Wattpad is a platform that allows anyone to read and publish stories for free. While many Wattpad writers write and publish stories just for fun, some are famous and have even managed to publish books! To publish your work on Wattpad and stand out among millions of others, start writing good stories there. Publish your work often, use the right tags and categories, then interact a lot with other users on the site to get your work noticed.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Writing a Great Story
Step 1. Choose the right genre for your story
Genre will affect the types of characters you will develop and the plots you will build. Take a genre that you are interested in and enjoy. For example, if you're interested in weird and weird things, you might be interested in writing horror stories or science fiction.
Romance and fan fiction are two very popular genres on Wattpad. If you want to target the largest audience, focus on one of these genres
Step 2. Write your character profile
By outlining character profiles, you will have no trouble creating a strong and real character. Start by profiling your main character. What do they look like? What is their personality like? What are their dreams, goals and fears? What important events have they experienced in the past?
- After describing the profile of the main character, you can start thinking about the profile of the supporting character.
- Your story doesn't need to mention all the details you wrote in the profile. However, the more you get to know the characters in the story, the easier it will be to write them down.
Step 3. Determine the basic plot of your story
Some writers prefer to establish a complete plot before starting to write. Meanwhile, other writers choose to immediately start with the basic plot and fill in the gaps that exist during the writing process. There are also writers who find a plot in the middle of the writing process. Whichever way you go, any approach is fine. Immediately outline the storyline and start your writing from there.
One great way to get your idea of creating a plot is to ask questions that your story needs to answer. For example, Lord of the Rings answers questions such as, "What would happen if the fate of the world rested on the shoulders of a hobbit?" and “What will happen if a group of close friends embark on a thrilling and dangerous adventure together?”
Step 4. Write down your first draft
Writing this first draft of writing aims to get the foundation of the story in writing (both on paper and digitally). There is no need to write the story as perfectly as possible at this stage. Focus on including the characters in your story and the events that will take place throughout the story.
- Don't focus too much on grammar or spelling at this stage. It's okay to fix basic and simple things, but intensive editing is best done later.
- The length of the stories in Watpad varies, from those belonging to the novela category (about 7,500 words) to the complete novel category (more than 40,000 words). Put as much of your story into your writing as you can without adding unnecessary stuff.
Step 5. Reread and edit your story
After writing your first draft, review your story and read it slowly. Fix grammar and misspellings. Look, is there any part of the story that doesn't make sense? If there is, immediately revise. Add additional character, context, and plot details or sublots, as needed.
Ask friends and family members to come down to read your story. Maybe they will provide valuable input that you can include during the revision process
Step 6. Finalize your writing plan
Make edits and keep working on your story until you feel ready to share it with your readers. Your story should have a clear opening, middle, and ending. All chapters are important, but make sure you start your story with chapters that captivate the reader. Fix grammar and misspellings. Focus on delivering the final result as professionally as possible.
Part 2 of 3: Stand Out on Wattpad
Step 1. Upload an attractive profile picture
Try using an image that represents your writing style. For example, if you're writing a horror story, look for an image that is somber and sinister. If you're writing a love story, use images that are dreamy or magical. Choose images with high resolution so that they look sharp and give a professional impression.
You don't have to use a self-image. You can also put a cool picture of your shots
Step 2. Write a unique profile description
This profile description is almost like a cover letter. Write clearly but be able to captivate the reader's heart. Don't forget to include some interesting facts about yourself too!
You could write, "I am a dreamer who explores the world of fantasies, hallucinations, nightmares, and visions, who is also a part-time writer. During the day, I keep myself busy studying psychology at Gadjah Mada University."
Step 3. Upload an attractive high-resolution cover for your story
Many people buy books because they are captivated by the cover. Wattpad readers are the same. A good cover will stand out thanks to bold colors and evocative images. Choose an image that depicts an important part of your story (without divulging the storyline, of course).
- If you're friends with an artist, there's nothing wrong with asking him for help designing the cover for your story. Also make sure to mention his name on your Wattpad profile.
- You can find high-resolution photos on websites like Pexels and Shutterstock. Indeed most of these websites are not free. However, the costs you incur are commensurate with the results you get.
- Don't overlook the role of fonts when designing the cover. The color and size of the font should highlight the title. In addition, the style of the font must also match the content of the book. For example, let's say you're writing a funny story aimed at a young reader. For that, you need to find a font that looks odd and funny. Meanwhile, for a more serious book, choose an elegant font.
Step 4. Create a story title that can grab the reader's attention
The title should be short and catchy. Think of a title that both describes the main idea and is easy to remember. Spend more time exploring a number of ideas before you finally choose one.
- Use action words and strong verbs in the title to grab the reader's attention, such as Silently Falling In Love or We'll Never Be There.
- Also try using a mysterious title to grab the reader's attention, like The Invisible Family or Jacatra Secret.
- Consider using a one-word but striking title, such as Ex or Friendzone.
Step 5. Write a short paragraph describing the content of your book
Think of one thing that makes your book so special and a must-read, then write a short paragraph about it. Focus on the conflicts that plague the main character and the challenges that confront them. You can grab the reader's attention with a compelling description.
Part 3 of 3: Finding and Growing Your Audience
Step 1. Choose the right tags and categories to find your audience
Tags and categories make it easy for readers to find your story on Wattpad. Use keywords that accurately describe the content of your story. Also mention the genre, main theme, story content, category, and a series of other relevant tags, which will lead you to find the right readers for your work.
For example, if you're writing fiction about wars, use tags like Historical Fiction, “action”, and “war.”
Step 2. Rate your story according to its content
If you are writing a story for an adult reader. use tags and categories to make this clear. According to the content of the story, you can use tags such as “curse”, “adult reader”, “adult fiction”, and “sexual content”. If your story is targeting a young audience, use tags like “teenagers”, “young adults”, “teen fantasy” to reach the right audience.
Step 3. Present your story serially and present it more often
To build a reader base, you need to publish regularly and consistently. Break down your story into smaller chunks, such as chapters or episodes. Choose your story upload schedule, it can be once a month or once a week.
- Make sure you don't miss the upload date because this kind of omission will disappoint readers. However, life goes on, and if you are forced to miss an upload for some reason, of course, your popularity doesn't necessarily wane. However, you should try to avoid it because if you frequently miss a single schedule, readers will no longer trust you.
- Try to make sure that your story updates are worth the wait, especially after you've been on a longer break than usual.
- If you write your story before you start regularly uploading it, you don't have to worry too much about keeping up with your upload schedule.
Step 4. Interact with readers
Wattpad is more like a social media network. People can leave comments on your stories, and you can reply to them too. After posting your story, take the time to respond to any comments that come up. Behaving this way makes you feel more approachable, so readers will be more eager to recommend your story to other readers.
- Some readers may write criticism of your story, whether constructive or not. Take any advice with great pleasure, unless the content insults you.
- Thank the readers for all the comments submitted politely, whether in the form of praise, constructive criticism, or both.
- You may remove all harassing or hateful comments posted for your story.
Step 5. Ask the Wattpad staff to feature your story
Wattpad has a special category called “Featured Stories”. If your story is featured, it's sure to get a lot of attention. You will gain attention as a writer, and your other stories will reach a wider audience.
You can contact Wattpad staff via the Help menu. Be friendly, polite and humble. You also need to understand, maybe the Wattpad staff have received a lot of questions
Step 6. Include your Wattpad account link into social media profiles
You can do this using a personal profile, or you can create a separate profile for professional purposes, namely marketing your writing. Invite readers to like and follow your social media accounts. Don't forget to also interact with them on these platforms.
Step 7. Enter the Wattpad writing contest to get more attention
Wattpad always holds several writing contests at the same time. Sometimes they work with films that will be shown on the big screen or certain brands. By winning these contests, you will get more stages, and sometimes you can also win prizes.
- Check out the current Wattpad contests by visiting
- The Wattys is held annually with various awards, such as plot development, unique stories, and inspiring stories. This award is one of the most prestigious events on Wattpad.
Tips
- Avoid stringing stories with clichéd plots. It is not easy to make such a story. However, after spending some time reading the other stories on Wattpad and getting an idea of what has already been written, it will be easier for you to avoid clichés and come up with unique ones.
- Be patient. It takes time and struggle to gain popularity on Wattpad. However, as long as you remain committed to delivering quality content and positive interactions with your readers, the goal of gaining popularity is definitely achievable.
Warning
- Don't respond to hateful comments. Responding to comments like this only discourages you and takes away your confidence. You also need to know the difference between hate speech and criticism because some people may just point out your faults or mistakes. Don't think they hate you, while their goal is to help.
- Don't advertise your story on other people's Wattpad profiles. This action violates Wattpad rules.
