Frequently Asked Questions

What is Novel Stacks?

Novel Stacks is a fiction publishing and reading platform that connects independent authors with passionate readers. Authors can publish their work for FREE (no fees ever), and readers get unlimited access to all published books for just $11.95/month.

When does Novel Stacks launch?

We're launching at 100 authors! We're currently building our founding author community. Follow us on social media to be notified of our official launch!

How is Novel Stacks different from Amazon/Wattpad/Other platforms?

Is Novel Stacks exclusive? Can I publish my books elsewhere?

No exclusivity required! You can publish on Amazon, Wattpad, your own website, or anywhere else. We believe authors should have the freedom to reach readers everywhere.

What genres does Novel Stacks accept?

All fiction genres! Romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, literary fiction, horror, historical fiction, young adult, contemporary—if it's fiction, we want it.

How much does it cost to publish on Novel Stacks?

Completely FREE. Forever. No fees, no hidden costs, no "premium" tiers. Just free publishing for all authors.

Do I keep the rights to my work?

YES! You retain 100% of your copyrights. You're simply granting us a non-exclusive license to host and distribute your work while it's on our platform. You can remove your content anytime.

What formats do you accept?

Can I upload serialized content (chapter-by-chapter)?

Yes! We fully support serialized fiction. You can upload chapters as you write them. Minimum requirement: 3 chapters to start publishing.

How do authors make money on Novel Stacks?

What if I remove all my content?

If you remove ALL your published content, your free author account will automatically convert to a paid reader subscription ($11.95/month) unless you cancel your account entirely. This prevents abuse of the free author membership.

Can I upload content I didn't write?

No. You must own the rights to everything you upload. Uploading others' work without permission violates our Terms of Service and copyright law, and will result in account termination.

How much does a Novel Stacks subscription cost?

$11.95/month for unlimited access to all books and audiobooks on the platform.

What do I get with my subscription?

• ✅ Unlimited ebooks
• ✅ Unlimited audiobooks
• ✅ Access to all genres
• ✅ New chapters added regularly (serialized content)
• ✅ Discover indie authors
• ✅ Support authors directly

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes! You can cancel your subscription anytime. You'll retain access until 11:59 PM on the 30th day of your current billing cycle.

Are there refunds?

No. All subscriptions are non-refundable. When you cancel, you keep access for the remainder of your billing period, but no refunds are issued.

Can I gift a subscription to someone?

There is no need to! All readers start with a 7-day free trial. Payment info is collected but they won't be charged until day 8. They can cancel during the trial without being charged.

What happens if an author removes their book while I'm reading it?

Unfortunately, you'll lose access immediately. Authors can remove content at any time. We encourage authors to give readers notice, but we don't control when they remove content. No refunds are provided for removed content.

Who can participate in the affiliate program?

Everyone! Both authors and readers can earn affiliate commissions by referring others to Novel Stacks.

How do I get my affiliate link?

1. Log into your Novel Stacks account
2. Go to your Affiliate Dashboard
3. Copy your unique referral link
4. Share it anywhere (social media, website, email, etc.)

How do affiliate commissions work?

When do I get paid?

Do I need to report affiliate income on my taxes?

Can I refer myself or my family?

No. Self-referrals and referring family members in the same household is considered fraud and will result in account termination and forfeiture of all commissions.

How does the page reading commission work?

When you refer a reader who subscribes through your link, you earn $0.0002 per page they read (that's 2% of 1 cent per page). This is in addition to the 50% monthly subscription commission.

What counts as a "page"?

Pages are based on fixed page breaks set by the content authors. These are consistent across all devices and reading methods (not dependent on font size or screen size).

Is there a limit to how much I can earn from page reading?

Why is there a 100,000 page cap?

The cap ensures fairness and prevents potential abuse while still rewarding affiliates for bringing highly engaged readers. 100,000 pages is approximately 200+ average novels per month—a very engaged reader!

When does the page reading counter reset?

The page count resets on the 1st of every month for each referred reader. You start fresh each month.

What's a realistic earning estimate from page reading commissions?

What payment methods do you accept for subscriptions?

We accept all major credit cards and debit cards through Stripe, our secure payment processor.

Is my payment information secure?

Yes. We use Stripe for payment processing, which is PCI-DSS compliant and used by millions of businesses worldwide. We never store your full credit card number on our servers.

How do I update my payment information?

Log into your account → Settings → Billing → Update Payment Method

What happens if my payment fails?

We'll attempt to process payment again and send you a notification. If payment fails repeatedly, your subscription will be suspended and you'll lose access to content until payment is resolved.

How do I get paid for affiliate commissions?

What's the minimum content requirement to publish?

Can I publish the same book on Novel Stacks and Amazon?

Yes! We're non-exclusive. You can publish anywhere you want. However, if you're enrolled in Amazon KDP Select (which requires exclusivity), you cannot publish that same book on Novel Stacks until you opt out of KDP Select.

Do I need to mark adult content?

Yes. If your book contains adult content (explicit sexual content, graphic violence, etc.), you must check the "Adult Content" box during upload. This displays a warning to readers and helps them make informed choices. Failure to mark adult content appropriately may result in content removal.

Can I update my book after publishing?

Can I delete my content?

What devices can I use to read books?

Can I read offline?

Currently, Novel Stacks is browser-based, so you need an internet connection to read. We may add offline download capabilities in the future.

What browsers do you support?

What if I find a bug or technical issue?

How do I create an account?

1. Go to https://www.novelstacks.com
2. Click "Sign Up"
3. Choose account type: Reader or Author
4. Enter your information
5. For Readers: Add payment information
6. For Authors: Complete your profile and start uploading!

Can I have both a Reader and Author account?

You may only have one account! As an author, you get FREE access to all content. Readers may cancel their reader account at any time and rejoin as an author.

How do I delete my account?

Is my personal information private?

Can I use a pen name?

Absolutely! Many authors use pen names. You can display any name you want on your author profile and published works.