Welcome to the Wondrous World of Amateur Writing

Being a writer is challenging.

Becoming a published writer even more so.

Since the time of the Printing Press, the use of published books has multiplied numerously throughout the centuries. Works like Shakespeare, the Bible, Jane Austen- all changed the course of writing thanks to being published.

But what about now? As writing has become easily done and more and more people are using self-publishing options such as Amazon, Xlibris, etc., how does one writer make it in a world of easily published writers? What will help them make their work stand out?

I’m glad you asked!

As technology has developed, so has our outlets for writing. Places such as Wattpad, Reddit, Tumblr, and WordPress have become the popular medium to showcase their work. Each website offers writers different components, which, depending on what a person would like to write must be taken into consideration if you are to reach the correct audience.

As an amateur writer myself, I understand the importance-and the struggle- of this decision. The second problem is feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by these sites--their structures, their formatting, their users’ expectations--it’s almost easier to turn off your computer and go back to that journal you hide in between your mattress.

Or…

We can venture on this terrifying journey together.

I’m going to give the pros-- and cons-- of some of the major amateur writing sites, along with what you can expect when using each site.

Perhaps you’re trying to start a new story that you want to be read and commented on, or perhaps it’s something more technical, and you’re looking for a community that not only understands, but can add feedback. Or, maybe you have a great idea for a new blog that you can see going long-term. How these choices are depicted will make all of the difference in the world.

To start this journey, I’ll be looking into Wattpad and how and why it’s so popular.

Until next time...
Keep writing!

The Wondrous World of Wattpad

Welcome to the wondrous world of…

Wattpad! Ta Da.

Wattpad is one of the largest amateur writing communities, ranging from fan-fiction to published stories (yes, people become published through Wattpad sometimes). To start off, here’s a little bit of history on the site.

Wattpad began on November 2006. It was originally used for the distribution of E-books, thanks to the Gutenberg project. After that, Wattpad became more based as a storytelling website, which was more accessible after a mobile application was created for it. Now there are over 45 million users, worldwide.

But why is Wattpad such a worldwide phenomenon? The answer: reading and writing. Wattpad allows users to follow accounts or add books to their personal library, which can then be read on the go from any mobile device. Each chapter ends with a comment section that can be used to let the writer know if you enjoyed their story or what could be changed. If you’re desperate to get more views or followers, you can even ask them to vote for your chapters, but that’s frowned upon so…

Don’t do it.

Getting votes or views can be tricky, but Wattpad has linked up almost every social media site for your writing to be posted to, which can then bring in new readers for you. Another great way to get noticed is to join one of the many, many--and I do mean many-- contests that are hosted. For instance, I just wrote a short story on what beauty means to me and how it relates to the new Beauty and the Beast movie.

Another benefit that Wattpad offers are the hundreds of writing groups that you can join, which allows you to post your story and a cover photo. See? Wattpad has many opportunities for an amateur writer. You just have to be diligent about keeping up with your stories, and responding to someone that comments back.

I also discovered that Wattpad has become so popular that outside sites, such as Adobe Spark and Canva, will create book covers to be posted to someone's stories on Wattpad. That's bananas. I attempted to use both of these sites last night, actually. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped. Although I believe that is due to my inability to handle technology and not because the sites had problems.

For those considering whether Wattpad is right for them, a heads up about the demographic. Most users are in their preteen and teenager years, with a small percentage in their mid-twenties. Although there are fantastic books written on Wattpad, the majority of the story content are fan faction and unfinished chapters of those trying to create a name for themselves.

If you're looking to remain in the millennial or professional age, perhaps Reddit is a better fit. I'll be getting into the back story of Reddit and how to use the site in my upcoming post.

Until then-

Keep writing!

The Wondrous World of Reddit

I’m going to be honest: I’m terrified of Reddit.

The website’s design, the subreddits, the redditors who are articulate and well educated on a subject, and the neverending subject lines- they all scare me.

So I decided to first learn about the site from a very safe distance. The distance called Google. And Google brought me here:

https://about.reddit.com/

It looks so non-threatening right? A good way to become introduced to the site, I think. Colorful, happy images, nice bubbly looking letters.

I think we’re off to a good start.

Now we start our actual journey to Reddit.

Reddit was created by two college kids that wanted to create a space for others to interact, ask questions, and be able to incorporate ideas and conversations.  According to Digital Trends, the most important component to using Reddit is to remember to share. Sharing comments, links, videos, and information is what makes Reddit run, so as long as Redditors do that, Reddit will continue to thrive. Not only that, but apparently Reddit has the ability to upvote and to downvote. The more people upvote something, the faster it gets to the front lines for others to see it. In the same sense, the downvotes do the opposite: the more downvotes, the more it will be pushed back.

Now, onto the topic of subreddits, or sub categories created within the Reddit universe. Apparently, these are communities devoted to smaller niches or topics, which range from Minecraft lovers to specific historical events.

These sub reddits will also include its own lingo, such as “OP” (original post), TIL (that I learned), and AMA (ask me anything). Apparently in the AMA, this is quite common during interviews with influential and/or interesting interviews, where redditors can ask anything. That sounds pretty cool to me.

In the same way that Wattpad can show votes and likes, Reddit has a thing called “Karma”, where the number of upvotes can be seen on a redditor’s profile.

In reality, Reddit is used as a place to escape the “exhibitionism” of other social media sites. There won’t be pictures of people working out, having a cheeseburger, or taking a selfie posted on the site--unless it’s for humorous purposes.

Reddit is a community, built for people who are both professional and blue collar. Anyone can join it and it has something for everyone--I know; I’ve checked.

Speaking of having something for everyone… Pinterest is the place to discover everything. From how to tie your shoe to designing your perfect wedding (groom not needed).

Until next time…

Keep writing!

The Wondrous World of Pinterest

Have you ever been on Pinterest?

I have.

Oh… I have.

The problem with Pinterest is that it’s neverending. You can create boards, can like something and can search every single topic that pops into your mind.

Recipes? Got it. Ideas for Christmas crafts? Sure. How to murder someone? Probably not.

But you can look up how to kill off book characters, get psychological tips to get someone to tell the truth, or just search a list of anime characters, forever.

Although Pinterest doesn’t count as an amateur writing site per se, it does act as a window into a vast world of blogs, journals, websites, etc. Pinterest, in essence, is a doorway to get amateur writers known.

Take Ree Drummond, for instance.

She was an amateur writer who began a blog series in 2007, which gained major popularity so that by 2009, she wrote and published her first cookbook. Food Network was intrigued by her popularity and charisma, and gave her a deal for her show.

Pinterest is geared more towards women (fashion and makeup tutorials are a good indication), but it doesn't segregate against men. Any one can like, pin, or share blogs through Pinterest, which is really what allows bloggers to be known.

Which leads me into my next segment on WordPress--a website designed for blog making.

Until next time...

Keep writing!