If you’re familiar with Kickstarter, then you know exactly what I’m about to describe to you even before I do. Kickstarter is a crowdfunding site that allows people to pitch their project to potential backers who then decide if it’s worthy of backing. There are a number of similar sites out there.

Now there’s also Inkshares. Which is exactly the same concept, but exclusively for books. As an author you post snippets from your book on the site in an attempt to build up a following. Then ask them to help fund the project.

Two things immediately popped into my head when I read this. First, there are already so many crowdfunding sites out there that this is likely to get lost in the mix. Second, there are crowdpublishing sites run by major publishers that publish books based on ratings and reviews by readers. Readers don’t pay anything, they simply read a sample and leave feedback.

This site will likely be touted as a nice mix of traditional and self-publishing, but it isn’t. The editorial board will only edit the book if it reaches 750 backers or minimally if it reaches 250. I don’t see anything traditional about that.

I think authors would be better suited to try different platforms before this one. It just doesn’t sound like a winner to me.

Would you use Inkshares to potentially publish your book?