Make It Count:
Earning, Reselling, and Making a Living on Written
Make It Count:
Earning, Reselling, and Making a Living on Written
Written gives you a direct path to earn money from your creative work. But earning isn’t automatic—it’s strategic. Just listing a book and hoping for the best rarely moves the needle. To succeed, treat your writing as both art and asset: set intentional pricing, structure editions with purpose, and use resale to unlock ongoing revenue. Whether you’re here for pocket change or full creative independence, these tools put your income in your own hands.
1
Where the Money Comes From
Where the Money Comes From
You earn on Written in two main ways:
Primary sales
When a reader buys a book directly from you, whether limited or unlimited.
Secondary sales
(Resale) When a limited edition is resold by a reader and you’ve enabled resale royalties.
Imagine you price your book at $10.
On Written, if someone buys it directly from you, you keep $9—that’s 90% in your pocket.
Now let’s say you’ve made it a limited edition with only 100 copies. One of your early fans sells their copy later for $20. If you’ve set a 30% resale royalty, you automatically earn $6 from that resale—without lifting a finger.
That means your book isn’t just a one-time sale.It’s something that can continue to earn for you, especially if it becomes collectible, rare, or gains a following.
On most traditional or self-publishing platforms, you'd be lucky to earn $1–$3 per sale after fees—and you get nothing when your book changes hands later.
With Written, your stories aren’t just content—they’re creative assets.
Sell them once, or build long-term value. Your wallet tracks both sources, and you can withdraw at any time. (Note: network fees may apply depending on your method.)
Primary sales build momentum. Resale builds longevity. A strong launch earns upfront, but resale keeps money trickling in long after—especially as your books become collectibles. You decide if resale is part of your strategy.
That’s the point: you’re in control.
2
Pricing Strategy:
More Than Just Numbers
Pricing Strategy:
More Than Just Numbers
Price isn’t just a number—it’s a signal. It tells readers what kind of experience to expect, how rare the edition is, and how much you value your work.
Unlimited Editions
These are non-resellable and great for accessibility, discovery, or ongoing sales. Most authors price short reads and fan on-ramps between €1–5, but you're free to go higher for full-length novels or special projects—€10, €15, or even €25—if that fits your audience and intent. Think about what the price says: is this a casual read or a premium experience?
Limited Editions
These unlock resale, scarcity, and collector energy. Price depends on rarity, content, and extras. Some reference points:
Ultra-rare (fewer than 50 copies, personalized or interactive)
There’s no fixed formula. Want to sell a 100-copy edition at €5? Go for it. Want to launch a single-copy edition at €100 with a secret ending and a voice note from you? Also valid. Your pricing is your narrative.
Tips and Tactics
Charm pricing: Ending in .95 or .99 (e.g., €4.99) can make prices feel more familiar or accessible.
Teaser drops: Start with a 10-copy mini-release at a low price. Once it sells out, drop a bigger edition at a higher price.
Bundles: Cross-promote editions inside descriptions, or share a series roadmap. Use your author feed to guide readers through your universe.
Clarity is key: Always state what makes an edition special—resellable? Bonus content? Unique art? Readers love to know exactly what they’re getting.
3
Reselling:
Your Hidden Superpower
Reselling:
Your Hidden Superpower
One of Written’s unique advantages is allowing fans to resell limited editions of your work, giving you royalties from every resale if you enable this feature.
So why enable resale for limited editions?
It creates a collector economy. Scarcity plus resale potential attracts more attention.
It extends your reach. Every resale acts as organic promotion, and it rewards fans who want to trade or curate your works.
It rewards fans. Buyers can become traders or curators.
Choose your royalty depending on your goal:
0–10%
To encourage fast flipping and visibility
15–25%
For balanced income
30–40%
For high-value, prestige works you expect to be traded
You can disable resale entirely if you want full control—but resale is where many authors unlock long-term upside.
4
Building a Sustainable Revenue Stream
Building a Sustainable Revenue Stream
The most successful authors on Written don’t rely on a single hit. They publish intentionally, iterate often, and think like creators and publishers.
You choose how many copies to release. Want to test the waters? Drop 50 or go for an unlimited edition at lower price. Want to sell a thousand? You can. Want to release one ultra-rare single-copy work? That’s possible too. 100 000? Go for it. Limited editions introduce scarcity, collectibility, and fan status, whatever the number of copies is. You're absolutely free to use Written's features intentionally to make your edition stand out—and maybe even become a future collector’s item.
Current tag options that appear automatically as soon as you publish with us:
Rare
Fewer than 100 copies
Short Run
Fewer than 500 copies
Unique Cover
Distinct artwork or design for each copy
Unique Content
Bonus chapters, alt endings, personal notes
As Written grows, we’ll likely introduce new tags and edition types to support more creative formats and publishing styles.
But from day one, you can publish a limited edition with any number of copies you choose. Think of it like a traditional print run—just like a publisher might send a set number of books to bookstores, you decide how many copies go out into the world.
Leverage seasonal releases such as quarterly collections or themed drops, build series that encourage readers to come back for the next installment, and collaborate with other authors to share audiences. Over time, this approach nurtures recurring buying habits—your readers will anticipate new limited drops and thematic events, creating a predictable rhythm for your income.
5
Treating Fans Like Patrons, Not Just Customers
Treating Fans Like Patrons, Not Just Customers
Most readers want more than a transaction—they want connection. Give them a reason to care, and they’ll show up again and again.
Ways to involve and reward your readers:
Shout out buyers or resellers in your author feed.
Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, cover sketches, or playlists.
Let fans vote on title options or character names.
Offer early access to new works or previews for collectors.
Surprise longtime supporters with hidden bonuses.
These touches build loyalty. People who feel seen become repeat readers, resellers, and advocates. Your fans can be part of your publishing team.
Strategy 6
Building a Sustainable Income Stream
Building a Sustainable Income Stream
This isn't about "selling out"—it's about making your creative practice sustainable. Strategic publishing, thoughtful pricing, and embracing resale are what let your books keep working for you long after release day. You control what you publish, how much it costs, how many exist, and what happens when readers resell. No gatekeepers, no ceiling—just smart, author-powered publishing.