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

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

Hostel ki chhat aur woh raat

The girl from the library

Step 3: Readers engage, you earn