Introduction to "Reedsy" for Independent Authors
A suite of tools to enhance your next project
If you’re an author, you’ve likely commissioned work or thought about commissioning work on your novel in the past. Once, I had a friend of a friend create a cover for $50, and I was pleasantly surprised at the result. Another time, I overeagerly walked into a deal that cost me $1200, and I subsequently never published the book. Since then, I’ve become a little more cautious, understanding that costs do not determine how well a book sells, nor does hiring someone mean the book will ever materialize.
For my most recent project, Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel, I wanted to hire a professional artist but didn’t want to break the bank. I also needed something to help me find the right artist for the job that didn’t have me scrolling through Instagram or cold-contacting people without knowing if they’d ever respond.
So I checked out a website called Reedsy, and it impressed the heck out of me. It turned the entire process of freelance hunting on its head and put me in control of my budget and job requirements. It streamlined what was once a headache into something I now look forward to.
Let’s talk about what it is and how it works.
(I’m not paid in any form to talk about Reedsy, nor am I arguing that it’s the best way to hire freelancers. No referral links are used in this article.)
What is Reedsy?
Reedsy is an online platform designed to connect authors with top-tier publishing professionals. But “platform” doesn’t quite encapsulate its full potential. I like to think of it as a suite of tools and services to help authors through the writing and publishing process. Key features include:
Marketplace: Authors can hire editors, designers, marketers, and ghostwriters. Reedsy ensures that all professionals are vetted, ensuring high-quality services.
Writing Tools: Reedsy provides a free online book editor that helps authors write and format their books. It includes collaboration features, making working with co-authors and editors easier.
Learning Resources: The platform offers courses, webinars, and articles on writing, publishing, and marketing. These resources help authors improve their craft and navigate the complexities of the publishing industry.
Book Marketing: Reedsy offers marketing tools and advice to help authors promote their books and reach a wider audience.
Community: Authors can connect with other writers and industry professionals, fostering a supportive environment for collaboration and networking.
I’m breaking this Reedsy series up into distinct articles. For this introduction, I’d like to focus on the big-picture tools it can provide for your next project. That way, you'll know what Reedsy is and how it works. Then, I’ll follow up with more detailed use cases and how I will be using it for my small press.
Marketplace
Reedsy professional accounts look somewhat different than initial user profiles. The layout above doesn’t show two significant components for users, which I’ll address shortly.
The Marketplace is where you decide what you need help with. It has jobs broken down into categories, with an even more refined selection process once you select the category you want. The categories are as follows:
Editing
Developmental, Copy, Editorial, Proofreading, Query Letter, Indexing, Book Coaching
Design
Cover, Illustration, Typography, Book Interior, Production Management
Publicity
Press Coverage, Blog Tour
Marketing
Marketing Strategy, Email Marketing, Advertising, Metadata & Blurb Optimization
Translation
Book Translation, Translation Assessment
Ghostwriting
Books, Proposals, Short-Form Content
Website
Reviews (explained later on)
This page includes your Inbox for communicating with potential clients once you’ve been verified as a freelancer on the platform, quick access to referral links, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Projects
On the Projects tab, you’ll access your collaborations once you’ve found your freelancer, or in this case, your collaborator. This is where Reedsy shines because it keeps everything neatly organized between you and your collaborator, so it’s easy to find the most up-to-date notifications and files through the Activity and Files timelines. There’s also a Finances tab for seeing your payouts as a freelance collaborator.
In a follow-up post, I’ll explore exactly how to hire a collaborator. Please make sure you subscribe for updates!
Books
Switching to my original profile, you can now see the two missing tabs I mentioned.
“Books” is Reedsy’s internal editing and formatting tool. It’s completely free. I currently use Atticus, which was a one-time purchase of $147 and has everything I need, but it’s hard to compete with free!
This requires its own post to describe how awesome it is. If you’re new here, subscribe for “A Complete Breakdown of the Reedsy Book Editor and Planner,” coming next.
Learning
This section is Reedsy’s Masterclass service dedicated to authors. It’s a neat idea until you notice the $1249 tuition fee. I have a lot of feelings here, as I’ve spent thousands of dollars on stuff like this over my writing career. I’ll spare you the negativity, but spoiler alert: the best way to finish your book is to start writing it. You can find everything you need to know about writing for free online, especially with resources like YouTube.
I don’t mean to knock Tom Bromley’s class. I haven’t personally taken it. If this interests you and you think it might help (and have the money burning a hole in your pocket), check out this 3-month writing BootCamp.
Profile
Once verified (optional), you’ll be asked to set up a profile. This is where you define what services you provide, your work portfolio, bio, and other qualifying information that might help you stand out from the other professionals. I will move past this since it’s not the article's focus. If you would like more details, let me know what questions you might have in the comments.
Other Cool Tidbits
Reedsy Discovery
Weekly curated reviews of new and upcoming indie books. You can select your favorite genres for specialized recommendations or check out the Discover page to see everything they have reviewed before.
A Library tab lets you import your Goodreads profile and track your books and reading goals.
Oh, and you can submit your novel to Discover. Reedsy will review it for $50 and add it to their email list if it rates high enough. They will also create a dedicated splash page for your novel, whether you qualify for their email distribution or not. I will be testing this out soon and report back on how successful it was.
Reedsy Blog
Here, you can subscribe to specific topics and articles that interest you. I need more time to explore this, but I figured I’d include it if you like reading about writing. Hey, you’re here, aren’t you? ;)
Reedsy Live
A free version of their “Learning” section where you can watch past presenters cover events and topics that focus on helping indie writers improve their craft. I will tap into this resource in the coming weeks and report back. There’s a vast selection of videos to watch in their back catalog. Plus, you can register for upcoming events and the live viewing sessions.
Reedsy Prompts
Weekly contests where you can win cash?! That sounds awesome. The prompts rotate weekly, and the winners are published in a quarterly print and digital magazine called Prompted.
Literary Agent Directory
This directory is an invaluable service for writers seeking a traditional publishing route. At the time of this writing, it has 677 agents listed for the US alone. That’s a lot of books being sought after. Maybe an agent is looking for yours!
Reedsy Wrap-up
Reedsy might not be perfect; it might not have everything you need… yet. But at the very least, it’s on your radar as a resource to leverage when you’re ready to take your manuscript to the next stage of publication. I, for one, will be using it to find my cover artists and potentially an editor.
Have you used Reedsy before? Will you try it out in the future? Let me know which sections of the Reedsy suite grabbed your attention the most. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this platform!
I've been a big fan (for years!) of Reedsy's weekly writing prompts/contest, and their e-mail based classes, but I was unaware of a few features you discussed. So thanks! Looking forward to future Reedsy installments!
Reedsy is great! I found the most amazing editor and friend from Reedsy’s marketplace.