How much does it cost to use RightsWord?

We offer three plans: Free (evaluation with 20 publishers, no fees), Solo at $99 (700+ publishers, no commission — keep 100%), and Premium at $199 (1,500+ publishers, dedicated agent, 20% commission on deals, with the $199 credited back from your first commissions).

How is this different from just uploading to Amazon?

Amazon is self-publishing where you handle everything. We connect you with traditional publishers who pay advances, handle translation, printing, marketing, and distribution in their market. You get a dedicated publishing house in each country.

What kind of books can I submit?

Fiction and non-fiction in all genres. Your book should be completed and you must hold the translation/foreign rights - meaning you're self-published, or your publisher granted you these rights.

What happens after a publisher makes an offer?

We handle the entire negotiation - advances, royalty rates, rights duration, territory scope. Once you accept, the contract is signed and the publisher pays the advance.

What do publishers handle after buying rights?

Everything: translation, editing, cover design, printing, marketing, and distribution. You don't invest any money - you simply receive royalty payments. Truly passive income.

How long does it typically take to get a deal?

Some authors receive offers within weeks, others take several months. Your book stays active indefinitely, and we continuously match it with new publishers joining our network.

Is my manuscript safe on the platform?

Publishers only see your synopsis and sample initially. Full manuscripts are shared only with seriously interested publishers under confidentiality terms.

Can I use RightsWord if I already have a literary agent?

If your agent handles foreign rights, work through them. But many agents focus on domestic markets - if you hold your foreign rights, we can complement your existing representation.

Do I need a literary agent to use RightsWord?

No. RightsWord was built specifically for authors who don't have foreign rights representation. We work directly with independent and self-published authors - no agent required. If you do have an agent, we can complement their domestic focus with international outreach.

Can I submit a book that's already on Amazon?

Absolutely. Most of our authors are self-published on Amazon or other platforms. As long as you hold your translation and foreign rights (which self-published authors automatically do), you're eligible. Having existing sales data actually strengthens your pitch to international publishers.

How much do translation rights typically pay?

Advances typically range from $500 to $5,000 per language deal, with ongoing royalties of 7%-12% on every copy sold. Premium authors with strong sales records or high-demand genres can command higher advances. Multiple deals across different countries create compounding passive income.

What genres sell best internationally?

Thrillers, romance, literary fiction, self-help, and business books tend to have the strongest international demand. However, every genre has markets - children's books do exceptionally well in certain regions, and niche non-fiction can find dedicated publishers. We evaluate each book's global potential individually.

What countries buy the most translation rights?

Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Brazil are among the largest markets for translation rights. Asian markets like China, Japan, and Korea are rapidly growing. Eastern European countries like Poland and the Czech Republic are also very active buyers. Our network covers 50+ countries across all continents.

Which Book Genres Sell Best in Translation Rights? (2026 Data)

Not every genre travels. A US literary novel rooted in regional American identity often struggles in Spain. A German cozy mystery may flop in Brazil. But some categories sell consistently across 30+ languages with almost boring predictability. If you are weighing whether to invest time in foreign rights, the first question is: what category is your book actually in?

Categories that sell consistently in translation

1. Romance and romantasy

The strongest indie-friendly category in 2026. German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, French, and Brazilian publishers buy romance aggressively, especially series. Subgenres that travel best: contemporary romance, romantasy (romance + fantasy), small-town romance, dark romance, and sports romance. Standalone romance is harder than a 3+ book series.

2. Thrillers and crime

Domestic suspense, police procedurals, and psychological thrillers are the most reliably translated category in adult fiction. Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia all maintain large crime-readership markets. Indie thrillers with 10k+ verified sales and a clear hook routinely sell into 3 to 8 languages.

3. Practical non-fiction and self-help

Personal productivity, habits, money, fitness, parenting, and relationships sell across cultures because the problems are universal. A book on "build better habits" reads the same in Turkish and German. Publishers in Korea, China, Brazil, Spain, Poland, and Turkey are especially active buyers of US/UK self-help.

4. Business and career

Particularly leadership, entrepreneurship, sales, and management. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Brazilian publishers buy heavily. The book needs to feel applicable beyond its home market - case studies that depend on US-specific context (US tax law, US health insurance) are a hard sell.

5. Fantasy (specific subgenres)

Romantasy, progression fantasy, and series-driven epic fantasy are translation-friendly. Standalone literary fantasy is harder. Manga-adjacent and LitRPG styles sell well in Germany, France, Spain, and increasingly Brazil.

6. Cookbooks (with caveats)

Sells if the cuisine has cross-border appeal (Italian, French, Japanese, plant-based, sourdough, baking). Hard if the cuisine is hyper-regional. Photography quality matters more than text - the publisher often pays for rephotography.

7. Children's picture books

A separate ecosystem with its own fair (Bologna). Illustration-driven picture books with universal themes travel exceptionally well. See our book fair guide for the Bologna-specific buying cycle.

Categories that struggle in translation

Literary fiction. Most international literary publishers buy from established literary agencies and prize winners. Indie literary is the hardest sell.
Memoir (unless the author is famous in the target market). A US-author memoir sells in Germany only if the author has a German audience for some other reason.
Politically or regionally specific non-fiction. A book on US politics, US sports, or US regional history rarely sells outside the US.
Poetry. A few specialty presses buy poetry in translation, but advances are tiny and the process is slow.
YA contemporary tied to US high school culture. Prom, homecoming, SAT, school spirit - these contexts do not exist abroad and publishers know readers struggle with them.

Genre fit by market (quick reference)

Germany: Romance, romantasy, crime/thriller, self-help, cozy mystery
France: Literary thriller, crime, romance, historical, philosophy/essay
Italy: Romance, thriller, crime, self-help
Spain and Latin America: Romance, romantasy, self-help, business, thriller
Brazil: Self-help, business, romance, evangelical/Christian, YA fantasy
Poland: Romance, romantasy, fantasy, thriller
Korea: Self-help, business, productivity, parenting
Japan: Business, self-help, select cozy mystery
Turkey: Self-help, business, romance, religious fiction
Netherlands and Scandinavia: Crime, thriller, literary crime

If your genre is on the "struggles" list

It does not mean zero chance. It means the path is narrower and longer. Strategies that work:

Identify the 5 to 10 specialty publishers in each market that actively publish your subcategory. Quality over quantity.
Lean on translation awards, residency programs, and PEN/cultural grants that subsidize "difficult" categories.
Build a track record in one market first. A French edition makes German and Italian publishers far more likely to consider you.

The honest summary

Genre fit determines 60 to 70% of your foreign rights outcome before you write a single pitch email. If your book sits in a translation-friendly category and you reach the right publishers, deals are realistic. If your book sits in a hard category, do not pitch 200 publishers indiscriminately - target the 10 who specialize, and be patient.

Which Book Genres Sell Best in Translation? A 2026 Reality Check