@empiresofwater
Hello I am reaching out to you see if you'd be interested in a book review and interview for BOM, on the Adult fiction profile. We would love to showcase your book Chimera. If the prospect interest you can reach out to me via discord elsa_kerker3 or let me know what form of communication you prefer so we can converse from there.
Hi everyone! I stepped back from Wattpad a couple of weeks ago and having been off it now, I don't know if I will return. It's been a (mostly) great few years on here, since I started in 2017, but now my heart is very much in my off-Wattpad writing. I will always be grateful to the readers here and to the fact that I got incredibly, insanely fortunate to get my traditional publishing deal through Leeward being posted on here three years ago.
I love everyone I have met here, readers and writers alike, and I'd love to keep up with you off Wattpad. I am kdayshauthor on all social media if you'd like to keep up with me :)
I may be back for ONC next year but I'm not sure I will write/read around that.
Good luck to you all xx
@empiresofwater good luck in all your endeavors with trad publishing! I loved Damnatio and your writing!!! o7 I’m a huge sci-fi/fantasy enjoyer, but the suspense and the complex characters and relationships were so deep and well written! Farah and Rosalin hold a special place in my heart—they were so cute together especially in the ending.
Hey! I noticed that you have a Sci-fi book. Would you be interested in participating in the Strawberry Ice Awards on my profile?
After thinking about it, I don't know how to feel about not getting onto the shortlist. I'm relieved in a way as my heart was not in Damnatio and I never should have entered it but also.... I'm a bit gutted because I never do well in ONC and it's almost embarrassing that someone who writes professionally can't do well on Wattpad XD
I guess that's what it comes down to and why Wattpad has always been a bit of a question mark in my mind. The publishing industry is a stressful place but it's my world and I love it and the fortune I've had in it. What I'm saying is I'm not sure what my future is here. I would like to enter ONC again but I hate that the contest prompts these doubts every single year and every time the lists come out and I don't do well. I have enough of those doubts off of Wattpad to add to them here XD
I might step away for a bit, especially as I have a hugely busy few months coming up with events and talks and deadlines! If you want to follow me, I'm kdayshauthor on Insta (where I'm most active) and all social media ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, love you all xx
@empiresofwater I confess I'm a bit disappointed mine didn't make the short list either this year. Still, I remind myself the best part of the ONC is engaging with other writers and readers and enjoying the ride. It's also worth realising that probably only 2 or maybe 3 people were actually involved in the judging of each story, to get through the numbers, and people's tastes vary, so... that's the way the cookie crumbles... Concentrate on all the positive feedback from other writers :)
@empiresofwater I agree with the previous comment. What I have learned is that many readers in Wattpad sometimes don't like to see the reality of life especially in writing. People want fantasy and the unrealistic expectations. This platform has changed for the worst and will only go after the things that are popular genres and those that have more reading numbers. That's why many people are leaving this platform because it's focusing on business rather than creativity. Writing is all about creativity and it shouldn't always rely on business. Still do not give up on your creativity. Also look at other platforms to extend your stories.
@empiresofwater I have to say, I thought Damnatio was more than good enough to at least shortlist, but, and I fall for this myself far too often, I think we all have to remember that Wattpad is its own microcosm and really doesn’t work like the real world. You just have to look at some of the writing in stories that have millions of views. Conventional writing styles don’t do quite as well and, I think, really, really well written work like yours is kind of intimidating for general Wattpad readers. I don’t know where I’m going with all that, but, as always, my advice is do what makes you happy and damn anyone else. (Also, if you ever join Bluesky, give me a shout (roughly the same handle as this). That’s my cave at the moment and would love to keep up to date with your journey)
Congratulations to everyone on the ONC shortlist! Damnatio didn't get through and to be honest... That is okay! I had my doubts about that story and would have felt bad if it got far when my heart wasn't in it. People who were passionate about their stories deserve to go further :)
(this is where you can tell me nooooo you should have got through XD XD XD Go read my off Wattpad stories! They're so much better and I love them whole-heartedly :)
xxx
@AnnamitaMuscaria I might do. Not sure if ONC is for me or not tbh. None of my entries have ever done well XD
@AnnamitaMuscaria thank you! Wattpad more and more doesn't feel a place for me, but I might try again with ONC next year (this year with a better genre!).
@empiresofwater Hey, it's a challenge to try something different - that's the fun of entering. Winning something is a bonus. And look at all the different stories and writers you probably read that you may never have given a second thought. Besides, if you can advance with something you aren't happy with, just think what you could achieve with a favourite. Have a good laugh, it makes all the difference.
@lyttlejoe thank you! The best thing about onc is indeed supporting other authors and reading all sorts! The contest bit I always struggle with (and this is true of off-Wattpad writing competitions/awards too!)
@empiresofwater I love HV, but I like the emphasis on female cast in DM.
Congrats to everyone who made the ONC longlist! I'm really shocked because some of my fav entries didn't make it through, so I have really mixed feelings about Damnatio getting in. It's a story my heart was not in, a story whose quality I don't have faith in, and a story I shouldn't have written as I had bigger priorities offline.
We shall see how the shortlist goes but part of me wants to unpublish Damnatio as I really shouldn't have entered ONC this year. It just doesn't feel representative of my writing or the kind of writing I am passionate about.
@22Hamilton haha thank you! My best writing is not on Wattpad so my energy is never *fully* in my Wattpad stories but this story has very mixed feelings from me. I need to just focus on the community aspect of ONC and supporting writers, which is my fav thing to do ♥️♥️ I appreciate your comment!! :)
@Shivran86 haha I know the feeling!! I've barely left a dent in my tbr list XD hope you're doing okay!
I've just submitted Damnatio Memoriae to Round 3 of the ONC! To be honest, experience has taught me not to expect much but the most important thing is it's done!! Thank you so much for everyone who has read and enjoyed it :D
@DomiSotto thank you! I'm not expecting much and tbh, if this is the year it does get some recognition, I'm not sure how I'll feel as my heart was really not in this entry like it was in Chimera and Prodigal Son which didn't get any wins/mentions lol. I consider Damnatio the weakest story on my profile so we shall see XD
The final chapters and the end note of Damnatio Memoriae is now up! Against all odds and the stresses of deadlines and time, it is complete! Thank you EVERYONE who has read, commented and voted. It means so much to me!
I don’t know if it was a wise decision to write fantasy but I nevertheless enjoyed the experience (mostly lol) and am proud it is another story done :) Hopefully the judges will like it but if not (like all the other ONCs I’ve done XD), never mind! I’m happy it is done and it’s come to be a story I’m relatively proud of, which is all I can ask for.
Enjoy!! And thank you for being along for the ride :)
https://www.wattpad.com/story/389218086-damnatio-memoriae-onc-2025