What is self-publishing on Curated Word?
Self-publishing lets you publish works in your own name and at your own expense, without going through our editorial process and without entering into a publication agreement with us. You stay in control of the work and are the publisher of record; we provide the platform that hosts it, helps you produce it, and sells it to readers, and we take a commission on each sale.
How is this different from being published by Curated Word?
When Curated Word publishes a book under its imprint, we sign a separate publication agreement, edit, design, market and distribute the book at our expense, and pay you royalties on sales. Self-publishing is the opposite arrangement: there is no publication agreement, the work is not curated or marketed by us, it does not carry the Curated Word imprint, and you cover your own costs.
Who can self-publish?
Any author can self-publish on Curated Word — it is the default way to publish, it is open to everyone, and it does not require a subscription. The Pro plan is optional: it lowers the commission we take on each sale and unlocks additional tools and distribution channels, but it has no bearing on how your work is published, marked, or presented to readers.
Does anyone at Curated Word read my book before it goes on sale?
No. We do not read, review, vet, edit, or approve a self-published work before it is published — publication happens when you complete the publishing steps yourself. That also means we do not endorse it: a self-published book carries no Curated Word mark or imprint, and its presence on our storefront says nothing about our opinion of it. You are responsible for the work being your own, rights-cleared, and compliant with our content standards. We can and do take down works that breach the terms.
Can I hire an editor, cover designer, or narrator?
Yes. You can engage editors and other professionals through the Curated Word Specialists Directory to help prepare your work. These are services you choose and pay for directly; they are not part of any editorial process run by us.
Can I sell print copies?
Yes. Self-published authors have access to our print-on-demand services, so readers can order physical copies of your work without you holding any stock.
What formats can I sell, and where?
You can sell printed books, ebooks, audiobooks, and podcasts directly to readers through the Curated Word storefront.
Does Curated Word take a cut of my sales?
We charge a commission on each sale of a self-published work on our storefront or through our global distribution network, which covers hosting, handling & delivery, and running the storefront. The rate depends on your plan — a Pro subscription lowers it — and the rate that applies to a sale is fixed at the moment of that sale, so a later change never rewrites what you have already earned. That commission is separate from any payments you make to professionals you hire, and separate charges apply for the use of AI and certain other tools on our platform. You keep the rest of the proceeds from your sales.
What rules does my self-published work have to follow?
Self-published works must comply with the Curated Word Terms of Service, including the moral clauses. That means the rights-and-originality requirements (§7.1) — the work must be your own original human authorship and must not infringe anyone else’s rights — and the acceptable-content standards (§7.2). Self-published works are not exempt from these standards. If your work violates the terms, we may remove it from the storefront and/or terminate your account, as set out in the terms.
Is my self-published book promoted alongside Curated Word titles?
Self-published works are not individually marketed by us and do not carry the Curated Word imprint. They appear on our storefront and, for Pro subscribers, will be distributed through a global network of 50 additional channels. Self-published books are clearly identified as “Independent” on the storefront, so readers can tell the difference between a Curated Word publication and a self-published work.
Still have questions?
Read the full self-publishing terms (§7.4), or email hello@curatedword.com.