Written is a new way for authors to publish eBooks, offering protection from readers sharing the digital files with others and maximising revenue.
How Written Helps Indie Authors Build Discoverability and Professional Presence
I discovered Written in the most unexpected way through LinkedIn. I received a connection request from Andrew Baev, the co‑founder of Written. He introduced himself, mentioned the platform, and encouraged me to take a look. That personal connection was the spark that led me to explore what Written offers indie authors, and it turned out to be one of the most interesting digital‑only publishing platforms I’ve seen.
What Written Actually Is
Written isn’t a distributor like IngramSpark or Amazon KDP. It’s a visibility and marketing platform built around digital ownership. Think of it as a place where readers can discover your work, purchase it, read it, and even resell it all within a protected environment.
Your book becomes a digital asset inside the Written platform. Readers collect books, read them through the Written app or website, and can later sell them on to other readers. Crucially, authors still earn a commission on resale, which is a refreshing change from traditional publishing models where secondhand sales generate nothing for the author.
Why Written Matters for Indie Authors
Indie authors often rely on a combination of platforms:
- Amazon KDP for Kindle readers and marketplace visibility
- Books.by for direct sales and higher royalties
- IngramSpark for global paperback and eBook distribution
Written doesn’t replace any of these; it complements them.
It adds a discoverability layer that sits alongside your existing distribution. Readers browsing Written’s latest releases or curated categories can stumble upon your work even if they’ve never visited your website or searched for you on Amazon. For authors building a professional presence, this extra visibility is invaluable.
My Experience Setting Up on Written
The setup process is surprisingly simple. Written accepts EPUB or PDF files up to 20MB, along with a separate cover image. Uploading is straightforward, and once submitted, each book goes through a moderation phase.
Moderation can be instant or take a few days depending on genre and declared content. Two of my books, Memories of an Elvis Fan and 7 Inspirational Bedtime Stories, passed moderation instantly. The Elvis I Wish I Knew took about a day, and The Offer about 5 working days. Once approved, the book appears on Written’s Latest Releases page, ready for readers to purchase.
Readers buy the book directly through the Written website or mobile app, and it’s read inside the Written app. There are no external downloads, which protects the author’s work from being copied, shared, or redistributed elsewhere.
This protection matters. I’ve seen physical copies of my print books purchased and then relisted online at inflated prices. Written’s closed platform prevents that kind of exploitation.
Royalties, Resales, and Cryptocurrency
Written pays authors 90% of first‑sale royalties, which is significantly higher than most platforms.
Because books are treated as digital assets, readers can resell them, and when they do, the author still earns a commission. It’s a modern twist on digital publishing that gives creators ongoing value from their work.
Every account on Written has a public Solana wallet.
Authors can choose to sell books and withdraw their earnings either in USD to a bank account or in USDC to their Solana wallet. Both authors and readers can opt to use USDC instead of a traditional USD bank card for payments.
USDC is a digital currency that is always equivalent to 1 US dollar. It is issued by Circle, a U.S.-based, heavily regulated company that provides regular audits to verify that every USDC token is fully backed by cash or U.S. Treasury bonds.
Your book is treated as an NFT – a unique cryptographic token stored on a blockchain that proves ownership and authenticity of the book as a digital asset. A crypto take on the traditional ISBN.
Takeaway
Written is a truly digital‑only platform where everything – reading, ownership, resale, and royalties happens within its protected environment. For indie authors, it offers:
- enhanced discoverability
- strong protection against unauthorised copying
- high royalties
- ongoing income from resales
- a modern, blockchain‑based approach to digital publishing
It doesn’t replace your existing distribution channels; it strengthens your professional presence and gives readers another way to discover your work.
For me, discovering Written through a simple LinkedIn connection turned into a valuable addition to my publishing strategy. It’s a platform worth exploring if you’re an indie author looking to expand your reach and embrace the future of digital storytelling.
If you’d like to explore my own indie author journey further, you can browse all my books on the My Books page, each one written with the same passion for storytelling and discovery that drives The Book Hook Online.
J K Mullins
The Book Hook Online
August 11, 2026.
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