# Inkshares

> A reader-powered publishing house where pre-orders determine what gets published — hit 750 pre-orders and Inkshares handles editing, design, printing, and distribution at no cost to the author.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/crowdfunding/inkshares
Website: https://www.inkshares.com
Category: Crowdfunding (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/crowdfunding)
Pricing: free — $0
AI-powered: no
Tags: crowd-publishing, pre-orders, publishing-deal, all-or-nothing, editorial-support, reader-validated
Last verified: 2026-06-18
Best For: Authors with an engaged community who want a traditional publishing deal earned through 750 pre-orders rather than agent queries
Funding Model: book-specific
Platform Fee: 0% to crowdfund; royalty-based on book sales
Platform Fee Pct: 0

Inkshares is a reader-powered publishing house that turns crowdfunding into a publishing deal. Authors pitch book concepts and collect pre-orders; reaching 750 pre-orders triggers Inkshares to handle the full publishing pipeline — editing, cover design, printing, global distribution, and marketing — at no upfront cost to the author. Readers literally decide what gets published instead of agents or editors.

- **Best for:** Authors who want traditional publishing support (editing, design, distribution) without traditional gatekeeping, and who have a strong pitch and community to drive pre-orders
- **Key features:** 750 pre-order threshold triggers full publishing deal; editorial, cover design, print, global distribution, and marketing included; author keeps copyright but grants Inkshares **exclusive** worldwide print + ebook rights for the term (10 years on a standard contract, 2 years for the Quill imprint), reverting to non-exclusive afterward; rights revert fully on contract termination, and only transfer at all if the campaign hits its threshold
- **Pricing:** Free to crowdfund — no platform/service fee on pre-orders (unlike Kickstarter or Indiegogo). Inkshares earns its return from book sales: authors receive 35% of net receivables on all sales, print and digital alike (net = list price minus production and distribution costs). Pre-order revenue up to the 750 threshold goes toward production; royalties accrue only beyond it. Inkshares.com direct orders pay out immediately; retailer sales pay 90 days after purchase (industry returnable period)
- **Timeline:** 9–12 month production pipeline after funding threshold is reached
- **Limitations:** 35%-of-net royalty is lower than pure self-publishing, and "net" deductions can shrink per-copy earnings substantially; slow production compared to DIY; requires significant upfront audience-building to reach the 750 threshold