People on Wattpad are in one of three categories:

>Reader
>Reader/Writer
>Writer

A reader is just here to read and nothing else. They aren't a writer and have no desire to ever be a writer. All they want is to read a book they aren't going to spend $14.95, read once, and then sell it for $1 at a garage sale in 5 years.

A reader/writer is probably the most common person on wattpad. They read and write/hope to write.

A "writer" in this definition is bad. A writer is someone that posts their stories and don't read anyone else's. You get to be a 'writer' one of two ways.

1. You start out that way.
2. You end up that way.

I'll explain further...

The first type:

When I began on Wattpad I was a 'writer' (well technically I had one of my fanfic readers ask me to read their story and I needed an account to do that). I started out reposting fanfic from my fan fiction account in a hope to reach more readers. I saw no need to be an active member. I just wanted to widen my fan base/readership. This type of writer usually reforms themselves.

The second type:

This is someone that has gained popularity on Wattpad and is too stuck up to interact anymore.   I'm not saying if someone is popular they are a 'writer'. There are many popular writers that are great at interacting with their readers. It's the writers that have developed a hubris and superiority complex.

If you are either a reader or the second type of writer...you're probably not reading my how-to wattpad guide so I will get on to the other types.

The wattpad first step:

If you're a 'writer' the first thing you need to do is accept the fact that you aren't going to get anywhere by not being a reader/active. There are millions of accounts on Wattpad. You and your book are a needle in the wattpad haystack. Once you've done this you will then proceed to the reader/writer first step.

If you are a reader/writer and have a story the first thing you should do is edit it.

But it's a first draft...edit it

I'm not saying it has to be polished and ready to be sent to a publishing house (which by the way it won't be) but it should at least look like YOU read it after you wrote it.

Do you have to edit? No. You are totally free to put up your work unedited.

This is one of those mistakes I made. I thought I was a pretty good writer. I figured I would edit it once I finished it. It is completely fine to take that stance.

Here is the problem with this stance:

First impressions are important. Say someone does happen upon your book, or you've asked someone to read it. You don't want them to walk in, see your book is in serious need of an edit, and walk back out do you?

It is your books first date and you sent it out in sweats.

This person has the potential to fall madly in love with your book but they won't if they write it off solely on how it looks. If your book isn't at least minimally edited, the biggest portion of feedback you're going to get is that you need to edit it. If you beat your reviewers to it by editing beforehand you'll get feedback on what you actually want feedback on; the content.

Next chapter I will delve deeper into this thing called editing.

Until next time...