How many Wattpad refugees?

domisotto 2020-08-27 18:52:46 UTC #135

Hence, 'likely'. I don't think my expected lifespan is enough to see any of my books to hit 100K reads on Wattpad, I gave up even on 50K I coveted so much. Fingers crossed you get a lot of engagement here and on the Wattpad.

Prisim 2020-08-27 19:11:27 UTC #136

I won't lie, only reason I hit that 100k threshold over there is luck. Lots and lots of luck LOL When I first started I was doing the same shameful read for read and getting little results until I finally gave up on them after getting screwed big time doing a massive read and getting nothing in return. I met a like-minded friend on the forums and at some point I must've said something about my book that peaked her interest because she decided to read it after being very adamant it wouldn't be her cup of tea. Well she apparently fell in love with it and submitted it to be featured (back when that was still allowed and getting featured actually did something for a person. Now it seems like it's a mixed bag there) and that's how the first book exploded.

I really don't think I'd have the fan base I have today without her. But each newer book did get fewer and fewer reads, especially if I branched outside of my usual fantasy genre.

RDBurger 2020-08-31 07:54:44 UTC #137

Wow. That is a bummer. No more Wattpad Forums?

NellieVP318 2020-08-31 23:40:07 UTC #138

I have been on Wattpad for a while but never used it much until now.

So I never got to the experience the Wattpad forums other than I lurked over there. I just posted my story over there while ago. It's a shame I never got the full experience.

cherrystark 2020-09-01 00:33:25 UTC #139

Don't feel bad. I did get the opportunity to befriend some great people who were tons of help with my work, but over time it became a popularity contest. A lot of good writers got their stuff buried or had to barter with know-it-alls to only get a handful of reads and some not so helpful comments.

Leverance 2020-09-01 00:50:16 UTC #140

I second that @cherrystark. I've been on Wattpad for years and the increasing competition between writers isn't looking good. Instead of helping one another up like they did more before, it's more a popularity contest. And only after you break a certain threshold you can consider yourself having a stable reader base.

It's rough -- one of the reasons I decided to move platforms.

cherrystark 2020-09-01 01:08:30 UTC #141

Same @Leverance. I wanted to write and share my work. I don't have many writing buddies IRL so the chance to get good feedback was too good to pass up. I was fine marketing my stories but after a while, I felt like I was in a lose/lose situation. The people who were getting tons of reads were posting unedited stuff and using most maybe 55% of what they posted was essentially their diary sprinkled in with tags and their actual story.

Leverance 2020-09-01 01:13:06 UTC #142

I feel you @cherrystark. It was easier to gain reads, votes, and reading lists years earlier, now? Unless you get promoted by Wattpad or someone well-known it's almost nothing you get. Plus the forums were one of the only ways for new writers to gain traction on the site. They might remove the Newsfeed because of 'lack of privacy' which is yet another nail in the coffin. Some only get interested in that.

Yes, also that the same books with only minor variations get promoted on that site. So if you don't write in it, Wattpad will ignore you.

cherrystark 2020-09-01 01:17:47 UTC #143

Yup @Leverance and when your series is about a team of adults (not teens) working for a magical museum, people weren't a big fan on that site.

Leverance 2020-09-01 01:22:12 UTC #144

Exactly @cherrystark. I've noticed my Vampire and Fanfics does pretty well, everything else? Not at all.

cherrystark 2020-09-01 01:25:53 UTC #145

Before I deleted by WP account, my Marvel fanfiction was the ONLY story that was still picking up the occasional read.

Leverance 2020-09-01 01:27:32 UTC #146

@cherrystark Yeah ... Marvel and other big fandoms usually gain traction, I tend to write the somewhat more obscure or ships people don't normally think about. But I'm leaning mostly in BL in my fiction since it's a preferance of mine. I do plan to dip my feet in GL, though.

Wocalich 2020-09-01 09:30:18 UTC #147

I'm here from Wattpad as well. I must say, the achievements I had here came much more quickly than on Wattpad.
I was starting to believe my story was really bad before I came here.

domisotto 2020-09-01 13:18:32 UTC #148

My biggest problem is that even that doesn't work any longer. I've just had my completed story added to the Romance(!) curated list with 500K subscribers. In two weeks since, it gained... 10 reads. There is no accessible way up any longer on Wattpad, with the exception of the ways that will take you up elsewhere easier/faster (i.e. becoming a social media star).

This one just made me cry, because I wanted to be on the Romance list for 2 years. Wattpad made me feel that I can't get reads no matter what I wrote or how good i've become because I am bad with social media.

Here, on Tapas, I get what's most important to me: the organic reads from people who stumbled upon my story and gave it a chance. And that's all I want, a bit of visibility.

cherrystark 2020-09-01 14:06:51 UTC #149

I'm right there with you. While I still have my SM accounts, I don't use them anymore for the sake of my mental health and I got so sick of people when I was using social media who ONLY promoted something. The people here are really nice and want to celebrate with you.

cherrystark 2020-09-01 15:14:49 UTC #150

I will say that Wattpad has made me grateful for the good reviews. One of the first reviews I got when I posted my story to another site was top ratings and while they acknowledged it wasn't perfect, they could see walking into a bookstore and finding Cherry Stark books.

domisotto 2020-09-01 15:21:05 UTC #151

I love my Wattpad friends, and happy to keep reading their books there. I like it. But I just don’t want to keep posting new stuff there.

GothKrispies 2020-09-02 02:09:10 UTC #152

I love the Wattpad community and I miss the forums. However, on Wattpad you have to hustle a little to get any reads and without the forums and the SYS threads, I worry that I won't get any reads for my stories. A Reddit thread recommended Tapas so I decided to try it, since I'd already made an account to follow webcomics I like.

RyzaCobalion 2020-10-10 18:38:06 UTC #153

Hey guys! If any of you guys are writers and are looking for a place to chat with other writers than may introduce Carpe Librum Society Discord where i and many writers from Tapas be it comics or novels are a part to help each other. Give you pointers, help critique and a place to chat. Feel free to come!

Sadistic_Senpai 2020-10-11 08:50:30 UTC #154

I'm from wattpad trying Tapas. I'm posting my story which is BL historical fantasy I'm not an Emperor's sweetie Pie on both wattpad and tapas. The readers on wattpad are very responsive, active which I love. They motivate me to write more; they're lovely! But on Tapas, so far it feels barren.

There's an extension for keeping italic and bold formatting.