Prior to November 30, 2023, it was unthinkable that stakeholders in the publishing industry would be searching for  Okadabooks alternatives.

Sadly, this has been the case since the African self-publishing platform Okadabooks closed its virtual doors permanently, leaving a void in the publishing industry. Authors are now searching for new platforms to showcase their work, while readers are seeking alternative sources for engaging stories from talented writers.

Self-publishing is challenging. In fact, this report argues that 90% of self-published books sell less than 250 copies. Okadabooks provided an increased access to a wide range of readers. Furthermore, it simplified the publication and distribution of books for writers and readers on the African continent. Since its closure, new platforms have sprung up to ensure African writers can still sell their books and that readers can access books with ease. 

So, if you are seeking alternatives to Okadabooks, you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a comprehensive list of options for publishing stakeholders. Enumerated below is our ultimate list of Top 7 Okadabooks alternatives for 2024.

1. Pabpub

Phoenix Award Books Publications (Pabpub) is the closest alternative to Okadabooks, with similar features and more that help writers distribute their books to readers. Pabpub is described as a hybrid publisher, infusing self-publishing with traditional publishing in what can be pitched as Amazon Print-on-Demand meets Cassava Republic Press. 

The platform has two publishing options;

1. The self-publishing option called the Fluid Package
2. Traditional publishing Diamond Package

The fluid package, which is the most popular, gives the writers complete control of their book, from covers to formatting and marketing, allowing PABPUB to serve only as a source for the book. The Diamond Package (currently on hold) uses all of the traditional publishing features, giving the publishing platform more control over publication and distribution. 

Pabpub currently boasts of being able to provide copies as small as one or as many as hundreds, depending on the reader’s needs. What makes it even better is that a delivery fee is incurred less than that of print-on-demand sites like Amazon.

Readers also have the option to read free books on the Pabpub website or pay small amounts for paid books with the platform’s digital coins, Pubcoins. This Okadabooks alternative also allows readers to use their simple subscription plans to have all the books at their fingertips.

2. Iko Africa

Iko is one of the newest platforms on the block dedicated to pushing storytelling in Africa.  It allows writers to share their stories with a built-in audience of readers passionate about African narratives. Readers can explore a diverse collection of literary works and discover new voices. The platform also encourages collaboration by allowing users to connect with writers and other members of the African literary community, fostering conversations and growth in the creative space.

Features of Iko Africa include:

• Social and Serial Publishing

On Iko Africa, writers can share short or long-form content and serialized works. This is an excellent option for writers whose abilities lie in posting chapters of their writing in parts. Authors can build a loyal readership awaiting each new instalment, encouraging readers to stay connected and engaged with the story over time.

• Creator Rewards

Writers can get paid for their content, helping writers get an income from their skills. 

• Community Engagement: 

Direct interaction between writers and readers.

• Writing Resources: 

Offers writing classes, interviews, editorial support, and a curated selection of standout works.

Iko Africa is an innovative social publishing platform that empowers African writers by offering a space for them to share their stories, and they are taking steps forward in revitalizing African writing and providing greater visibility for diverse stories.

Read: Ways to get ideas for your story. 

3. Bambooks

Bambooks is a reading platform in Nigeria for books. It serves as a digital library that offers users access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and comics from any internet-connected device, including mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

They also offer a range of services to writers, helping them publish and promote their work effectively. Writers can upload manuscripts to the platform, making them instantly available to Bambooks’ broad reader base. This digital publishing process ensures authors’ accessibility and exposure. Additionally, writers can monetise their content, earning revenue from book sales and subscription-based access.

 Unlike many Okadabooks alternatives, Bambooks also helps promote these works to a broad audience, assisting writers to gain visibility. Authors can engage directly with their readers, fostering a loyal community and receiving valuable feedback.

4. Ebony Story

Ebony Story is an online platform that has been around for a while. Founded in 2017, they are dedicated to African storytelling, offering a wide variety of free, serialised fiction or online novels. While it allows readers to access stories across genres such as romance, drama, fantasy, and thrillers, all tailored to African experiences and narratives, it also empowers writers by providing a platform to publish their work and engage with readers. 

The platform encourages reader-writer interaction through comments and feedback on each chapter, fostering a community of African literature enthusiasts.

5. Africa Read

Africa Read is a digital platform that promotes African literature by providing a space for writers to publish their works and for readers to access a wide range of stories. It emphasizes showcasing African voices and narratives across fiction, poetry, and short stories. 

The platform is designed to celebrate African storytelling, allowing authors to share their unique perspectives and for readers to discover diverse African stories. Africa Read supports both emerging and established writers.

One of the platform’s primary offerings is its user-friendly app, which categorises various books, including genres like business, children’s literature, novels, and textbooks. For aspiring authors, Africa Read provides tools for self-publishing, allowing them to bring their work to life without the barriers typically associated with traditional publishing. They also offer marketing resources and guidance for authors, helping them effectively promote their work. 

Africa Read promotes reading not just for enjoyment but as a means to enhance skills and knowledge, catering to the evolving needs of readers in a digital landscape.

6. African Books

AfricanBooks.com is an online Christian publishing platform established in 2021, dedicated to amplifying the African voice within the global narrative. Their primary mission is to provide a space for African writers and publishers, offering quality African content through their digital bookstore.

They offer competitive pricing that aligns with current African market rates, ensuring accessibility for readers. Additionally, they support multiple currencies and provide African payment options to facilitate user transactions based on the continent.

African Books helps authors benefit from the platform by providing accessible royalty earnings, which they can receive in African bank accounts and mobile money platforms.

7. Itanile

Although Itanile is predominantly a literary magazine focused on promoting African writers regardless of their career stage, it also encourages the publication of e-books on its site, encouraging writers to share their works with the Itanile reader base. 

To sell your ebooks, you must fill in the details on their website, and then you can enjoy the features accorded by Itanile. 

Why This Is Great News For Everyone  Seeking Alternatives to Okadabooks in 2024 

While Okadabooks is gone for good, their vision of ensuring writers can find ways to publish and market their works still lives on in the aforementioned platforms. Each of these Okadabooks alternatives is dedicated to one cause—ensuring writers find a home for their stories to be accessed by eager readers waiting to read.  

Are you a bookseller, an author or a reader? Which of these platforms will you be trying out?

The post Top 7 Okadabooks Alternatives in 2024 appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Imagine 2200 Climate Fiction Writing Contest is calling for short stories that envision the next 180 years of equitable climate progress. 

Imagine 2200 celebrates stories that envision the next 180 years of equitable climate progress, imagining intersectional worlds of abundance, adaptation, reform, and hope. Stories must be set between today and the year 2200, in a future that shows the path to a clean, green, just world. They are looking for stories that showcase creative climate solutions and community-centered adaptations. They especially want to read — and share — narratives that center solutions from the communities most impacted by the climate crisis and stories that envision what a truly equitable, decolonized society could look like.

In the Imagine 2200 Climate Fiction Writing Contest, stories should be set anywhere between the present day and the year 2200, and should show the path to a clean, green, and just future. Therefore, this is a theme writing contest and you must ensure you can match the theme of the contest in your submission.

Eligibility Guidelines for Imagine 2200 Climate Fiction Writing Contest

• Entry is free.
• The contest is open to writers anywhere in the world, except where participation is prohibited or restricted by applicable law.
• Authors must be 18 years or older at the time of submission.

Submission Guidelines for Imagine 2200 Climate Fiction Writing Contest

• Submissions must be fictional stories between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
• Your story needs to be creative and interesting.
• Ensure your submissions must be written in English. They are not able to translate stories from other languages at this time.

• It must not have been previously published, nor received a prize or distinction in another contest.
• They do not accept simultaneous submissions (stories can only be submitted to this contest and not to others, until we have informed you of the result).
• Only one submission will be accepted per entrant.
• More than one entrant can co-author submissions. Only one of the co-authors should submit the story. The submissions form will offer a way to list the other co-author(s). If a co-authored story is selected for publication, all authors will be credited, and prize money will be divided between them.
• Submissions will only be accepted through Submittable — click the “submit” button at the bottom of their website page when you’re ready! If you need accessibility accommodations, email the team at imaginefiction@grist.org.
• Stories will be judged by a board of literary experts, including acclaimed authors and editors Nalo Hopkinson, Sam J. Miller, and Paolo Bacigalupi.
• All 12 final stories will be published on Grist’s website and partner sites as part of our Imagine 2200 collection.
• Worldwide copyright and ownership of each story remains with the author.

Prizes

• The first-prize story will be awarded $3,000.
• Second prize $2,000.
• Third prize $1,000.
• Nine additional finalists will each receive a $300 honorarium.
• Worldwide copyright and ownership of each story remains with the author.
•  All winners and finalists will have their story published in an immersive collection on Grist’s website.

Deadline

Submissions close June 13, 2023, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time.

The post Imagine 2200 Climate Fiction Writing Contest(Prizes: $8700 + Publication) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Graydon House is a paperback imprint that is dedicated to publishing book club-worthy women’s fiction. They are currently accepting unagented submissions from Black writers. Their interest includes, but is not limited to, historical fiction, suspense, family dramas, friendship stories, and more. If you submit your work, you will receive personalized feedback on your submission within 90 days. And if they are interested in your work, they will recommend agents for you to contact. The deadline for submissions is 8 September, 2020. 

Eligibility:

• Black writers.
• There is no submission fee.

How to Submit your manuscript to Graydon:

• Send a query letter and the first 30 pages of your manuscript to GHSubmissions@harpercollins.com. 
• The deadline is 8 September 2020.

Before you submit to Graydon House you should consider this tip on how to write your query/cover better, as recommended by an agent at novelty.

check out this article on How to Write a Good Cover Letter and How to write the Author’s bio in your cover letter.

Also, read this on creating good characters.

Wondering if your novel started well? Read How To Start A Novel: A Guide To Writing Bestselling Fiction.

Don’t forget to get your manuscript edited.

Goodluck.

The post Graydon House Is Accepting Unagented Submissions from Black Writers appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Have you always dreamed of running your own literature magazine? Maybe it’s something that you’ve never really intended to do, but you’ve spotted a gap in the market. And you’ve, at some point, wondered how to start a literary magazine.

If you’ve decided that it’s something that you want to do, you need to start thinking about how to execute it. An online magazine is easy to run in this age of the internet, especially compared to publishing a print magazine. 

You can easily create a digital version of your print literary magazine, or even publish content as posts on your site.

What Steps Should You First Take When Wondering How To Start A Literary Magazine?

Below are some important steps you should consider taking when planning to launch your online literary journal. Take note of the common mistakes you should avoid as well.

Plan Your Magazine To Ensure That It Becomes One Of The Best Literary Magazines In the World.

Before you can start doing anything, you need to have a plan. There are various ways to approach an online magazine, including what format you want to deliver it in. 

You could run it like a blog, making new posts for the writing that you want to showcase. You could also create a digital magazine that can be downloaded or viewed online. 

Are you going to give it away for free or will you be selling it? If you sell it, are you going to offer a subscription option or sell each issue as an individual product? 

You should also think about who you need to work with, including an editor and proofreader. If you aren’t sure about what you want, then take the time to study the best literary magazines online. Find out what they’re doing well and see what you can learn from them.

Image from Pexels – CC0 License

Create A Website For Your Online Literary Magazine.

If you’re serious about figuring out how to start a literary magazine, you need to give serious thoughts to your website.

A website is essential for your magazine, and there are a few ways you could set one up. It’s important to know how you want to set up your literary magazine before you create a website.

It’s important that you get not just the right look but the necessary functionality. To make things easier, you might consider a website builder like Squarespace. 

If you already know a little about building sites or you’re willing to learn, WordPress might work for you. You need to consider what you want your site to look like and how you want to be perceived.

Building the right website is an important step in the process of fulfilling your dream of starting your own online literary magazine.

Call for Submissions.

Once your site is ready to go, you need to put out a call for submissions. There are many ways you could find people to submit to your magazine. 

You could let some writing blogs and websites know, and they can tell their visitors. You could use Google Ads or another platform to promote your site. 

Social media can also be a great way to find people to submit to your magazine. Consider whether you want to set a theme or a prompt for people to respond to or if you just want to let people submit whatever they want. Also, ensure that your call is clear about what kind of author’s bio they should send alongside their stories.

Image from Pexels – CC0 License

Manage Submissions and Other Content

When people submit to your magazine, you need a way to manage their submissions. A document management system like the one found at https://www.templafy.com/ could work out for you.

 It will help you to keep track of everything and allow anyone on your team to access all of your content when they need to. It’s important to have the right tools to stay organized.

Launch A Podcast.

Podcasts have become a great content marketing strategy for most of the best literary magazines. It will help you to reach a much larger audience than you would have reached if you stuck with only an online literary magazine.

So while exploring ideas on how to start a literary magazine, think about the prospects of launching a podcast for your lit mag. You could publish broadcasts of your authors reading the stories you’ve published on your online literary magazine. 

You can get ideas from some of the most inspiring podcasts that writers prefer to listen to. This will give you a good idea of the right format to use in your literary magazine’s podcast.

Wrap Up On How to Start a Literary Magazine.

Launching your own online literary magazine is a fun idea. It can allow you to get involved in what you love and maybe even discover some amazing writers.

So don’t be scared. Take your first step towards accomplishing this dream of yours. And let us know how it goes in the comments section below.

Have you started a literary magazine at some point in your life? What challenges did you encounter? And how did you overcome them? Please share your experiences in the comments section. Your ideas will go a long way to help those who are still learning how to start a literary magazine.

The post Starting Your Own Online Literary Magazine: A Guide To Launching A Lit Mag appeared first on Creative Writing News.

The African Writers Trust has called for applications for the second edition of its Publishing Fellowship Programme. The programme, which was “designed to create a step-change in the book sector in Africa, by focusing on professional development of upcoming talent in African publishing over three years (2018-2021)”, will be a week-long mentoring and training workshop. It will commence on the 8th of March, 2020, through to the 14th of March, 2020. The deadline for application is Sunday, 16th February, 2020.

Who is Eligible:

• The fellowship is open to: early career writers and emerging publishers; creative writers who are into self-publishing; and, individuals who are working in the publishing industry.
• Applicants must be from one of these African countries: Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

How to Apply:

• Submit a completed application form.
• A cover letter that does not exceed 300 words.
• A sample of a work-in-progress, of no more than a page (500 words).
• In the subject line, include: African Writers Trust Publishing Fellowship Programme Application.
• The deadline for application is Sunday, 16th February, 2020.
• Only selected applicants will be notified by Friday, 21st February, 2020.
• Send your applications to either of these emails: info@africanwriterstrust.org, or kizzaatawt@gmail.com
• If you are interested in participating in the programme, send an email to one of the email addresses above stating your interest, or call this number: +256 752 570 573. The team will then send you the application form and cover letter guidelines.

What Will the Programme Offer:

• The opportunity to participate in a week-long mentoring and training workshop.
• The opportunity to learn from publishing experts in a mutual way.
• The opportunity to network with other publishers and creative writers who are just on their way to becoming the Big Things in the literary industry.
• Air travel expenses for selected applicants will be covered.
• During the workshop, accommodation and meal expenses will be provided for the selected candidates.
• At the end of the workshop, all fellows will be invited to make an application for the SEED Funding budget, worth EURO 4,200—this will go to a winner selected from the fellows.

Good luck.

The post African Writers Trust Publishing Fellowship Programme/ How to Submit (Benefits: EURO 4,200 + more) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Do you have a diabetes story, a story about your experience with diabetes? The story could be about someone who you knew, whether alive or dead, and it could be about you. Here’s your chance to tell it! Submit it to the Miss BloodSugar Contest before the deadline, October 15.

Who is Eligible to Submit?

• Anybody who has a diabetes story to tell, either their own story or that of a loved one.
• No age limit.
• No entry fee.
• No fiction submissions, all entries must be essays, personal or not personal, that have been previously unpublished.

Who are the Judges?

• Ifediba Zube, editor of Miss BloodSugar.
• Deleteh Bank.
• Ibimina LeggJack.
• Onothoja Oreva.
• Oghenevbede Eruteya.
• Dr Ugwuanyi O. Alexander.

How to Apply.

• Write a first person narrative on your experience with diabetes. It may be your own personal story, or that of someone very close, whether dead or alive.

• The first person narrative should capture one or more of these things: ‘the effects of diabetes on relationships, faith, religious beliefs, lifestyle choices and of course health.’

• Narratives should not be more than one thousand words.
• You could use personalized headings.
• Articles and essays which have previously been published are not welcome.
• Entries must be original and must be well-edited.
• Entries are opened until October 15.
• Winners will be announced on World Diabetes Day, November 14th, 2019.
• Submit your story here: Miss BloodSugar

Prizes.

• First prize—#30,000
• Second prize—#20,000
• Third prize—#10,000
• The story that wins the first prize will be published on Bella Naija.
• The top 15 stories will be published in the anthology, Naija Book of Diabetes Stories.
• Selected authors will get free e-copies of the anthology.

Good luck writers!

The post Your Diabetes Story, Miss BloodSugar Calls for Submissions (Prizes: #60,000 + more) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

About the Igbo books we bought in Nigeria , she says ‘No comment’. I discovered that the Igbo books I bought on a trip to Nigeria were designed for those who already knew how to speak Igbo, but not for people learning Igbo as a second language. I just felt that books and materials designed with millennium children in mind would be very helpful.

 

CWN: How long did it take you to complete this project?

Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo: I quit my job as a university lecturer in Sept 2014, and started sorting out the images to use for the children’s dictionary by Dec 2014.

 

CWN: What challenges did you encounter while you were working on this bestselling book and how did you overcome them?

 

Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo: My main challenge was time. Time to focus and write. I initially had a huge challenge with finding the right images and permission to use the images. Once that was resolved it was easy to get the writing underway.

I also had some challenges with Igbo grammar and concatenation which is hotly debated topic on some Igbo words. Because I knew exactly the kind of dictionary I wanted, all I needed to do was to learn the desktop publishing skills I needed to finish the dictionary.

 

I had a main focus group that helped me along the way – My children. They told me when the images were good or not, when the sample sentence was too long … and so on. Kids tend to tell you as it is, so it was brilliant feedback whenever I needed it. Because I am not formally trained in linguistics,

I also did a lot of research just to make sure that the words I added were accurate.

 

CWN: This bestseller is available in the US, the UK, Europe and Asia. Are you working on making it available to Africans, especially Nigerians?

 

Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo: The demand for this children’s dictionary from Igbo people living in Igbo land, rest of  Nigeria and other countries like South Africa, Mozambique and so on is very surprising to me .

I am working with a Nigerian publisher at the moment who is about to commence production and start distribution for the book. I am also looking for a way to create a mail order type solution for other countries in Africa.

CWN: Where can we buy Okowaokwu Igbo Umuaka : Igbo Dictionary for Children?

Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo: Okowaokwu Igbo Umuaka :  Igbo Dictionary for Children is currently available on the website www.igbodictionaryforchildren.com. The book is also available on all the Amazon websites around the world, in both paperback and ebook (Kindle) versions.

CWN: Do you write other kinds of creative works: prose, poetry, essays etc?

Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo: I do write creative prose like short stories and non-verbal creative communication.

CWN: What tips do you have for any writer who is trying to learn how to become a bestselling author.

• Create Well-designed Books.  

• Reach Out To Book Bloggers and Online Booksellers and Propose A Collaboration.

• Get Book Reviews.

We collected the raw words and suggestions from the facebook group ( The crowdsourcing project ), and we have chosen the words that will make it into the dictionary.

We are typing up the manuscript and, adding things like definitions and sample sentences. We are doing this with the help of lexicologists like those that have worked on the Oxford dictionaries as well as some Igbo linguists.

My Dream For The Future.

Conclusion On How To Become A Bestselling Author Like Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo.

Becoming a bestselling author isn’t rocket science. It simply requires a lot of strategic planning and marketing.

The post How To Become A Bestselling Author In 24 hours: Discover How Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo Accomplished This Feat. appeared first on Creative Writing News.