house, and her younger sister is kidnapped. Her grandmother turns hysterical and thrusts Asu into a new world, demanding she save Hera at any cost.
Tarron
Tarron is the son of the hardest man in Goshalion. They call Goshalion the Eternal Realm, but for Tarron, it has been a realm filled with hardness and scarcity. In his world, he must always be the best, but also second to his father's true son. When he comes of age, Tarron chooses to leave his father's house for good. However, the assignment that takes him out of a cruel palace, threatens to unravel everything he knows about his life.
When Tarron meets Asu, they are sworn enemies bound to harm each other.
Will Asu manage to save her sister's life or will Tarron end her life before she can fulfill her duty?
Stories and Book Talk 
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