A publishing model built for authors not corporations.
Why We Started Wordsmiths Ink
Traditional publishing can be a maze; agents, long waits, small royalties, and limited creative control. At Wordsmith Sink, we believe authors deserve a fair, transparent path to publishing success. We don’t gatekeep. We empower.
Our promise: You focus on writing. We handle everything else; editing, design, publishing, promotion; with no up-front cost to you.
The Big Five Model: What Most Authors Face
The “Big Five” publishers: Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster, dominate the traditional market.
Here’s how their system typically works:
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- Agent Required – Unsolicited submissions rarely get read.
- Slow Process – 12–18 months from acceptance to publication.
- Small Royalty Percentages:
- 10–15 % on hardcovers
- 7.5 % on trade paperbacks
- 5–8 % on mass-market paperbacks
- 25 % of net receipts on eBooks (≈ 7 % of sale price)
- Advance First, Royalties Later – You get an advance, but no royalties until it “earns out.”
- Loss of Rights – Publishers often own exclusive print, digital, and adaptation rights.
- Minimal Marketing Support – Authors handle most of their own promotion.
For most new authors, the Big Five model is out of reach or offers too little in return.
The Wordsmiths Ink Way
We flipped the old publishing system upside down to favor you.
No Up-Front Cost:
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- You pay nothing before publication. We invest in you; editing, formatting, cover design, and recover our fee only from sales.
- $1,000 for editing + design + formatting (recouped through sales)
- Add an author website + social setup for $500 (also recouped)
Shared Success Model
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- Once your book earns $1,000 – $1,500 (depending on your package):
- You earn 50 % of all future sales (after printing + platform costs).
Compare that to 5–15 % from traditional publishers.
Our success is directly tied to yours.
You Keep Your Rights
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- Your book. Your voice. Your ownership. We don’t take your rights — we help you bring your story to the world while you stay in control.
Fast & Transparent Publishing
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- We move quickly, no long waits, no confusion. You’ll always know where your project stands and how your sales perform.
Author Brand Support
We don’t just publish — we help you build your platform:
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- Custom author website
- Social-media setup (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
- Guidance on growing your audience
We don’t disappear after launch — we partner with you.
For most new authors, the Big Five model is out of reach or offers too little in return.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Case Study: “Star Guardians: The Quest for Luminara”
R.J. Pickrell’s Star Guardians: The Quest for Luminara — a 90,000-word YA sci-fi novel — sold 3,000 paperbacks and 4,000 eBooks in its first year.
Under a Big Five publishing deal, R.J. would earn about $9,845 total, with $5,000 paid upfront and royalties arriving only after years of waiting and limited control.
With Wordsmiths Ink, there’s no upfront cost, faster publishing (2–3 months), and 50% of net sales after a modest recoupment. That same performance would yield ≈$19,100 in first-year income while R.J. keeps all rights, creative control, and long-term flexibility.
In short: Traditional publishing offers prestige. Wordsmiths Ink offers profit, speed, and freedom.
What This Means for Authors
With a Big Five deal, R.J. Pickrell gains prestige — but loses time, control, and a large portion of his earnings. With Wordsmiths Ink, he earns over five times more in his first year ($26,226 vs. $4,845), keeps full ownership of his rights, and can publish again within months.
In short: Traditional publishing makes authors visible. Wordsmiths Ink makes authors profitable.
Take your next step today.
Email your manuscript and cover letter to Submissions@wordsmithsink.com. Please allow 30 days for a response. If accepted, you will receive a publishing contract for review.
