Our Mission
Forging Paths for Every Story
The StoryForge Initiative was founded with one guiding purpose:
to empower storytellers of every background by breaking down the financial and technical barriers to publishing.
We believe that great stories should never stay hidden because an author couldn’t afford an ISBN, didn’t understand the publishing process, or lacked access to trustworthy resources.
Our mission is to make the tools of professional publishing — from ISBNs to author websites — accessible, affordable, and transparent for everyone.
What Drives Us
StoryForge exists to level the playing field for indie authors across the nation.
Our focus is not on profit, but on possibility — creating real pathways for writers to bring their books to life and reach readers worldwide.
We do this by:
- Providing affordable ISBNs purchased in bulk and distributed to authors at a significant discount — just $20 per ISBN, compared to Bowker’s $125 single-ISBN cost.
- Offering affordable author landing pages to help writers present themselves professionally.
- Building a free online resource library filled with practical guides, templates, and publishing tools.
- Maintaining full financial transparency, publishing every transaction and ISBN allocation publicly.
- Reinvesting all surplus back into author support, future grants, and educational outreach.
(Free ISBNs will only be provided through future grant programs once the system is self-sustaining.)
Our Long-Term Vision
Our goal is to build a sustainable, community-driven publishing support system — one that grows beyond any single author or region.
As StoryForge expands, we aim to:
- Launch micro-grants for free ISBNs, editing, cover design, and marketing assistance.
- Establish sponsorships and partnerships with author-support platforms such as Atticus, Canva, and IngramSpark.
- Offer training programs and workshops for authors seeking hands-on publishing guidance.
- Develop regional and national networks that connect indie authors, bookstores, and readers.
Every phase of our growth will be guided by the same principles:
transparency, accessibility, and community.
Our Commitment to Transparency
From the start, StoryForge has pledged to operate with full transparency.
Every dollar raised, every ISBN purchased, and every grant awarded will be logged publicly on our Transparency Page.
Our founder personally funds the website, hosting, and startup costs so that community contributions go directly to the mission — helping authors, not paying overhead.
This open-book approach ensures that StoryForge remains accountable to the authors it serves.
Our Philosophy
At StoryForge, we believe that:
- Every author deserves a chance to share their story.
- Creativity should never be limited by cost.
- Collaboration is stronger than competition.
- Transparency builds trust, and trust builds community.
We are not a company — we are a collective of creators, working to forge a future where every story has a path.
Join Us
Whether you’re an author, a reader, a sponsor, or simply someone who believes in the power of storytelling — there’s a place for you here.
Together, we can make publishing fair, accessible, and empowering for everyone.
