Next Chapters
Next Chapters is an Erie, Pennsylvania-based SaaS platform that combines collaborative writing tools with AI-assisted features (plot building, character tracking, consistency checks) to help aspiring and hobbyist novelists complete and publish their manuscripts via a direct-to-consumer subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersErie, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Next Chapters does
Next Chapters (legal entity Next Chapter Stories LLC) is a privately held, Erie, Pennsylvania-based software company that operates a direct-to-consumer storytelling platform aimed at aspiring and hobbyist novelists. Founded in 2013 and operating with 1-10 employees, the company combines a manuscript-organization workspace with a suite of AI-assisted features (Interactive Book Chat, Consistency Check, Plot Builder, Character Tracking, and Story Memories) intended to help writers overcome writer's block, maintain plot and character consistency, and reach manuscript completion. The platform also supports a crowdsourced "Community Books" model in which multiple subscribers co-author a single novel under a published revenue-share arrangement (Story Creator 15%, Book Managers 10%, Chapter Authors 50%, Next Chapters 25%), with private books retaining full IP ownership by the original creator.
Next Chapters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Next Chapters
- Legal name
- Next Chapter Stories, LLC
- Website
- https://nextchapters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Next Chapters is an Erie, Pennsylvania-based SaaS platform that combines collaborative writing tools with AI-assisted features (plot building, character tracking, consistency checks) to help aspiring and hobbyist novelists complete and publish their manuscripts via a direct-to-consumer subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Next Chapters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Writing Software
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ghostwriting & Collaborative Writing Services (MPAJAJAI), Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG), E-book Subscription & Bundling Services (MPAJAMAB)
Keywords
Where Next Chapters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Next Chapters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Subscription Platform Access: Monthly subscription for access to the storytelling platform including writing tools, AI features, and community features
- Crowdsourced Novel Revenue Share: For community/crowdsourced novels, revenue is distributed after expenses: Story Creator (15%), Book Managers (10%), Chapter Authors (50%), Next Chapters (25%)
- Book Coaching Services: One-on-one coaching services available as additional assistance for writers needing personalized guidance
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Trial - First week on us |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Next Chapters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Next Chapters operates a subscription-based AI-enhanced storytelling platform that helps aspiring and hobbyist novelists organize ideas, develop characters, build plots, and complete manuscripts. The platform combines core writing tools with AI features such as Interactive Book Chat, Consistency Check, Plot Builder, Character Tracking, and Story Memories, and offers one-on-one Book Coaching as an add-on service. A collaborative Community Books feature enables multiple subscribers to co-create crowdsourced novels with a defined revenue-share model (Story Creator 15%, Book Managers 10%, Chapter Authors 50%, Next Chapters 25%).
Product overview
Next Chapters is a storytelling platform designed to help aspiring and existing writers complete their novels. The platform operates as a unified system combining writing tools, AI-enhanced features, and community collaboration. The core Writing Tools platform enables users to organize thoughts, develop characters, and weave plots. AI features include Interactive Book Chat (real-time AI feedback), Plot Builder (AI-touched storyline creation), Character Tracking (AI-supported character development), and Consistency Check (plot hole/timeline detection). The Book Coaching service provides one-on-one support. Community Books enable collaborative crowdsourced novel creation with a defined profit-sharing model (Story Creator 15%, Book Managers 10%, Chapter Authors 50%, Next Chapters 25%). Private Books remain entirely owned by the creator. The platform also offers scheduling aids, personalized prompts, achievements, and story memory features.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Writing Tools Platform Core subscription-based storytelling platform that helps aspiring and hobbyist novelists organize thoughts, develop characters, build plots, and weave intricate storylines. Includes AI-enhanced features such as Interactive Book Chat, Consistency Check, Plot Builder, Character Tracking, Story Memories, scheduling aids, personalized prompts, achievements, and gamification. Targeted at individual writers who want help completing a novel manuscript.
- Book Coaching
Quantifiable outcome
- First crowdsourced novel 'The Faith of Fire' completed successfully in October 2022
Companies that use Next Chapters
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Next Chapters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
Next Chapters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Next Chapters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NovelAI: Subscription-based AI storytelling and image-generation service focused on long-form fiction writers. Competes directly with Next Chapters on AI-assisted novel writing for hobbyist and aspiring authors.
- Sudowrite: AI-powered novel-writing assistant specifically targeting fiction authors with features like story brainstorming, prose expansion, and character/plot tools. Closest direct competitor to Next Chapters' AI novel-writing platform.
- Reedsy: Marketplace and resource platform connecting authors with editors, designers, and publishing services. Overlaps with Next Chapters' book coaching offering and the broader 'help writers publish' value proposition.
- Wattpad: Community-driven writing and reading platform with serialized stories and crowdsourced collaboration. Closest analog to Next Chapters' Community Books model at a much larger scale (owned by Naver/Webtoon).
- Scrivener: Long-established desktop novel-writing software used by serious fiction authors for manuscript organization. Competes with Next Chapters' core Writing Tools for the same novelist persona, though without AI features.
- Atticus: Modern novel and book writing software targeting indie authors with formatting, outlining, and manuscript tools. Competes with Next Chapters' Writing Tools for self-publishing novelists.
Others
- BookBub: Marketing platform for authors to promote books to readers. Adjacent to Next Chapters' publishing arm as a downstream marketing channel for Next Chapters-published titles.
- Medium: Large-scale writing and publishing platform with a Partner Program paying writers based on engagement. Adjacent comparison for crowdsourced and community-driven publishing economics.
Broad incumbents
- ProWritingAid: Established writing-assistance software with grammar, style, and structural editing for all writer types. Overlaps with Next Chapters' editing/feedback functionality but serves a broader market beyond novelists.
- Grammarly: Dominant AI writing assistance platform spanning grammar, tone, and generative drafting. Overlaps with Next Chapters' AI feedback capabilities, though Grammarly serves general writers and professionals rather than novelists specifically.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Next Chapters social profiles
Digital presenceNext Chapters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Next Chapters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Next Chapters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Next Chapters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Next Chapters
What does Next Chapters do?
Next Chapters operates a subscription-based AI-enhanced storytelling platform that helps aspiring and hobbyist novelists organize ideas, develop characters, build plots, and complete manuscripts. The platform combines core writing tools with AI features such as Interactive Book Chat, Consistency Check, Plot Builder, Character Tracking, and Story Memories, and offers one-on-one Book Coaching as an add-on service. A collaborative Community Books feature enables multiple subscribers to co-create crowdsourced novels with a defined revenue-share model (Story Creator 15%, Book Managers 10%, Chapter Authors 50%, Next Chapters 25%).
Is Next Chapters a public or private company?
Next Chapters is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Next Chapters founded?
Next Chapters was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Next Chapters based?
Next Chapters is headquartered in Erie, United States, in the North America region.
How does Next Chapters make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Platform Access are the primary driver. The others are crowdsourced Novel Revenue Share and book Coaching Services.
Who are Next Chapters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NovelAI, Sudowrite, Reedsy, Wattpad, Scrivener and Atticus. Others are BookBub and Medium. Broad incumbents are ProWritingAid and Grammarly.
Does Next Chapters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Next Chapters.
What industry is Next Chapters in?
Next Chapters's product category is Creative Writing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAJAF, Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing), with a secondary code of MPAJAJAI, Ghostwriting & Collaborative Writing Services. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.