Everyone's Guide to Wattpad

Preparing to Write

Writing is an art, and art requires a bit of preparation. Before we delve into the depths of writing stories, I want to cover a few pointers that might be helpful when you get ready to write. 

Things to Know and Do

-Don't take your first story too serious. Many people that write their first story automatically think it's going to be the new prodigy story, but once they have it posted they can barely get ten reads. This can be quite repelling to writers. However, if you do things correctly, your first story can be great, and that's just the start.

-Start planning an original plot line. Have a good idea of what the beginning and end will be. Have scenes that you know you will have, and plan those out. The more scenes you have planned, the better -safer- you are. I will come back to this in a later part.

-Be inspired by it. If you are wanting to write for fame on Wattpad, you won't make it because your writing will be missing something. Write because it's your hobby and you love it. We aren't supernatural, hence, we won't like doing everything.

-Attempt to know your strengths and weaknesses early on. Most writers don't know their weaknesses in writing until they start writing and find they have a hundred mistakes, be it grammar, spelling, or even a part of the story that doesn't click in right. Knowing these things early on can help you brace yourself.

-Follow all the previous sections of the guide. Have an amazing profile, have many followers, and everything else. The more followers you have, the better. If you don't follow the previous guides, then you will have a bit of a struggle getting readers.

-Know the genre(s). This will essentially create events that revolve around it or them. If you have events in your head already, then what genre would it fall under? Once you know the genre, read stories on those genres. Learn about the genre, know cliches so you can maintain a good balance. The forums are a good place for this. Just look under the Categories section for the desired genre.

-Do not take notes all the time. If you are sitting on your bed on the train of thought, then that would be a good time. However, don't be taking a walk with a notebook in hand. This will drain the life from you. You aren't an idiot; you will remember the things that matter. The things that aren't important will go away.

-Not everyone will love your writing! Everyone is different and hence, you will get different responses. Brace yourself for this fact. If someone says says they don't like your writing, then just say, "I understand".

-Be open to advice. Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes. I've said this many times over the guide because it's important.

-Have a good writing place and time. Know when you write your best. Most don't realize until they start writing, but don't be up at midnight trying to write a story. I tried that once, and I failed. In the end I deleted that part. You want peace and quiet (if possible), and the point of day when your brain is functioning properly.

The most important rules of writing.

If you are going to remember ANYTHING from this guide, remember these three rules:

1. BE A GOOD READER

It cannot be understated how important it is to be a good reader while you are writing a story. Chances are, your favorite author has their own favorite author. And their favorite author has their own favorite author. The best writers in history were also likely the best readers. Historians (people who write history) read history books. Musicians read music. My advice? Read stories that are in the genre you hope to read in. And I would recommend reading PUBLISHED stories.

Don't get me wrong, Wattpad is a great place to read, but 95% of stories on this site don't get proofread or edited, and it can be easy to pick up on bad habits of other writers. 

2. HAVE FUN

Writing shouldn't feel like a chore. Writing is an art; a creative form of expression. Remember to slow down and enjoy the journey of writing your story. I think most stories that go unfinished are likely because writing turned into a chore. 

3. DON'T DO IT FOR THE LIKES

Writing for the likes is another quick way to get burned out. You'll be gravely discouraged at how poorly your book will perform metric-wise when you first start writing. If you're trying to get insta-famous or land a book deal overnight, this site is not for you. 

Again, writing is an art, so shouldn't you just do it simply because you enjoy it? I truly believe your work of fiction will be much better quality when you stop worrying about what other people might think.