Hey, Everyone! I'm very excited to be participating in the Wattpad Block Party with some of my favorite Wattpad authors who have inspired me in my own writing. It's almost too much for me. It's was a big #ICANTBREATHE moments when I found. It's hard to believe that I started out on Wattpad only four years ago, but what an adventure it has been. I originally had planned to have this post be a sneak peek into some of the new content I'll be posting this coming year, but I changed my mind at the last minute. I decided I wanted to share what I think is good advice for those looking to write or have started write on Wattpad. Some encouraging words from me to you--hopefully they will be insightful.

Also, to celebrate the Block party I will be giving a special shout out on my page to two lucky readers. These two lucky readers will also win an in-depth critique on the first ten chapters of their book. So, make sure to enter the giveaway for your chance to win! I hope you enjoy my post!

--Ashley Michelle

Why You Should Ignore the Hotlist (and create better content)

I know what you're thinking, and no I'm not crazy.

But your books have been on the hotlist, Ashley.

Yes, they have, and I used to get very excited to see that ranking number on my content. So, trust me—I get it.

But here's the thing people won't tell you: The Hotlist isn't everything and it would be a poor idea to rely on it completely.

Don't get discouraged if you don't see your book up there. The hotlist is generated by an algorithm, which is something that wattpad doesn't say. So, it's not just the votes and reads anymore. It used to be back when I first joined but now it's not. This is why you see it change so often and it's also why if you want to keep your spot on the hotlist you have to regularly post content. The extra stuff they have in there rotates the 10 top stories within each other. Its basically created an echo chamber where unless someone in the top 10 stops writing completely, their story stays up there and it makes it harder for others to breech, not to mention that if a previous top 10er starts updating again, their story will jump back to top 10 regardless of who is reading or voting.

I also feel strongly that it kills creativity in new writers and is discouraging to writers who are working hard to be seen. All they see all the time is what is hot and it's the same story with a different title and new face (cover). They come to believe that is the only thing that sells (which is not true at all).

Another problem with the Hotlist is it might not get you the followers you want.

What do you mean, Ashley?

While Wattpad is a beautiful community and I've personally been lucky to make great friends with many writers, it does have its down side (like any social media site). One of my books, His to Claim, hit the hotlist hard (and rather unexpectedly) back in 2015. It grew my following rapidly (and I must say I love my little potatoes very much). That being said I have had followers who haven't been the kindest or most upstanding people, who I've had to handle in ways no content creator here on Wattpad wants to.

These are people who I and some fellow Wattpader's refer to as mindless consumers. They are the readers that make demands and take without care, and if you don't listen to them they can be quite cruel. In the beginning it was hard to deal with. I just wanted to share my words and suddenly I had someone saying mean things to me because they didn't like that I hadn't updated or they didn't like that I didn't write the book the way they saw it. Now, I mostly ignore these comments but I know what it feels like in the beginning and I don't want others to feel that way.

These mindless consumers stay around the hotlist because that's all they look at. They aren't diligent in looking for good content by searching through their favorite Wattpader's reading lists, perusing forums, featured lists, and what have you.

Now, don't get me wrong—the hotlist is helpful in getting more people to see your content but I just don't think it's safe to completely rely on it or to think it's the end all, be all (because it's not).

There are other ways to get people to see your work. You can join contests (which I highly recommend), you can post in the forums (another very good way to not only get your content out there but also to make friends). I know personally, that I've promoted many Wattpad writers (either because they messaged me about their books or I found them on my own) and I know loads who have done the same. Those are just a few ways. So, trust me there are other ways beyond the hotlist to gather views for your content and building a following of people that you want to have around you.

Basically, you have options beyond the hotlist. Options I would highly encourage you to look into. This isn't me hating on the hotlist, as I said, it is helpful. I just want people to understand that it has no true bearing on your abilities as a writer or your book as a whole.

Now, that I've said all that...let me totally contradict myself and give you a couple of small tips to help you create good content that will have you slaying all the hotlist books

#1 Choosing your story

Now, I know the urge to write what is popular now is huge. All you have to do is spend some time on the hotlist, figure out what people are really into, and then regurgitate a similar story. I mean it will most likely guarantee you a spot on the hotlist.

Try to fight that urge.

What I'm about to say is really important: Tell a story that you are passionate about. Maybe your story fits with what is popular right now, or maybe it doesn't. Either way remember that trends are constantly changing. What is popular today, might not be popular tomorrow. So, just write exactly what you want to write. Not everything I write is popular, but it doesn't keep me from writing those stories.

For example, His to Claim has over 14 million views.

While, one of my short stories, Wicked Delights only has 4k views.

That's a huge difference in views. They are in different categories. One is a werewolf story (quite a popular genre) and the other is in the fantasy genre (a small genre). Still, I love both stories very much and I'm happy I wrote both of them. I just want you (whoever you are) to know that you shouldn't let trends keep you from telling the stories you want to tell.

Now, the process for deciding what to write is different for everyone.

For me, I usually put on some tunes and let my mind wander. I make a list of all the ideas that pop into my head, then I sit on the ideas for a little while. I like to wait until I feel that excitement over one of the ideas. The one that gives me that feeling is the one I chose to write about.

However, if you need help getting your creative juices flowing try looking up writing prompts and see if any strike your fancy, read a book, watch a tv show or movie, take a long thoughtful shower. (These are things that have helped me in the past).

#2 Brainstorming

Brainstorming? Isn't that what we just did?

Sort of. This brainstorming I'm talking about is way more intense. This is the time period when you'll be gathering all the concepts, characters, creating your plot and subplots, creating the world your story is a part of. Honestly, this is the time period where your idea begins to form into a story. This process is different for every person, depending if you a panster or planner.

Either way, brainstorming is an important part of creating good content. Content that people want to read. It's how you make sure your story is your own, and stands out above all the other cliché hotlist stories.

Now, there is nothing wrong with clichés.

Clichés are fantastic.

Clichés make our community go 'round. What would we do without our bad boys, clumsy nerd girls, possessive werewolves, broody vampires, our help hotline short stories? We would all be lost, or is that just me?

However, if you're going to write a cliché into your book (and let's be honest you probably are) you're going to have a lot of competition to fight and stand out against. That's why you need to turn those clichés on their head.

Perhaps, you love the bad boy cliché—but you want to stand out. Well, there are different ways to do this but I'll give you a simple suggestion.

Help us to see the Bad boy as three-dimensional person. He's not just some angst-ridden teenager whose acting out for the sake of acting out. He is a unique person with unique experiences that make him think, act, and feel the way he does. Maybe, his father and mother came to America from a different country and have had to struggle through poverty and living in areas that see more criminal activity. Perhaps, his ethnic background makes him a target for hate and racism. Your bad boy might have joined a gang for protection and money to help his family.

You see what I did there? I took that cliché and I made it more. Your bad boy now has depth, and reasons behind his actions that people can understand (if not relate to). Trust me, this is what people actually want. These are the books that win contests, that win awards, that win hearts and gain you followers. The reason? because you took something people were thirsty for and made it authentically your own without regurgitating.

This is why brainstorming is important. It gives you the time you need to create dimensional worlds and characters. There is no reason to rush your story. I usually spend about a month brainstorming before I even start actually writing (and I'm not even talking about posting).

#3 Time to write

The time has come to finally write your story, and you're stuck staring at a blank page. You want the first sentence to be magic, and that pressure is keeping you from actually writing.

Don't stress it.

Seriously, don't.

Everyone's writing process is different. Personally, I write all over the place. I'm like Picasso with my writing. If you looked at it before I was finished you'd be like...Ashley you have fifteen lines of dialogue over here, a kissing scene over there (and I don't remember any romance being in this story), and there's three sentences of this character talking about what they ate for dinner...what is happening?!

Write your story the way you want. If you're a pantser that probably means you'll be doing most of it by the seat of your pants, letting your characters take you wherever they want. If you're a planner it probably means you have every chapter outlined in detail and know exactly how you want your story to go from start to finish (thank you brainstorming!!). Either way, your process is your own—there is no wrong way to do it.

Let me hit you with a couple of first lines from some of my stories just to show you how it all has to start somewhere (just try to avoid someone waking up to an alarm clock. I think we can all agree we've had enough of that).

"Glory sat at her cubicle sipping on her coffee while she scrolled through page after page of unread emails." – Rules of Engagement

"I've been locked up for 182 days." – The Sidekick Program

"Tonight, ended the same as every other, with her crawling from the bed of another lover." – Something Borrowed

"The storm was picking up as I raced towards the old barn, boot slapping in puddles of mud." – A Familiar's Guide to Witchcraft & Love

The point of that was to show you that the first line doesn't need to be awarding winning stuff. All it needs to do is draw people into your world, whether it is a working woman who falls in love with a client or a high school girl who gets transported to a magical dimension. It doesn't really matter as long as it brings us in from the beginning.

Some people like having the beginning chapters be world explanation. While others just like to drop you right into it and explain along the way. Personally, I am in the second category. I like to drop people into the thick of my worlds (which can be jarring at times for some). I enjoy stories that start out with a bang (figuratively and sometimes literally speaking). I get bored with all the exposition, but it doesn't mean that books that are written that way are bad. Not at all. Loads of bestsellers are exactly like that.

One thing I would caution as you write, remember the audience your trying to give this book to. It doesn't mean you have to write it how they expect. It just helps to keep them in mind in terms to style, voice, concepts, possible graphic themes or what have you. In several of my books and collaborations I've discussed topics that are triggering. So, I understand sensitive topics require more awareness of one's audience. (I'm veering off topic).

In the end, just write and try to remember, this is a first draft. It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be written.

#4 Time to post

So, you've written your story and you're ready to start posting it—well hit that publish button.

Although, you might want to consider a couple of things before you publish.

First being the daily flow of traffic through Wattpad. If you really want those views, let me be the first to tell you that Wattpad busiest traffic days are Wednesdays and Fridays. That means there are more people perusing the site, giving your book more of an opportunity to be seen. So, if you decided to have an update schedule—let me recommend that you update on either or both of those days when you're just starting out.

Second, I'd say having a cover is helpful. The more professional and put together it looks, the better chances you have of people clicking on it. I know the old saying about "don't judge a book by it's cover" but I have to be honest and say that is exactly what people are going to do. That's okay though because there are loads of people making graphics on Wattpad. There are also loads of tutorials and free websites for you to make your own. Either way, you've got options.

Third is that description. Oh boy, this is the part I've struggled with. It's hard to know what exactly to say to get people interested in reading. One thing you should try to avoid is putting an excerpt from your book as the description (this coming from someone who has done that). If you want to put something from inside your book to entice readers, put a single quote that you feel encompasses a larger concept of your book.

For example, with my book The Sidekick Program this is the description:

❝YOU WILL HAVE A WORLD FILLED WITH ADORING FANS, ALL OF THEM CHANTING YOUR NAME. YOU'LL BE MORE THAN A CELEBRITY. YOU WILL BE A GOD.❞

After getting mixed up with the wrong people, spending time locked away, Elizabeth is put into the Sidekick Program as a form of rehabilitation. She gets herself paired with The Magician, a villain turned hero, the perfect person to mentor her back onto the straight and narrow. Only it's turning out that he's more of a liability than a mentor, with his drinking and gambling problems.

Her new life takes a drastic turn, when a faceless Villain starts recruiting other villains across the world. Supers have started to turn up dead in Silver City, and Elizabeth knows something sinister is in the works. If only she could get all the sidekicks on the same page, and keep her mentor from falling down the dark hole of his vices.

Life is hard in a time when everyone is wearing disguises, how is Elizabeth supposed to know who her real enemy is? And when the scales of justice begin to tip in the favor of darkness, will she turn back to the shadows or will she rise up and fight?

Is that the best description ever? No. It does however use a quote from the book that sets a tone, and grabs people's attention. When you make your description try to set the tone but leave people asking questions about what is happening that they turn to your first page and read.

Finally, your tags and genre choice. Sometimes it's hard to know how to classify your story. I know I've struggled with this several times. Is my story fantasy or paranormal? Is it Romance or Chick lit? Is it Adventure or Action? It's hard to know where the line is at times. So, it really comes down to you but do try your best to claim the right genre, this will help people who are looking for books like yours.

This goes for your tags as well. This is how people find books they want to read. Bringing it back to our Bad boy trope because it's popular. Perhaps, you've written your bad boy story and it is looking good. You've done some editing (which I do recommend before publishing--people are attracted to stories that are well written).

Side note: There are programs you can get that will help you beyond spell check. I know a lot of people use grammarly and seem to really like it. You could also check the forums from people who enjoy editing, there are loads of people on Wattpad who love to do that sort of thing.

Anyway, so you've got your story ready and you need to tag it. What do you put in? Well, the most obvious is bad boy. Depending on your characters you might tag POC. Perhaps, high school if that where it takes place. Teen fiction. You see where I am going with this. I'd say ten to fifteen tags is good, and try to make sure they are relevant to your story.

At the end of it all...

Writing is a process, and getting people to appreciate and view your work is a process. It's not usually something that happens overnight. It takes time and work. It's not something everyone has the patience for. As I said at the very beginning of this post, I've been on Wattpad for four years. I didn't start getting many readers or a steady following until almost two years into my time on Wattpad.

However, if you love writing and you want to share your words with world. I think Wattpad is a great place to do that. I've gotten many great opportunities from Wattpad (like publishing my book) and meeting wonderful people. Sure, it isn't a perfect place, but perfect places rarely lead to good stories. ;-)

★ ★ ★

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