Wattpad Update #1
Now that I’ve been on Wattpad a month, it’s time for the first post in a series where–once again–Fox learns the hard way so you don’t have to. So if you’re new to this blog, welcome! And if you’re a longtime reader, welcome to this new series! I’m going to intersperse updates along with other posts; you’ll be able to find them all under the Wattpad tag. And hopefully, what I learn will be interesting. And helpful!
Book of Shadows currently has 1.3K reads, 158 votes and 118 comments. The highest ranking its achieved so far is 211 in “vampire.” As of yesterday (I update every Monday, Wednesday and Friday), I’ve uploaded fourteen parts: thirteen chapters plus a playlist. So for thirteen chapters, is this good? Is it bad? I have no idea. There’s relatively little information out there in the way of defining metrics, and certainly not enough to inform expectations. But I’m sure a lot of us have the same question as far as, what constitutes “doing well?” Especially for a work in progress?
Eventually, when BoS is finished, I’d like to get it featured. But that’s a long way in the future and right now I’m just concentrating on producing the best story I can. Which, incidentally, I do not recommend updating so frequently unless you have a good buffer. Rushed writing isn’t usually good writing. I posted Chapter Thirteen yesterday, but I finished writing Chapter Thirty One this morning.
So far though, here’s what I’ve learned:
DO respond to every comment, and be gracious. Even if you don’t particularly like what a person is saying (they take issue with a certain character, or scene, or have caught a typo, etc), recognize that they’re still taking time out of their lives to communicate with you. And, speaking as someone who’s published books the regular way, you’re going to get that feedback regardless. Getting it before the “real” book comes out is invaluable.
DO respond to every (appropriate) private message.
Do NOT hesitate to ignore someone, or to flag their message as spam, if they’re being gross or hostile or otherwise bullying. Yes, you’re putting your work out there. Your work, not yourself. It’s okay to have boundaries. I’ve had some people send me overly inquisitive, or just plain rude messages–although usually on Facebook–making assumptions about me as a person based on what I write about or demanding that I justify some aspect of my work, or myself. It feels awful. But just because someone thinks you owe them something, doesn’t mean you do.
DO include a reminder at the end of each chapter to vote, share, etc. People forget! Don’t flame them for it but, like, help them to remember. Politely.
DO join the community! Read other people’s stories. Vote on them (if you like them).
Do NOT do so with an agenda. Everyone can spot a faker. Really, people who think they’re so subtle…aren’t. Knowing that someone is reading your work so you’ll read theirs, etc, is a HUGE turn-off. If you’re genuine, and interesting, that’s going to attract people–and that’s also the only thing that will. Be a friend, not a scam artist.
Okay, so that’s the starting point. What have I missed? What, fellow readers and writers, are YOUR questions about Wattpad?
