Amazon Vs Patreon

[Aijikan]

Many writers are familiar with these platforms. Essentially, one supports recurring subscriptions, while the other allows for one-time full-content purchases. Personally, I use Patreon for monetization, but recently, some people have suggested that I consider publishing my books on Amazon. Some argue that Amazon is better for book sales, while others say that Patreon’s subscription model is more beneficial. I’m unsure which direction to take.

One common point from both sides is that it’s essential to have an established fanbase for your book, which I do for many of my titles. I’d appreciate any insights or personal experiences with either platform to help me decide.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Apparently, you can publish to Amazon without exclusivity. So this is a case of "why not both?"

 

[Corty]

Patreon. If you are not in a contract, you need to also master how to advertise your book through Amazon.

 

[Tyranomaster]

Many writers are familiar with these platforms. Essentially, one supports recurring subscriptions, while the other allows for one-time full-content purchases. Personally, I use Patreon for monetization, but recently, some people have suggested that I consider publishing my books on Amazon. Some argue that Amazon is better for book sales, while others say that Patreon’s subscription model is more beneficial. I’m unsure which direction to take.

One common point from both sides is that it’s essential to have an established fanbase for your book, which I do for many of my titles. I’d appreciate any insights or personal experiences with either platform to help me decide.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited requires exclusivity, but publishing a book has no such restriction. Personally, I use patreon currently. I operate with the following plan, which is what I consider an Americanized version of the Japanese pipeline to publishing. Each progressive stage is determined by the amount of success the story sees in the previous stage.

1. Write Web Novel - Judge it's initial success and readership to determine it's chances of success. If it's doing well, keep writing it, if it does poorly, either drop the series, or continue writing it, but know that it'll only stay as a webnovel, and keep my time commitment low to it. This is a rough first draft of the story. Keep notes on reader comments and don't sweat small plot holes or issues.

2. Add Patreon Support - (I'm currently here) I write in advance for patrons, and occasionally provide them with extra content beyond just the main story. If the story is destined to stay as a webnovel, it stays at this stage. If I think it's successful enough to warrant a rewrite + edit to full published novel, then set aside about half the funds to go to paying for artwork and editing to produce a final product.

3. Light Novel - Full rewrite of the book. Make editorial changes, fix plot holes, flesh out details, standardize. By the end of the full rewrite, it should fit the "different enough" requirement for the light novel to go up on Amazon Kindle Unlimited without having to pull the webnovel down. Publish physical copies as well.

Again, that's just my business model I've set for myself. The idea is that each stage gives me an off ramp, while also allowing me to not overcommit to an idea that will fail. In Japan, webnovels are generally written, then stage 2 is replaced by applying to publishing companies, and stage 3 is writing for the publishing company.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Depends on how engaged you want to be with your readers.
Patreon requires deep engagement, maintaining a community, publishing chapters regularly.

Amazon?
Finish book, post, cross fingers.

As someone with a full time job, I'd rather go with Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble.
If you have a lot of time, Patreon might be good.

 

[Vnator]

Why not both? Amazon offers an exclusivity contract where they'll double the royalties paid out if you remove the story from everywhere else.

The big benefit is that they'll put it on kindle unlimited , which is like Spotify in its payout scheme, and where most of the Amazon money comes from.

You could do it with an older book of yours everyone is caught up to and see how it goes. Maybe pull the book after a few months to a year if you want to put it back up on your patreon.

Either way, good luck!

 

[DeepWater]

Amazon Kindle Unlimited requires exclusivity, but publishing a book has no such restriction. Personally, I use patreon currently. I operate with the following plan, which is what I consider an Americanized version of the Japanese pipeline to publishing. Each progressive stage is determined by the amount of success the story sees in the previous stage.

1. Write Web Novel - Judge it's initial success and readership to determine it's chances of success. If it's doing well, keep writing it, if it does poorly, either drop the series, or continue writing it, but know that it'll only stay as a webnovel, and keep my time commitment low to it. This is a rough first draft of the story. Keep notes on reader comments and don't sweat small plot holes or issues.

2. Add Patreon Support - (I'm currently here) I write in advance for patrons, and occasionally provide them with extra content beyond just the main story. If the story is destined to stay as a webnovel, it stays at this stage. If I think it's successful enough to warrant a rewrite + edit to full published novel, then set aside about half the funds to go to paying for artwork and editing to produce a final product.

3. Light Novel - Full rewrite of the book. Make editorial changes, fix plot holes, flesh out details, standardize. By the end of the full rewrite, it should fit the "different enough" requirement for the light novel to go up on Amazon Kindle Unlimited without having to pull the webnovel down. Publish physical copies as well.

Again, that's just my business model I've set for myself. The idea is that each stage gives me an off ramp, while also allowing me to not overcommit to an idea that will fail. In Japan, webnovels are generally written, then stage 2 is replaced by applying to publishing companies, and stage 3 is writing for the publishing company.

This is probably the best way to do it. Once you have an established reader base you can skip step 1.

 

[melchi]

Amazon also can be a roll of the dice. Generally stuff needs to keeping coming out on a decent cadence or the author risks losing steam. I think it should only be considered if there is a finished series. Best success from what I've read is that releasing something every month is required. After a month the story becomes invisible if it doesn't start to take off.

 

[Tyranomaster]

This is probably the best way to do it. Once you have an established reader base you can skip step 1.

Only if your next story is in most of the same genres as your other stories IMO. If someone who writes a lot of smut thinks they can suddenly write sci-fi with no smut and keep their same reader base, they'll soon find the falsity in that.

 

[HungrySheep]

In Japan, webnovels are generally written, then stage 2 is replaced by applying to publishing companies

You don't even need to apply. Publishers will just pick you up if you do remotely well on syosetu. It truly is a cheat code.

 

[cabbag3]

Does Kindle even accept non-commissioned Translated works?

 

[Ruti]

Does Kindle even accept non-commissioned Translated works?

probably not considering copyright laws (especially Japanese copy right laws)

 

[cabbag3]

probably not considering copyright laws (especially Japanese copy right laws)

I see. I don't know how publishing works but I think the one starting this thread should probably write an original first before wondering whether they should publish in Kindle or Patreon. So far, the stories they published are translated or taken from WN.
In the end, I'd suggest Patreon since they're pretty loose on what their users would sell, or publish. People just steal from each other there, but most of those are fanfics tho.

 

[Paul__Michaels]

Apparently, you can publish to Amazon without exclusivity. So this is a case of "why not both?"

I believe going the none exclusive route can be a more of a challenge. You'll have to self-promote it yourself and it's buried in Amazon's catalog.

What some authors do is release new chapters on Patreon until the book is done, then they take it down right before they post it to Amazon.

 

[Ruti]

I see. I don't know how publishing works but then the one starting this thread should probably write an original first before wondering whether they should publish in Kindle or Patreon. So far, the stories they published are translated or taken from WN.

Translations definitely work for Patreon (since you would be offering the translation), but would not work for Amazon due to Amazon being more official then Patreon, and as such, is more inclined to take legal action on translated products that weren't a licensed translation (if reported).

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I see. I don't know how publishing works but I think the one starting this thread should probably write an original first before wondering whether they should publish in Kindle or Patreon. So far, the stories they published are translated or taken from WN.
In the end, I'd suggest Patreon since they're pretty loose on what their users would sell, or publish. People just steal from each other there, but most of those are fanfics tho.

I received a notice that Patreon is changing some policies due to Apple making changes due to Japanese laws or something convoluted like that - essentially if you go through iOS you can only sell subscriptions and not single items on Patreon, starting November 1 (though Apple is not changing their policy until around the 15, and Patreon does not expect the roll-out to be completed until the end of the month.) It was all convoluted and also suggested that subscription prices will need to go up in most cases. Beginning to think Patreon may not be a good idea...

 

[Paul__Michaels]

I received a notice that Patreon is changing some policies due to Apple making changes due to Japanese laws or something convoluted like that - essentially if you go through iOS you can only sell subscriptions and not single items on Patreon, starting November 1 (though Apple is not changing their policy until around the 15, and Patreon does not expect the roll-out to be completed until the end of the month.) It was all convoluted and also suggested that subscription prices will need to go up in most cases. Beginning to think Patreon may not be a good idea...

Apple users will pay higher premiums on things. I wouldn't worry about the added on fees for them and if you are worried then the creator of the Patreon page could bear the cost instead.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Apple users will pay higher premiums on things. I wouldn't worry about the added on fees for them and if you are worried then the creator of the Patreon page could bear the cost instead.

The wording of the notice was in "legalese" so I was not quite sure how that worked. Have not set up my Patreon yet (and may never finish it at this rate) so it does not impact me YET...

 

[Paul__Michaels]

The wording of the notice was in "legalese" so I was not quite sure how that worked. Have not set up my Patreon yet (and may never finish it at this rate) so it does not impact me YET...

The only thing that Patreon demands from you about Apple iPhone users is if you want them to pay more or if you want to take in less money from those users.

 

[Samsonchui]

Definitely do both