Writing on Wattpad: How to Decide If the Platform Is Right for You

Since 2006, Wattpad has grown to a community of over 90 million users, including readers and writers who gather on the Wattpad’s website and app to share and enjoy stories.

Anyone can join and start writing on Wattpad for free. Given the site’s wide reach, you might be wondering if Wattpad is the place for you to share your stories.

In this post, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of writing on Wattpad as an emerging author, and explore how it can help you build your platform.

Benefits of Using Wattpad as a Writer

Writing on Wattpad can offer several important benefits to writers, especially those who are just starting to build an audience.

Here are the biggest ways Wattpad can help you as a writer:

1. Expand your following.

Wattpad has over 90 million monthly users, a majority of whom are readers. That means there are a lot of people out there looking for engaging content.

Sure, you might have a lot of followers on social media, but not all of them are engaging with the excerpts you share or the book updates you post.

With Wattpad, however, even if you don’t have as many followers, you know they’re there for the story, so they’re more likely to become your future readers and book buyers. Wattpad readers tend to be very loyal followers, as well as a highly engaged community: once you establish a following, you’ll basically have a guaranteed audience each week (assuming you’re writing serial fiction).

All of your followers receive notifications each time you publish a new chapter or installation, and if you give them good content, they’ll keep coming back.

2. Get feedback.

Another great feature of Wattpad, especially if you’re a new writer or simply want to improve, is the ability to receive feedback.

Wattpad allows readers to leave in-line comments, which means readers can comment on specific things they like or dislike as they read through your story.

Having readers make suggestions and encourage you could be the push you need to continue your story, and knowing that they’re waiting for the next episode will keep you accountable.

Plus, you never know where some comments or questions might lead you. Maybe a suggestion from a reader will inspire you with a great idea for the next chapter, or help you out of a creative rut!

3. Create new opportunities for exposure.

There is no shortage of success stories coming from Wattpad. For example, at 17, Beth Reekles was offered a three-book deal by Penguin Random House for her book The Kissing Booth, which also became a Netflix film.

Similarly, Anna Todd’s Wattpad novel, After, which started as a Harry Styles-inspired fanfiction, reached over 1.5 billion reads on Wattpad before becoming a New York Times Bestseller and scoring a film adaptation.

Wattpad even has a partnership with HarperCollins, and representatives from the publisher scout the site for new talent, so you never know who’s got their eyes on your writing or where it could lead you.

4. Let your fans preview your work.

If you do decide to write a book, Wattpad offers a great platform for you to build interest about it and test out ideas with your readers.

If you’ve got a loyal following of 1,000 readers on Wattpad, then you’ve probably got a guaranteed order of about 1,000 pre-orders for that book!

Potential Cons of Writing on Wattpad

While there are several key benefits of writing on Wattpad, there are some potential downsides to consider based on your situation and future writing plans.

Your work may be considered published.

What’s wrong with your work being considered published? Well, if you’d like to see your work somewhere else other than Wattpad, like in a literary journal or magazine, most editors prefer work that has not been previously published.

Many might consider your writing on Wattpad published. However, rules vary from publication to publication, and as the success stories above show, the perception of Wattpad in the publishing industry is evolving, with many writers attaining publishing deals based on their work there.

It’s not an ideal platform for all genres.

All genres are welcome on Wattpad, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right platform for all of them. Consider this: 80% of Wattpad’s users are female, and 80% of those women are millennials or members of Gen Z.

The most popular categories are teen fiction, romance, and fanfiction. This means that if you write creative nonfiction or romances aimed at 50-year-old women, you might not find the same success as writers with a younger audience.

However, one potential upside is that will be less competition in your niche, so you could potentially still build a loyal (albeit smaller) following.

Engagement is expected.

This is obviously not a downside for every writer, but if you’re on the shy side and not a fan of frequent online interactions, Wattpad probably isn’t for you.

Readers love to offer feedback and engage with other readers and writers, and you’ll be expected to answer comments and questions promptly.

On the other hand, if you want to find success as a published author, engagement is something you should get used to anyway, because it’ll be an essential part of marketing your book.

Explore New Platforms

Wattpad isn’t the only place to publish your short stories or serialized fiction. Kindle has recently entered the game with a new platform called Kindle Vella, which is specifically for serialized fiction. Check out our guide to Kindle Vella to learn how you can get started.

Or, if you’re ready to get a full-length book out into the world, learn how to self-publish your book directly on Kindle.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

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Kaelyn Barron

As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.