Writing in chapters
There are many ways to enjoy the written word, from reading paperback books to stories online. Reading online, however, is a completely different experience to reading in print. While readers might devour a physical novel in one sitting, online storytelling allows creators the opportunity to upload their chapters in installments, keeping readers excitedly awaiting their next release.
Writing a story description
The description of your story is your elevator pitch to every reader. You don’t get the chance to have a personal conversation with everyone who opens your work, so you have to make sure your description draws in your target audience and gives them a brief understanding of what’s in store when they scroll to the first page. This is your big shot to impress, so make it your best! After all, stories with descriptions get on average 108x more reads.
Tagging your Wattpad story
If you had to describe your story in a handful of words, which ones would you choose? Wattpad uses tags to tell readers what your story is about. Tags also make your story more discoverable by allowing it to appear in several different locations across Wattpad—from search to tag pages and readers’ home feeds. Optimize your discoverability by using words that are accurate and relevant to your story.
Styling your story
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but first impressions matter when prospective readers are browsing stories. Stories with covers get 23x more reads than those without. Your best shot at getting a reader's attention? A striking, click-worthy cover that is a clear reflection of the story you've written. A great cover will tease what's inside or speak to one of the major themes. Here are some tips on how to maximize your story's appearance.
Character development
Stories are about one thing: a person's ability to change. By the end of the story, you’ll end up with a different character than the one you started with, or with one who failed to change in the face of events that affected them.
Point of view
Deciding how to tell a story is a critical part of the writing process. The voice that comes through accompanies readers throughout your story, allowing them to connect with your characters and engage with the plot.
Writing effective dialogue
Dialogue should be two things: purposeful and compelling. Dialogue should always have some reason for existing, be it to develop an important plot point, flesh out your character, or even to simply set the scene. If the dialogue isn’t achieving anything, then it’s only taking up important real estate in your story.
World-building
Whatever genre you’re writing in, effectively establishing your setting is a powerful way to ensure your reader feels immersed in the story. That said, certain genres require a lot of heavy lifting to make sure that's the case.
