Method of Madness – Publishing Your Story
by arrow_to_the_heart

If you've read the title, you might be wondering why it's worded as such. No, this does not mean the person who is writing this is insane (writing a lot of fanfiction may qualify me, though). This does not mean that you will become insane by the end of this article either. If anything, this will hopefully keep you away from madness.

While this doesn't exactly pertain to fanfic itself, it still holds relevance. This will provide you with some insight that will help you should you choose to be around Wattpad for years to come, and should you choose to continue reading this.

Let's set the scene, shall we?

You've got your story idea in mind. Your outline is constructed, from OC (original character for those not familiar with the fanfic term), to plot, hell to music and gifs you can use in chapters. (All these are a great foundation to help guide you when you officially start writing or if you get stuck at a certain point.)

You've written some parts of your book that may come later, but inspiration hit you early so you wrote them out before you lost them (this also helps, especially if the pieces fit with where you're currently at in your idea). You may have even reached out to a graphic designer for a cover or made one yourself if you are creatively inclined. You're super excited to get this thing rolling – better to act while the inspiration is still fresh!

The plot twist in all this? This is the first story you've ever written, and you've thought about showing it to the Wattpad world.

In all of this, there is one thing that hasn't been considered yet: how to go about posting to the website. It's not the first thing an author thinks of when it comes to their story; they want to build the skeleton of their idea first and then start adding the meat to it.

Believe it or not, publishing on Wattpad can affect a story, depending on what the author chooses to do. More on that later.

Do you feel like the first-timer, with those nerves twisting your stomach uncomfortably at the thought of strangers reading your work? If you were that author once, then you've most certainly felt it. If you're that writer now, you feel it.

I, like many here, were once in that same position. If you've never had someone outside of friends or family read your work, it can be very intimidating. Getting feedback from people around the world via the Internet is a risky business. You know what kind of feedback you're aiming for, but you are also aware of what kind you may receive instead.

Okay, Prim, you say, get to the damn point. Enough with setting the scene, no going on rants or rambles, let's get to the real meat of this.

Trust me, we're getting there. Have patience, young Padawan. (No, I do not consider myself a Master of fanfic. I just wanted to make that reference – and if you understood it, thank you. I appreciate you, Star Wars fandom.)

For those who are a bit gun-shy about publishing their first story, keep reading. Don't worry, this article isn't going to bite – this is to help you, not hinder. I am about to tell you about a method that has really worked for me. It may just work for you, too. I don't expect any thanks if this turns out to be for you, but it is appreciated all the same.

To me, there are two types of people when it comes to publishing your story. Let's call these type A and B – this may be the best way to categorize them. Just who are these people, do you ask?

Type A: The author who updates the story as they are writing it.

Type B: The author who spends their time writing out the full story prior to publishing.

Guess which type I belong to. No, seriously, go ahead. You got a 50/50 shot here. No, there is no prize if you guess correctly.

If you are familiar with any of my works, the answer will be very clear. If you are not, I consider myself a Type B. I am a writer who spends what spare time she has to write a new fanfiction (the occasional original concept). I am the author who writes out the story first prior to showing it to her followers.

Why do I prefer Type B so much? Well, when I first started on Wattpad, I was already doing that method. I had a few stories previously finished that I published.

I tried to be Type A once. Note the "once".

I wanted to see if I could do both publishing methods, because I had seen other authors be consistent in their updates with Type A. If I could run with a story, I could update after I finished a chapter, right?

It became very clear that I could not, in fact, do both methods. And that's totally fine, because not everyone can work with both. I have yet to meet anyone who can. Everyone has their preferences.

Bottom line: I lost inspiration on the story, and I got stuck. I tried, mercilessly, to get around the brick wall. I couldn't get myself back on track, and my updates suffered greatly. I couldn't recover.

The book ended up being taken down due to the inability to continue the strategy. Granted, the book did not have a mass following, but for those who did read it...I felt like I was pressuring myself to crank out my best work, barely edited, for my readers. I didn't feel happy with this strategy. True, my readers would be happy that they got an update, but I wouldn't feel it was my best version. If I didn't like reading a version that I wasn't happy with, I didn't like the idea of my readers seeing it.

I realized then that wasn't the best for me, or for my readers. My first strategy was my best.

Now, I'm not knocking Type A's; I give them credit for their method, because I know some who do this and they don't have their books on hold as a result. They pull off consistent updates, and I commend them greatly for that. To me, that's an accomplishment. It takes a special kind of dedication and consistency that I could never obtain.

If you are reading this and you are a Type A, then keep that up – don't let my words sway you over to the Type B side (not that I would have much influence over you, I don't have the power of compulsion). But, if you ever at any point feel like your method has stopped working, please keep reading. I'm not saying I've found your solution, but you may or may not already know of the alternative strategy.

If you have experienced what I just told you about the story struggle, then congratulations, you've realized you are better equipped for a Type B style publishing strategy. Sometimes it takes a bit to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Everyone operates differently.

If you are a first time publisher on this site, I would recommend being a Type B. As someone who has published 30+ fanfics on her main account (and a few original on her alternate) with this way, trust me, it's the more comfortable option.

For the first-timers, or simply the insecure, let me explain to you why this method may suit you better:

1) You will not feel pressure to write a new chapter by a schedule deadline. Life is stressful enough, don't let this pile on top – writing is enjoyment for authors, keep it that way.

2) You will be able to write at your own pace, on your own terms, allowing for breaks and the occasional happenstance that is life (because things can most definitely happen and derail you). Giving yourself room to breathe is critical.

3) You can take time to go through your story and make revisions. It's much easier to revise when a release date is months away or not set yet.

4) You can create a release date + update schedule based on your progress/comfort in your product and around your life outside of Wattpad. Pick the day(s) you know for a fact you can hop online and get out a new chapter(s) – don't try to get so specific like time of day, just the day(s) will work just fine.

5) You can assemble what you need prior to the book's start (cover, trailer, chapter drafts, etc.) so that you are prepared when the time does come to start updating

6) Your readers know when to expect a new book from you and a clear cut schedule as to when they can expect to see new chapters. I have some who follow on schedule to a T and let me tell you, it's really great – it gives you an idea as to how many dedicated readers you have for said book. Some will wait until the new chapter hits and just pounce once it drops.

7) Once your release date + schedule is decided, you can update on time without having your book be on hold (it is the greatest feeling!)

8) You can announce to your followers with confidence when you post an update due to said preparedness.

Just one thing to add on to #7 and kind of #8: If you ever cannot update on time (say, life happens, or you disappear from the site for some time due to illness), it's curtesy to let your followers know in some manner and keep them informed. You may get some questions from them during the time you are absent, but the clarification will put those to rest. It helps to let them know that you haven't completely ghosted on them, or your story. Nothing is worse than having a book get consistent updates and one day just stop all together.

Your readers/followers may not say it, but they will thank you for keeping them in the loop. Though I tend to read books after they're completed, I would appreciate it when authors reach out to everyone and give them an update if there's a change in schedule.

So, just what is the moral of this? It boils down to what you will find comfort in. You may find yourself liking Type A and rolling with the punches of abiding by an update schedule as you freshly write chapters. Or, you may be content with Type B, having your readers wait for a new book. Once it drops on Wattpad, they'll know that they will be getting consistent chapters on schedule.

For the first-timers and those who get the jitters when the idea of publishing scares them, Type B is a good start. If you wish to venture away from that after a time, be adventurous and go for it. You find what works best for you and your schedule outside of Wattpad.

Though this does not quite fit into the realm of fanfic, this can still apply. Fanfic or not, a story is a story. It is your creation, your baby, if you will. Find the strategy that best suits your writing style, whether it's writing and updating on the fly or writing a full story beforehand, giving it some revision, and then introducing it for the world to read.

I can't sway you one way or another when it comes to choosing your publishing style. Just don't think that if you fail with one that you have to stick with it. Oh gods, no! Try another method! Everyone has their niche.

Thinker: Which publishing method appeals to you more?