The most important thing is to write the best book you can possibly write. Get inspired. Talk your idea through with someone you trust and be sure you have a story that inspires. Let your characters bloom in your head until you dream about them. David Mamet said that your main character is someone who wants one thing and one thing only. That may seem simple, as real people are complex, but writing is the distillation of some version of reality into a narrative.
I recommend making the majority of your sentences as simple as possible. Don't be afraid to keep them short. Tell the truth and don't try to sound like a writer. When you eliminate unnecessary style, your own voice emerges. This also frees you to add a stunning metaphor or a brilliant turn of phrase just at the right moment. These sentences will surprise and delight your readers, but not if they are over-used.
Work on your cover, or have a designer create one for you. We do judge a book by its cover, but only to decide to click on it. A great cover can get people curious. My cover was okay at first, but ultimately I realized it was a drab mess. I spent a lot of time getting it right.
Once you post your work on Wattpad, be patient. I was not patient. My work sat for months with very very few readers, no votes, and no comments. It was maddening. Join a reading group and check out other people's writing. Start a conversation in the comments with an author who is doing something like you. Wattpad is a social network. Network and be social and after a while, people will check out your work.
YOU ARE READING
Advice From Writers
RandomAs Talent Scouts, we get to talk and interact with many different writers every day. We are always listening and learning from these interactions, and we see how every Wattpad journey is unique and how different strategies work for different people...
