News & Updates

Radish & Wattpad Futures

Radish

I'm sure many of you have noticed an increase of Wattpad writers posting their stories on an app called "Radish" that users have to pay for (you pay by the chapter, I believe). Some of them are even withholding Wattpad updates for a week or more in hopes of "encouraging" readers to hop on over to Radish and start paying for updates.

Let me just start by saying I'm not going to be one of those writers.

(You can all breathe a sigh of relief now, lol.)

Radish was brought to my attention a few months ago by one of my readers that suggested I try it and make a bit of money off HoS since I had to spend several months at home looking after my mother-in-law (MIL) when she had her triple bypass surgery.

I looked into it, but there wasn't really a lot of information available for me at the time. So I left it.

Then, Radish approached me on Twitter (as they approached a ton of other writers) in hopes of getting more writers to write for them. That's when I inquired about it on a Facebook group and got a few responses from it that deterred me from using Radish.

There are three reasons why I will not be posting HoS (or any of my other stories, probably) on Radish.

Reason 1: I've noticed an increase in readers' discontent, which may or may not negatively affect their opinion and relationship with the writer (if one has been somewhat established).

You guys are the reason HoS is so successful. You guys are the reason I have so much fun interacting and responding to comments. You guys are the reason I feel even a glimmer of hope of someday being able to finish these stories, publish them, and live my dream as a novelist.

All of your feedback is invaluable, and it's one of the things I love about Wattpad.

Reason 2: These are all (edited) first drafts. I feel like it's morally wrong for me to force anyone to pay money for a first draft just so they can read the next chapter.

That's what published books are for. You want quality and the best product an author can produce? You gotta pay for it (just like the author has to pay editors, proofreaders, cover artists, etc. in order to make the book the best it can possibly be).

I may be missing out on a great opportunity for myself here, and I may not.

The way I see it, I'm not paying anyone to help me write this book, so why should I expect any of you to pay money to read it? True, I spend hours upon hours upon hours writing it, but that's true of any book. Right now, I'm just building my craft and having fun.

Reason 3: Wattpad's Futures Program.

Wattpad's Futures Program

I'm sure you've all noticed a few stories that have these short 5-10 second video ads placed between chapters. These are stories by writers that are part of Wattpad's new "Futures" program. To help keep Wattpad free for all users, while also enabling the writer to generate a small income from their stories, Wattpad is going through a trial phase of putting short video ads up between chapters.

As annoying as they can be, it's actually a great way to support a writer that is spending countless hours writing their stories for you to read, and it costs you nothing but 5-10 seconds of your time.

I'm sure we can all agree that watching a 5-10 second video isn't going to kill you. ;)

While the amount each writer makes from these views isn't very much (from what I've heard), it's still very encouraging and many writers are using these earnings to help them pay for professional editors, cover artists, marketing, etc. which all comes out of their own pockets if they choose the self-publishing route (and even the traditional publishing route requires you to market yourself, set up your own book signings, etc. that all comes out of the writer's pocket, though there may be some reimbursements, I'm not sure).

This new program may have come about due to many Wattpad writers switching over to Radish. In an effort to keep promising Wattpad writers and cost-conscious readers happy.

As you all probably know (if you've been stalking me, or read my latest Author's Note in HoS, Part III), I've recently been accepted into Wattpad's "Futures" program.

Given my inability to work a full-time job the last 5 months since my MIL's initial heart attack and triple bypass surgery and almost constant care and numerous health-related appointments, getting accepted into this program probably won't ease financial burdens, but tucking away the earnings into a savings account would help to cover future fees that I will face when I am ready to get my babies ready for publication. I know a bunch of you can't wait to get signed copies of my books into your hands, and I can't wait to get them to you.

So please, wait patiently between each chapter as you watch the same stupid video for the hundredth time, and remember that you're doing me a huge favour when you do so!

Thank you so much for your time!