What is Independent Publishing?

Independent Publishing is a service that provides talented authors with the opportunity to create specialized and engaging texts covering a wide variety of topics. Writing as much or as little as they like, our authors earn money writing about topics that interest them and get to see their work published online; increasing their reputations as authors.

How does Independent Publishing Work?

Independent Publishing connects customers with authors. Our customers create tasks and our authors, using their specialized knowledge and writing skills, write them. Once the text has been written, customers can either verify and, if needed, edit it themselves, or use our copy-editing service to ensure a high-quality submission.

Who are the authors of Independent Publishing?

Our writers are the very heart of Independent Publishing. They may not necessarily be professional novelists or full-time journalists, but they are people who are passionate about their writing and eager to share their knowledge regarding specific subjects.

Who can apply to become an author at Independent Publishing?

Almost anybody can become an Independent Publishing author. From experienced writers to passionate newcomers, from students to housewives – anyone who knows how to express themselves through writing can apply to become an Independent Publishing author. Our only requirements are that you are above 18 years of age and have either a valid European Bank Account or a Paypal account.

How can I become an author at Independent Publishing?

You can apply to become an Independent Publishing author here. After you have completed the registration form, you will be asked to write a short sample text about a given topic. The sample text provides authors to demonstrate their writing skills and should be between 100 and 150 words in length. Please note that because this sample text is part of your application and will not be published, you will not be entitled to any payment for it. Provided that your text is accepted by our editorial team, you will be sent a link via email, which will direct you to the next stage of your registration.

How much do I make as an author at Independent Publishing?

At Independent Publishing we value quality and we pay for quality. Authors are paid according to our payment system, which is both simple and fair. Each author initially receives the same payment of 0.20 cents per word, which, for a text of 400 words, would entitle payment of $8. We also like to encourage and reward good writing and have therefore developed a bonus system for authors who consistently write informative and error-free texts. If your texts are always of superior quality, you will be entitled to a bonus of up to 30% Ultimately, however, how much you earn is up to you; you can work as little or as much as you like!

What are the benefits of becoming an author at Independent Publishing?

In addition to a flexible source of income, Independent Publishing offers you the opportunity to increase your reputation and see your work published online. How much you write and what you write about is entirely up to you. Authors who consistently submit accurate and informative texts will be rewarded, not only via an attractive bonus system but also through the opportunity to work as an Independent Publishing copy-editor. As an Independent Publishing editor you will have the chance to edit and correct submissions from your fellow authors. Like authors, copy-editors are paid on a per-word-basis that is both simple to calculated and fair.

How do I contact Independent Publishing with suggestions or queries?

We always welcome queries and suggestions regarding our service and you can can contact Independent Publishing via our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.

What do I do if I forget my login details?

Members who have forgotten their login details are able to request an email, which will contain the relevant information. You are also able to change your login password at any time, but only whilst logged in to your account.

Where do I find available tasks?

All available tasks can be found in the “Tasks” menu of your profile screen. Here you can find tasks that are most suited to your areas of interest (“My Tasks”), while also being able to browse through all available tasks in other areas (“All Tasks”).

Where do I find available tasks that best suit my interests?

Within your Independent Publishing profile, you have the opportunity of defining up to five areas that best suit your interests. All available tasks from these subject areas will automatically appear on your profile home page, or can be found under the “My Tasks” section of the “Task” menu. However, this does not restrict you to only accepting tasks from your areas of interest and you are able to find all available tasks under the “All Tasks” section of the “Task” menu. Once you have found a task title that interests you, you can click on it to preview the job requirements and decide whether or not you wish to accept it.

What does an Open Order mean?

All tasks which you see in the “all tasks” section in your author account in menu are open orders that have been made available to all the authors of Independent Publishing. The rule for accepting these orders is basically “first come, first serve”.

What does Direct Order mean?

All tasks which you see in the “direct orders” section of your author account menu are direct orders that have only been made available to a select group of authors. This means that the task was created specifically for you or for a specific group of authors that you belong to. The rule for accepting these orders is the same “first come, first serve” method used with open orders.

What happens when I have completed a text?

Before submitting a text, you should proofread it to ensure that it adheres to the job description provided by the customer and that it is free of any silly errors (spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.). Once you have done this, you can submit the text to the customer via your Independent Publishing messaging system. After a text has been submitted, it will be tested by Independent Publishing for any copyright infringement. Providing that the article text is free of any plagiarism, it will be forwarded to the customer who will then decide whether or not is acceptable or in need of revision.

How much time do I have to write an article?

The processing time for each task is determined by the customer and can range between two and five days.

How much time does the customer have to accept my article?

Each customer has up to five working days to accept an article or request a revision.

I would like to write articles offline, is that possible?

Once you have accepted a task, you can write it using any standard word processor and then copy and paste it into the online editor textbox for submission.

What do I do if I don't understand the task job description?

After accepting a task, you are able to contact the customer directly via our internal messaging system.

The processing time for my task has elapsed, can I accept the article again?

In these situations, you do have the chance to accept and complete the task a second time time.

Where will my texts be published?

Customers are in no way obliged to specify where texts will be published. However, some customers may provide this information in the task's job description or via Independent Publishing's internal messaging system if requested to by the author.

In what instances are texts are rejected by the customer?

Before a customer can reject a text, they are first required to request two revisions. If the the text is still not deemed to be acceptable after two revision request, the customer may then reject it. Texts can be rejected when the basic needs or requirements of a submission, as detailed in the task's job description, have not been met. In cases of rejection, Independent Publishing will examine the transaction history of the task, including all correspondences between the customer and the author, and determine if the rejection was valid. If the customer's rejection request is accepted by Independent Publishing, then the task will be re-tendered into the pool of available tasks and the author will receive no payment. However, if the customer's rejection request is rejected, the author will still receive payment.

How is my rating calculated?

There are several factors that make up an author's rating. The most important factor is the customer evaluation, which is provided after a task has been accepted. However, other components such as the ability to meet deadlines, the number of revisions required and the number of rejected texts are also taken into consideration.

What is the criteria for the evaluation of texts?

The customer will assess and evaluate each text according to the following criteria:

1. Content and fulfilment of specifications
2. Spelling and grammar
3. Clarity and style
4. Communication and reliability

Is my cancellation rate factored into my evaluation?

Your cancellation rate is factored into your author rating and it is therefore advised that you only accept tasks that you feel you are capable of writing.

How often will I be paid?

Payments are made automatically every two weeks. Once your account balance is at least 10 US dollars, you will be automatically paid at the earliest possible payment period.

How can I change my bank/Paypal information?

You can edit and update all your personal details, including bank/Paypal account information in your Independent Publishing profile under "My Profile."

I do not have a European bank account, can I still write for Independent Publishing?

If you live in a country that uses the Euro, you will need a European bank account. However, if you live in a country that doesn't use the Euro, you can be paid via Paypal. Please note, however, that all Paypal payments are paid in US dollars.

Can I still become an author when I have already been reporting regularly VAT?

Even if you have previously been reporting regular VAT, you may still be a part of our author group. Please specify in your user account whether you are an individual, small business (as defined under paragraph 19 of The German Value Added Tax act) or registered as a company. You must identify your value added tax status when registering with Independent Publishing. Please note that Independent Publishing can not refund sales tax retroactively.

Do I need to declare my Independent Publishing earnings in my tax return?

No matter how much you earn through Independent Publishing, you must specify your income in your tax return.

Can I use quotations and references in my texts?

All texts submitted to Independent Publishing should be solely the work of the author. Under no circumstances should any part of your text come directly from other sources. Verbatim quotations are only permitted if so requested by the customer. Any quotations used must be properly referenced and no longer than one sentence. To avoid plagiarism, you should always refer to multiple sources when researching information and then write the text in your own words.

What obligations do I take on with a registration at Independent Publishing?

There are no obligations when registering with Independent Publishing. Registration is free of charge and if you are not satisfied with our terms, you can unsubscribe at any time. You also decide how much you want to write for us — there is no minimum requirement. However, your employment with us should not constitute your main income. When writing texts, you also must keep copyright in mind (see our terms and conditions).

Who can become a copy-editor for Independent Publishing?

The best authors from Independent Publishing have the opportunity to take on the role as copy-editor and thereby increase their potential earnings. Have you written at least 10 texts for Independent Publishing and developed an average rating of over 1.5? Then take advantage of the opportunity to apply to be an copy-editor! In order to prove your abilities, correct the provided sample text, paying close attention to spelling, grammar, style and adherence to the guidelines. As the spelling of words can vary based on nation, please refer to the Oxford Dictionary as a standard. There is no time limit for the editing of a sample text. Once you have submitted your edited version of the text, it will then be evaluated by our in-house editing team. If more than two mistakes are found in your edited text, your application as copy-editor will be rejected and you will be blocked from this recruitment process for a period of two weeks. If, however, you receive a positive evaluation; you will gain access to the Copy-editing section of the Independent Publishing website, where you can begin editing texts of your choice.

I want to start editing texts for Independent Publishing. How does the process work? What rules do I have to follow?

Log in to our system with the same log-in information as you use in the Author section of the website. Then click on the EDITOR link found in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Here you will see a list of tasks that should match your fields of interest. If there is nothing that matches your interests, you can look for all the available tasks under Available Tasks. After you have selected a task title, the task will then become available to authors as an Available Task and can then be taken on/written by the potential author. As soon as the author has written and submitted a text, you can begin editing it. By referring to the job description, you can determine whether the required standards have been met. You can then use our internal messaging system to contact the author and request any necessary revisions. In such cases, the author is then required to revise their text. You can, however, correct minor errors regarding spelling or punctuation yourself. The author has two chances to submit texts in the revision process. If, after the second submission, the text still fails to meet the requirements, you can forward the text to our Support Team. After receiving a completed text, you are allotted 24 hours as copy-editor to complete the editing process. You have the ability to work on up to ten texts simultaneously, but you are, of course, not permitted to work on a single task both as author and editor.

I am a copy-editor for Independent Publishing. What deadlines must I adhere to?

Once you have accepted a task and then received the author’s submitted text, you have 24 hours to complete the editing process. In cases where revision by the author is necessary, this deadline no longer applies but is then reactivated as soon as you receive the re-submitted revised text.

What is the compensation for copy-editors at Independent Publishing?

Independent Publishing copy-editors receive a compensation of $.006 or .004€ per word. Therefore, for a text of the average length of 400 words, the copy-editor will receive $2.40 or 1.60€ per text.

I am a copy-editor for Independent Publishing. How do I receive my payments?

Payments are made automatically every two weeks. Once your account balance has reached at least 10 dollars, you will be automatically paid at the earliest possible payment period.