Writer's Guide 101 (Wattpad Edition)

LXXII. End of Wattpad DM's + Alternatives

Just as when this site couldn't get any worse, they are now hellbent on removing the DM feature.
If you're wondering what this is all about, basically private messaging won't be possible anymore so people are now jumping ship and moving to other sites.
The reason Wattpad is doing this is to combat spam and suspicious messages targeting users (especially minors). Now, here is the problem: This is like a parent trying to ban the Internet from the household instead of sitting down and teaching their kids how to use it responsibly.
To me, DM's are important, especially for private conversations and connecting with various authors.
I know talking about my political views and personal woes out in the open could freak out potential followers away so talking to someone in private is a lot safer. People wouldn't be bummed with notifications whenever I post a lot.
I just wonder why Wattpad couldn't give us a choice to disable comments and messages similar to Twitter or YouTube.
If you wanna know what alternative sites you could get into, I've got somethin' for 'ya! Remember, this is just based on personal opinions so take them with a grain of salt. Try considering what is right for you and could be used in the long shot!

• Facebook

I know I sound like a boomer for suggesting this but it's also great for finding groups of like-minded people and posting updates without limit.
Create a page dedicated to your fandom, post random art, work-in-progress and even give shoutouts to other creatives around the world. Make an eye-catching cover photo and reels.
I would recommend you guys create a separate account for safety reasons (NEVER. EVER. USE YOUR REAL NAME).
What I like about Facebook is it doesn't have that ridiculous character limit like Twitter does and also very accessible to everybody. Speaking from experience, just don't use it as your go-to source of news though as Facebook is tends to be filled with misinformation.

• Tumblr

When I first heard of Tumblr, I was put off by the simplistic look of the site, SJWs (social justice warriors) who get offended by almost everything, toxic fandoms and constant misinformation.
It may not be as popular as it is then, but I heard it's gotten a little better now after the bad apples have moved on to other platforms.
It is a great microblogging site built for niche fandoms, art and writing while wanting to stay anonymous. There is no algorithm. Instead of likes, you get reblogs.
    The only issue is it's not gonna have the same level of reach as Facebook does in other countries. Aside from the fact that a majority of Tumblr users are young adults between ages 18-35, they are mostly popular in the United States, U.K., Germany and Canada. Let's not forget that it's banned in places like China, Kazkhstan, Iran and Indonesia.
The quickest way to get discovered is by using the right tags to your post. The majority of the userbase there are visual beings meaning images or videos are gonna be a lot noticed than mere text.
    You can also customize the look of your blogs. I am glad they are now offering an option that prevents AI from using your info.

NOTE: NSFW content are not allowed or else you'll get banned! Use disclaimers if necessary.

• Kobo

Based on my limited knowledge about the platform, Kobo allows you to earn money by publishing on their platform. As long as you have a PayPal or some sort, you can set up a price for each book. The problem is it's not widely popular in other countries like Wattpad does.
Looks like you're gonna have to do cross-promotion between Kobo and your main social media.

• YouTube & Spotify

Yep! You can also make videos and audiobooks on these sites, respectively. Try posting WIPs (work-in-progress), tips, memes, shoutouts or recommendations to garner a huge audience.
    Always remember that consistency is key — you gotta keep pumping content as much as you can so you get picked up by the algorithm. Both are free and accessible for everyone.

• Webtoon

In case you haven't known yet, I also do "cross-promotion" between Wattpad and Webtoon.
One of my books, "SYNTHETIC BLUE", is on Webtoon Canvas (which means it's free to read and can be put anywhere) and anyone who first discovered me there may also be led to my other works here on Wattpad.
While they don't exactly have DMs but as the creator, you can post updates and create polls on your profile.
People can also leave comments, reactions and likes there. I would show extra art there on separate occasions.
I barely get any interactions on my work aside from over 6,000 views and 37 subs so would you guys be kind enough to commend, like and follow me there? ((ヾ(｡・ω・)ﾉ☆ﾟ+

• Ko-fi

If you're thinking of earning money, you can do that as long as you have Stripe or Apple Pay. I recommend GCash to anyone living in the Philippines.
You can share quick updates, get commissions and receive donations (even via messages). I am still taking time to navigate the site and building my platform there before setting up a payment service.
I do apologize for being slow at these kinds of things so kindly bear with me here!

• MS Word/Google Docs + E-mail

For me, I figured it's best to have backup copies of your stories on Google Docs and e-mail them to myself. It would be nice to also have backup on your computer.
I can tell from experience that just keeping it on your hard drive or USB alone doesn't always work especially when they could get corrupted, lost or damaged. It wasn't just my ol' files that were affected, but also those holiday photos I took in Dubai (oof!).
You can share stuff from Google Docs with other users by providing them a link to that file.

• Personal website or blogs

I can't stress this enough. If you're an expert in web design and already have an established following, try building your own website. Your site, your rules. No algorithm.
Here is a quick graphic design lesson:

1) Always consider the main theme and demographic. For example, if you're an adult romance writer, you can go for that mysterious fancy aesthetic and fonts playing with colours black, red and white.

2) Keep it simple and clean (e.g. background shouldn't be too distracting, text should be easy to read).