How Wattpad Changed My Life
The beginning of my writing journey
Wattpad – a platform for readers and writers of all kinds.
I’m not exaggerating when I say all kinds. You can spot a profile publishing full-length life-changing novels and another posting their diary as if Wattpad is their notes app.
The place is chaotic, and I love it.
How it started
I was eleven when I was introduced to Wattpad. That probably isn’t a good age to discover a place infamous for smut and emotionally unavailable fictional men who shape-shift into werewolves.
Nevertheless, Wattpad impacted my life tremendously by encouraging me to finally publish my work.
I’ve always loved writing stories but never had a medium for it. I struggled with self-doubt and confined my stories to notebooks because I believed my stories were inferior to those already in the world.
However, unlike traditional publishing, there isn’t any extreme moderation on the website that ensures only the best works are published. This comes with a con and a benefit. Great quality, for instance, stellar grammar and vocabulary, is not a must, so most published stories are peppered with poor language. However, anyone with a story in mind can write and share their craft.
This was a game-changer. Back then, my English was horrible, but I had many ideas that I yearned to develop.
Falling in love with the process
Wattpad offered me a pressure-free environment. There was no expectation, which allowed me to experiment with writing styles and genres.
Eventually, as my story gained readers, I was compelled to improve my book’s quality. However, despite the growing attention, I wasn’t stressed. Instead, I was invigorated. It pushed me to be better.
I could write for fun and watch the viewership climb.
It was the first time I truly fell in love with the writing process.
I enjoyed creating characters, developing plot lines, and crafting dialogue. Writing slowly transitioned from a hobby to a passion. I owe it all to Wattpad because it gave me the platform I desperately needed to develop my skills and explore my love for writing.
The realisation
My dream to be an author was born from Wattpad’s influence.
In fact, my pseudonym originated from the main character of the first book I read there.
Sharing my work and receiving feedback from readers was a validating experience. It showed me that my writing had value and that people enjoyed reading my stories. Without Wattpad, I may have never realized my dream of becoming an author.