Writing and Wattpadding (a guide)

Starting Out

I know there are many people on Wattpad who are readers only, but those numbers are constantly shifting. Readers get inspired to start writing when they read stories they enjoy and I just find that completely amazing. 

From experience to hear (see) the words from someone that something you wrote inspired them to start writing, it's the best feeling in the world. Probably the most rewarding feeling a writer can ever have. Beating out getting paid for your work (though I don't know that part from experience.)

Here are a couple of the questions that I've gotten from people, and I'm going to try and answer them to the best of my ability. 

1) How do you start writing a story/where do you get your ideas?

2) How do you write a story that other people will like?

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How about we tackle that first question there... Starting a story and getting your ideas. 

Every person is different, and what works for one person doesn't work for everyone. In my case though, the best way to start the writing process is to read. 

It's hard if not impossible to be a writer if you don't read. It's where all my inspiration comes from at least. 

I'm sure plenty of people have had that moment when they're reading a story and they look at how the plot is going and they think to themselves "this is good, but it would have been better if this happened instead."

It's in a reader/writer's nature to constantly think about what's going on when they read something and our brain's come up with theories and ideas. 

I guess what I'm trying to say, is to come up with ideas for a story you should read stories. Read and watch movies. 

Now careful when doing this. There is a difference between using a story as inspiration and turning it into your own story, and essentially just copying what someone else has already done. Your dialogue should be different, and your characters should have their own personalities and backgrounds. The story should have a plot of its own. 

To start writing a story, you first need to think of what your plot is going to be. You always want to have your concept before you do anything else. 

Don't worry about your title yet. 

Don't worry about your characters' names yet. 

Don't worry about the little things yet. 

Your main plot. 

What do you want the main problem to be? What is that central conflict? Where do you want the beginning to start out and what do you want the ending to be? 

Make your outline so you know how you're going to get from point A to point B.

Things will change and that's okay. In fact I find my stories to almost be better when the characters "take charge" and change things. They will do things that are true to themselves. You just have to make sure they don't solve the issue too soon. 

Once you have your main outline then it's time to start filling stuff out. Getting some of the smaller details. 

Once you've done that is when I would suggest picking out your name. You want something that applies to your story. For everyone that something will be different. 

Then you start writing. The best way is to just go at it. It's always easier once you have that outline. 

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Now for that second question, the one that everyone wants to know because people area always looking for more readers. 

I don't concern myself with writing a story that other people will like. I write a story that I will like, because honestly that's why I'm writing. I'm writing so I can tell a story that I like that I have in my head. 

Chances are if you like the story that you have, then someone else out there will like it as well. 

In this case, all you can really do is what makes you happy. It isn't worth it to try and please everyone else, so please yourself. 

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That about covers it for today. If you'd like to know anything else for future entries, leave something in the comments or send me a PM with whatever you'd like me to talk about. Any questions and I will make an entry for it and answer your question the best I can.