What is WritePlanCreate and how does it help novelists?

WritePlanCreate is a distraction-free, browser-native manuscript studio designed for novelists and authors. It combines a Scrivener-style binder tree, corkboard scene outliner, split-screen reference sidecar, live proofreader, cryptographic origin protection, and multi-format compiling (EPUB, DOCX, MD) into one fast workspace.

Do I need to create an account or pay to use it?

No account, login, or subscription is required. WritePlanCreate runs 100% locally on your machine. Your books, chapters, character codices, and writing history are stored securely in your browser using IndexedDB.

How do I export my manuscript for editors and publishing platforms?

Using the built-in Compile Studio, you can export your entire book or selected chapters into standard publisher Microsoft Word (.docx), validated EPUB e-books, or clean Markdown (.md). You can also export full JSON library backups anytime.

Is my manuscript private and protected from AI scraping?

Yes, 100%. Your writing never touches remote servers or databases, preventing third-party AI scrapers from accessing your work. You can also generate timestamped SHA-256 cryptographic checkpoints and human authorship certificates to prove creation history.

Does WritePlanCreate work offline?

Yes. Because WritePlanCreate is a client-side web application with local IndexedDB storage, you can outline, write, and export your manuscripts without an active internet connection.

Can I manage multiple books at the same time?

Yes. The 3D Bookshelf Studio lets you create and manage an entire library of novels. You can customize book covers, leather/buckram textures, gold foil accents, and switch between manuscripts instantly.

Are there native Apple iOS and macOS apps available?

Yes! Dedicated native apps for Apple iOS (iPhone & iPad on the App Store) and macOS (Mac App Store & Universal Binary) are coming soon. They will feature Apple Pencil handwriting support, tactile haptics, and deep desktop system integration while keeping all your work 100% private and offline-first.

The Indie Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing Platforms (2025 Edition)

The 2025 Indie Publishing Ecosystem

Self-publishing is no longer a vanity endeavor; it is a multi-billion dollar commercial industry where independent novelists build five- and six-figure writing careers with full creative autonomy. But navigating the sea of platforms, distributors, and file formats can paralyze even veteran writers.

To build a sustainable author business, you must understand the two primary modes of distribution: direct retail accounts (uploading straight to retailers like Amazon or Kobo) and aggregator distribution (using a single dashboard to feed dozens of international storefronts and library catalogs).

Kindle Unlimited (KDP Select) vs. Going Wide

The single most consequential strategic decision an indie fiction author makes is whether to enroll their digital e-book in Amazon KDP Select or distribute Wide across all global retailers.

Option A

KDP Select (Kindle Unlimited)

You grant Amazon digital exclusivity for 90-day rolling periods in exchange for inclusion in the Kindle Unlimited subscription pool (earning ~$0.004–$0.0045 per page read).

Best for: Romance, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, LitRPG, and fast-paced series.
Caveat: Digital editions cannot be sold anywhere else (including your own website).

Option B

Going "Wide" (Everywhere)

Distribute your e-book across Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, and library networks like OverDrive, Libby, and Hoopla.

Best for: Long-term backlists, international audiences, and diversification away from single-vendor risk.
Advantage: You own your customer relationships and can sell direct via Shopify.

Amazon KDP: The Dominant Giant

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) accounts for over 65% to 80% of all e-book sales in North America and the UK. Setting up an account is free, and you can publish digital e-books, paperbacks, and hardcovers simultaneously.

E-Book Royalty: 70% for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 (minus small delivery fees based on MB file size); 35% for books priced under $2.99 or over $9.99.

Print Royalties: 60% of retail list price, minus fixed unit printing costs ($0.85 fixed + $0.012 per black-and-white page).

Official Resource: Calculate your exact royalties using the official Amazon KDP Print Cost & Royalty Calculator.

IngramSpark: Bookstore & Library Reach

While Amazon KDP dominates online retail, independent physical bookstores and public libraries almost universally refuse to order books printed via Amazon KDP. Why? Because Amazon is their chief retail competitor.

IngramSpark is the self-publishing wing of Ingram Content Group, the world’s largest book wholesaler. Uploading your paperback and hardcover here makes your title orderable in over 40,000 bookstores, schools, and libraries worldwide via standard wholesale discount channels (typically set at 53% to 55% wholesale discount).

Pro Author Strategy: The Dual-Print Method

Publish your paperback on Amazon KDP for direct Amazon sales (enabling Amazon Prime free two-day shipping for customers), and simultaneously publish your paperback and hardcover on IngramSpark (leaving Amazon distribution unchecked) for physical bookstores and libraries.

Draft2Digital, Kobo & Barnes & Noble Press

Draft2Digital (D2D)

The leading digital aggregator for going wide. With a single EPUB upload, D2D distributes your book to Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Tolino, Smashwords Store, Vivlio, and major library distributors (OverDrive, Bibliotheca, Hoopla, BorrowBox). They take a small 10% cut of the retail price, paying you ~60% of list price for e-books.

Kobo Writing Life (KWL)

Crucial for international sales in Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. Uploading direct to Kobo allows you to enroll in Kobo Plus (their non-exclusive subscription program) and participate in direct regional promotions.

Barnes & Noble Press

B&N's direct portal offers a generous 70% e-book royalty across all price points and high-quality print-on-demand hardcover and paperback copies with quick personal proof runs.

Royalty & Distribution Comparison Matrix

Platform	E-Book Royalty	Print Availability	Best Feature	Official Portal
Amazon KDP	70% ($2.99–$9.99) / 35%	Paperback & Hardcover	Prime badge & Kindle Unlimited	kdp.amazon.com ↗
IngramSpark	40%–45% via wholesale	Paperback & Premium Hardcover	Global bookstore wholesale catalog	ingramspark.com ↗
Draft2Digital	~60% of list price	Print on Demand (D2D Print)	Universal distributor to 20+ channels	draft2digital.com ↗
Kobo Writing Life	70% ($2.99+)	Digital only (Print via partner)	Strong Canada/UK/AU + Kobo Plus	writinglife.kobo.com ↗
B&N Press	70% all prices	Paperback & Hardcover	Direct placement on BN.com	press.barnesandnoble.com ↗

ISBNs, Barcodes & Legal Registrations

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a 13-digit commercial identifier unique to each edition of your book (paperback, hardcover, and e-book each require their own distinct ISBN).

Free vs. Owned ISBNs

Platforms like Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital offer "Free ISBNs." While convenient, the platform is listed as the official Publisher of Record, and that ISBN cannot be transferred to other platforms. Serious indie authors purchase their own block of ISBNs directly from their national agency so they are recognized as the imprint publisher.

Official ISBN Registrars

United States: Bowker Identifier Services (myidentifiers.com) is the sole authorized ISBN provider.
Canada: Free for Canadian citizens through Library and Archives Canada.
United Kingdom: Administered via Nielsen Book Services.

Copyright & Author Protection

Under international law, you own copyright the second your words are written. For statutory damages protection in the US, register your completed work with the U.S. Copyright Office (copyright.gov). To protect your work during the drafting phase, WritePlanCreate also provides built-in SHA-256 cryptographic provenance certificates.

Exporting Publication-Ready Files in WritePlanCreate

Uploading raw Word files to publishing portals often causes formatting glitches, broken page breaks, and rejected files. WritePlanCreate’s Compiler transforms your manuscript hierarchy into clean, standards-compliant formats ready for instant upload:

Clean EPUB: Formatted with semantic headings, TOC metadata, and reflowable typography for KDP and Draft2Digital.
Formatted DOCX: Standard publisher margins, running headers, and clean chapter breaks.
Clean Markdown: Universal porting to Vellum, Atticus, or custom static generators.