Inkpop was supposed to crowdsource the next big thing in young-adult fiction. It failed, but along the way created something greater.

How Inkpop went bust and inspired a community of would-be writers

core/paragraph

Kira Deshler is a former assistant newsletter editor at the Daily Dot. Kira received a Master&#8217;s in Media Studies from UT Austin and has previously written for sites like Slash Film and Looper. She runs her own Substack newsletter, Paging Dr. Lesbian, and is a member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.

Kira Deshler

Gwenpool, Gwen Stacy mashup has Marvel fans rolling their eyes

Neil Gaiman fans reevaluate identity, fandom following harrowing exposé

Comic fans sound off about Superman’s new look in upcoming film

‘Arcane’s’ CaitVi relationship has fans cheering for more

The band Twenty One Pilots surrounded by fan art. There is text in a Daily Dot newsletter web_crawlr font that says 'Decoding Fandom' in the bottom right corner.

For Twenty One Pilots fans, fan art is a means of expression, community-building

Katy Perry on helicopter holding light against close up of her. There is text that says Decoding Fandom in the bottom left corner.

The Katy Perry fandom can’t save her from flopping

Main Header Menu

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

The Daily Dot

Haley Van Horn is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in lifestyle, entertainment, and culture stories. She has contributed to publications like PEOPLE and Parade, and her work is preserved in the Library of Congress.

Haley

Woman Shares Horrible First Date Story ‘It Just Keeps Getting Worse and Worse’

Woman Says First Date With Investment Banker Kept Getting Worse: ‘It Just Keeps Getting Worse and Worse’

Rachel is a writer, reviewer, and critic within the entertainment industry with over four years of experience. She champions indie filmmaking and indie horror. Her work can be found at The Mary Sue and That Hollywood Show.

Rachel Tolleson

TikToker Says Her “Worst” First Date Was Full of Red Flags

Woman Says Her “Worst” First Date Left Her Wishing She’d Left Early: ‘He Was Testing Your Boundaries’

Man Says Tinder Date Turned Negative at the Fair

Man Says Tinder Match Asked Him to the Fair, Then He Regretted Going: ‘I Was Mostly There for the Turkey Legs’

Akil is a Caribbean native who enjoys writing, reading, music, and fitness. He loves exploring new ideas, telling engaging stories, and making the most of every experience. When he’s not working, he enjoys living life to the fullest.

Akil Rashid

Man Says Woman Confirmed Their First Date, Then Blocked Him

Man Says He Was Ghosted After Months of Planning a First Date: ‘I’m Genuinely Fed Up’

Texas Roadhouse Server Shares Experience Serving Deaf Guests

Server Shares Worst Experience Working at Texas Roadhouse: ‘It Was the Longest Night of My Life’

Woman Says Dinner and a Movie Can Be a Bad First Date Sign

How Inkpop went bust and inspired a community of would-be writers

Tagged:

Stay in touch

More Stories

Woman Says First Date With Investment Banker Kept Getting Worse: ‘It Just Keeps Getting Worse and Worse’

Woman Says Her “Worst” First Date Left Her Wishing She’d Left Early: ‘He Was Testing Your Boundaries’

Man Says Tinder Match Asked Him to the Fair, Then He Regretted Going: ‘I Was Mostly There for the Turkey Legs’

Man Says He Was Ghosted After Months of Planning a First Date: ‘I’m Genuinely Fed Up’

Server Shares Worst Experience Working at Texas Roadhouse: ‘It Was the Longest Night of My Life’

Woman Says Dinner and a Movie as Early Dates Can Be a Bad Sign—“For Me, This Is the Biggest Sign”