Question 1

Who can write?

Accepted Answer

Anyone with an IndianBL account who is 18 or older and lives in India, once the account is 3 days old. You write under a pen name — your email and real name are never shown.

Question 2

What kind of stories?

Accepted Answer

True stories from your own life, or ones you have permission to tell: first love, coming out, family, friendship, heartbreak, hope. Nothing sexually explicit, nothing that could identify someone without their consent, and never anyone under 18 in a romantic or sexual situation. An editor reads every story before it goes live.

Question 3

How much can I earn?

Accepted Answer

Writers earn ₹1 for a reader's like, ₹3 for their comment and ₹5 when their share brings someone who creates an IndianBL account — once per reader for a like or a comment, and one share counts once. A story can earn up to ₹500. You can earn up to ₹500 a month across all your stories. Your own likes and shares, and those from IndianBL staff or accounts under 3 days old, don't earn.

Question 4

Why do shares earn the most?

Accepted Answer

Because a share is how IndianBL finds new readers. A share counts once, and only when someone opens your link and creates an account — within 7 days of you sharing it. Opening your own link, or sharing with people who already have an account, doesn't earn anything.

Question 5

Is every story's earnings public?

Accepted Answer

Yes — each story shows what it has earned its writer, so readers know their likes and shares matter. Your balance, your payouts and your payment details stay private.

Question 6

When can I withdraw?

Accepted Answer

Earnings are added to your balance overnight and become withdrawable 14 days later — the hold lets us catch fake engagement. Once you have ₹50 available, request a withdrawal to your UPI ID; the IndianBL team pays every Monday. It's the same balance as IndianBL Scouts.

Question 7

Can I edit or delete my story?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An edit to a published story goes to an editor first — the live version stays up until it's approved. You can unpublish or delete a story whenever you like; what it earned stays yours.

Question 8

Are earnings taxable?

Accepted Answer

Earnings are the writer's income and may be taxable. They aren't wages, and writing for IndianBL Stories isn't employment.

Question 9

Something went wrong. Who do I talk to?

Accepted Answer

Write to hello@indianbl.com. We acknowledge complaints within 24 hours and resolve them within 15 days. To report a story or comment, use Report on the story page.

Real stories, told by the people who lived them

The night the power went out in our chawl

Your story can pay you back

Step 1: Write it

Step 2: An editor reads it

Writing for IndianBL Stories

Every story here began with someone brave enough to write it

Mummy ki saree aur meri pehli Pride

ईद पर पहली बार, हम दोनों

माँ के लिए लिखी एक कविता

Coming out at 27, over chai

Bisexual, not confused

Virar fast mein ek muskaan

Hostel ki chhat aur woh raat

अब्बू का ख़त

Local train ka ladies compartment

माँ ने कहा — तुम जैसे हो, वैसे ही ठीक हो

Coming out to my Gujarati grandmother

Step 3: Readers engage, you earn