Wattpad: What Self-Published Authors Need To Know

Launched in 2006, Wattpad is a free online publishing platform with over 70 million writers and readers. Authors of every possible genre have been flocking to Wattpad to discover, cultivate, and build a community of their own unique readers by instantly publishing work on this social media site. Most recently, Wattpad has caught the attention of HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Paramount Pictures, and NBC, among others.

Sounds great, right? But is it right for you? In order to decide if Wattpad is the best way to build your fan base, you should know the pros and cons. Here’s what self-published authors need to know about using Wattpad.

Is Self-Publishing On Wattpad Right For You?

Why you might try publishing on Wattpad

Whether you’re a writer who’s just starting out or a seasoned veteran, publishing a story on Wattpad will bring your work to a new, receptive audience. Being able to promote your work directly to potential readers can be an invaluable tool for any author. And like any other social media platform (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, etc.), Wattpad is free to use.

And yes, the rumors are true: Some authors have achieved amazing success by publishing on Wattpad. For instance, Anna Todd’s Wattpad novel, After, reached over 1.5 billion reads on the platform — then went on to become a New York Times Bestseller and score a movie deal with Paramount Pictures. Todd’s is only one of the many success stories that began on Wattpad before being scooped up by traditional publishing.

For new writers, uploading a vignette, short story, novella, poetry book, or novel on Wattpad will allow you to present your work to a large community of readers, which can be a good way to get feedback.

Writers with publication credits and an established following can use Wattpad as a way to give their readers immediate access to their latest work.

While there’s a great variety of genres on the platform, writers of science fiction and fantasy will definitely find an avid, interested community of readers looking for the next Kurt Vonnegut or Isaac Asimov. And Young Adult is also a very popular genre on Wattpad.