I'm A Writer: A Guide For Writers

Chapter 5: Gaining Readers pt 2

It isn't easy trying to get your story out there, and build a name for yourself on a platform with over 90 million daily users....so here's part two of growing your audience!

1: Be Active

I'm not just talking about actively promoting your books, updating your books, or even engaging with readers you already have. I'm talking about reading. YES READING. Truth be told, reading other people's works, commenting, voting and overall being a very active (Friendly) member of the wattpad community can get you farther than you think. If you put yourself out there, slowly authors or even fellow readers will take note of your presence and chances are they will click on your profile and read your story. I know I've done it myself a few times. 

2: Make your story easy to find

With over 90 million daily users, there are hundreds of more in stories across wattpad. With the same titles, similar concepts and overused tropes. It's hard to get your story noticed. Just like in part one make sure you use the right tags (That perfectly describes your book. Even if the tag doesn't exist, use it.) And make sure your book is placed in the right genre, that way readers who are interested in that same genre can find your story. 

3:Write and edit your best

I know I've told people that I don't worry about proofreading since what I write here is a rough draft. But to readers quality matters. The more 'polished' your writing is, the more readers will stay. It doesn't need to be perfect! Okay! But make sure that when a reader comes across it, they can imagine the scenes and the character, they get the right feel or vibe of the story easily. Doublecheck your grammar, again doesn't need to be perfect, but it does need to be readable. 

4: Complete your story

I know most of us (I'm talking about me) want to gain hundreds to millions of reads while writing out our story, but the truth is. You won't gain a lot of reads (Only those who don't mind ongoing stories, are already loyal fans or read for reads) A lot of the readers on wattpad want and actively search for completed stories, for many reasons. With ongoing stories, there is a huge chance the writer will disappear (Poof!) put the book on hold, discontinue the story or move somewhere else. Readers get heartbroken easily. So naturally they go after completed stories. Plus some of us who don't know what sleep is want to binge-read an entire story in a single night. 

5: Be respectful towards others

I hope you're with me as I say this, but DO NOT SELF-ADVERTISE ON OTHER WRITERS BOARDS. it's rude, and no one will read your story. I'll also label you a nuisance and people will choose not to read your story because of that. If you want to self-advertize, do it off wattpad. Do it on Reddit (The wattpad subreddit) do it on Instagram and other social media. But for the love of a reader's sanity do not self-advertise on here (Except for promotional books)

6: The Reading Lists

Make sure in your story, in your small author notes to add a section that says simply 'Don't forget to add this story to your reading list' Believe it or not, the best thing you can do is get your book into as many wattpad readers a reading list. Other readers search those reading lists, and they will pick up books from them. It's the best way to get your book spreading around. But please, don't go to people's messaging boards and ask to have them put your book on a reading list, it's not nice. 

I understand you want your story to get popular and so on super fast. But again this kind of thing takes time. Some wattpad stars or wattpad creators took years before their stories started gaining in popularity. 

Don't worry, I believe in you :)