How to Make Money on Wattpad The Savvy Worker

“A writer is a person whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people” – Thomas Mann

If you love reading fictional stories then you have probably come across Wattpad. This is a platform that connects readers two writers. Long gone are the days when writing and publishing a novel would require months and years of coming up with a script to persuade a publisher. Nowadays, platforms like Wattpad and Kindle have made it easy for writers to create and publish their novels without much of a hassle. This system is not only beneficial to writers as readers can now access millions of books for free or an affordable subscription fee. Their are several ways of how you can make money off Wattpad.

Are you a writer who is passionate about sharing their thoughts and stories with the world? Do you often fantasize about plots and stories set in mythical realms or different romantic settings? If yes, then this is the perfect opportunity to earn passive income as usual your creativity with the world. Wattpad enables its users to earn money through a number of programs.

So what is Wattpad?

Wattpad is a social-storytelling, self-publishing platform with more than 80 million users globally that connects aspirational writers with readers. This site is recognized as one of the most visited and viewed sites on the internet averaging 150+ million pageviews every month. This site is not only for fictional writers as a plethora of opportunities are presented through various genres right fictional, non-fictional, short stories, poems, any books from more than 50 different genres. It is estimated that Wattpad users average more than 15 billion minutes every month and the platform. This presents an opportunity for a writer looking for a way to earn passive income.

Like all other social media platforms, your dominance or ability to make money depends on how many followers you have and how popular your book is. It is quite easy to amass followers in comparison to other platforms. This is because there are millions of people interested in particular niches that can be exploited to increase your follower base. This can only be done if you focus on a niche and ensure that you create quality and regular content.

How do you become a paid author on Wattpad?

To become a paid writer on the platform is quite simple. All you have to do is sign up on the Website, Android or iPhone app. This registration process will be detailed below. After completing registration you will be prompted to create a profile and you can start writing immediately this is complete. Your books become visible to the public once you hit the publish button. They are then posted in the Wattpad store and depending on the type of monetization method you selected is made accessible to readers. The readers are allowed to save the stories and books that they are Reading in their library. This library feature also enables pages to save books that they plan on Reading.

The site also has a “following” feature that enables writers and readers to follow each other. Once a reader follows you they are notified each Time you publish a chapter or post a book in the Wattpad store. Wattpad is designed as a social Media platform. Consequently, engagement between writers and creators is highly encouraged through features like commenting, joining book clubs, and chatting with other members.

How much do Wattpad writers get paid?

There are different monetization options on Wattpad. However, the most common and consistent one, known as Wattpad Futures, has already seen authors earning between $1,000 and $2,000 every month. This monetization option relies on ads that are placed in between the chapters of a book. Writers get paid when readers view and/or interact with these ads. This is a comparable monetization scheme to that of YouTube.

Can someone steal your story on Wattpad?

The simple answer is NO. If you are an experienced content creator, then you know the struggle of protecting your work from content hijackers and other unscrupulous kinds of people. If you are a beginner writer, then you need to be assured that your hard work will not be pilfered and exploited by others. Wattpad provides its authors with full protection under the copyright law. Writers are also provided with several licensing options that will ensure nobody gets to use your work unless authorized.

Advantages and disadvantages of Wattpad.

Like any other social media platforms Wattpad has some advantages and disadvantages. The pros and cons that will be discussed in this article are those pertaining to writers. This is done to help you choose between self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle.

Advantages

Some of the advantages of this platform include:

Ability to build loyal followers

Unlike other social media platforms where it is difficult to identify a target audience and cultivate a loyal following base, Wattpad followers are dedicated readers who are interested in the particular niche and writer that they follow. For instance, on platforms like Instagram you may encounter an individual with over 1 million followers but an engagement rate of below 2%. This means that a majority of this person’s followers and not interested in the daily content that is produced but only follow to have access to some of the content. Additionally, monetization models on such social media platforms have proven that it is difficult for influencers to say to their followers if they don’t have a dedicated base. However, on Wattpad you are guaranteed that the people who follow you are interested in your books and niche. It is much easier to monetize your writing on such a platform because the engagement rates are much higher than other platforms.

Look at it this way, let’s say there is a show that was released on YouTube for free. the creators of the show only released one episode and asked viewers to sign up on a different website which has a paid subscription to view the complete series. Most viewers are likely to pay the subscription because they’re interested in the movie.

Instant feedback on your work.

The process and success of writing is dependent on the ability of the writer to improve on their weaknesses and incorporate positive criticism from readers and other stakeholders. Wattpad has a system that enables writers to get instant feedback from readers. The system is quite efficient as you can get feedback within minutes of launching chapters of your book. You can then incorporate some of the criticism to improve other chapters and Mold your writings to fit the preferences of the reader. This system is quite efficient for a writer who is posting one chapter after the other as it can show you some of the expectations from the readers regarding themes and plot development.

Opportunities for development as a writer.

While Wattpad was created to connect writers and readers, the platform helps expose writers to a variety of opportunities that can help them solidify their career. This platform helps you connect with industry leaders and can serve as a medium for exploiting other opportunities such as script writing. Wattpad books can also be used as elements in your writing portfolio.

Increase visibility as a writer.

On Wattpad you can easily access millions of readers by ensuring that each of your work is appropriately grouped under the niche and genre. This enables the site to rank your work on the discover page there by exposing you to all readers looking for new books and writers.

Inspiration.

The writer you are able to access millions of other Wattpad books for free. This can serve as a source of motivation for your next book by exposing it to different writing styles and emergent themes.

Disadvantages

High competition

Like all other social media platforms, Wattpad comes with her competition particularly from the millions of writers registered on the platform. If you are a new writer you’ll have to contend with other established writers to become more visible to readers. This should not discourage you as competition only makes you stronger and contributes to the quality of your work.

Unsupported genres.

Wattpad does not support some genres particularly those grouped under nonfiction. Additionally, is majorly used by a younger audience which may affect your reachability. However, you can view this as an advantage if your general is not as popular because you can dominate the audience that fits your target description.

Comparison to other writers.

Some readers may compare your work and even insinuate that it is a copy of a different writer’s work. This may discourage you particularly if you came up with all the content and did not get inspiration from any other external source. Dedication and motivation is key to demonstrating your originality and proving your competence as a writer.

Now that you understand the basics of the platform let us delve into the different ways of making passive income through this website.

Can you make money off Wattpad?

The most common question I have encountered is can you make money on Wattpad? The answer to this is YES. The next questions most writers have is how to make money on Wattpad. There are a several avenues through which you can earn a passive income on Wattpad and they include:

Wattpad Paid Stories

Wattpad paid stories is a program that helps readers give back to their favorite writers through paying for their stories. The program is available in two modes where the reader either pays for the full story or unlocks different chapters on the pay as you go scheme. The readers purchase coins through Apple or Google Play accounts and can select between the two available modes. Writers are offered a coaching program to help them join the program; through identification of content that appeals to the readers and onboarding potential writers to the program. To be able to register for this program you need to meet some minimum requirements.

Minimum Requirements

You must be a Wattpad Star to enroll in the paid program stories. This is because enrollment into Wattpad stars helps expose a writer to more opportunities that would further their position in the platform.
Your story must be completed either on Wattpad, on Wattpad in draft, or offline in a manuscript.
Your story must be a minimum of 50,000 words with no upper limit on the word count.
The stories can be from any genre except Fanfiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Classics, or Random.
The story must be owned by you and be original.
The story does not have any minimum read count.

Themes that Wattpad paid stories program is looking for:

New Adult stories around university or post-university life that may include stories revolving around finding an apartment, first job engagements, dating in college, dumping disreputable college partners etc.
Adult-oriented romance of an older audience.
Historical fiction
Character-driven fantasy
Character-driven science-fiction
Paranormal romance founded on new romance.
LGBTQ+ content particularly ones that exist out of the narrative of coming out.
PoC content
Compelling mystery, thriller, or horror plots

At the moment the Wattpad Paid Stories program is through invite only. If you want to be considered, develop one of the themes above and ensure that your stories meet minimum requirements.

Wattpad Books

This is another opportunity for writers to make a living on the platform. This program was launched in January 2019, and provides writers with the opportunity to get their stories published. The Wattpad team uses a mix of data insights and analysis to curate the most appealing narratives and help the writers publish them as independent authors. To become a published author, ensure that most of your narratives meet the minimum requirements for other programs and fit one of the aforementioned themes.

Wattpad Studios.

This is one of the biggest opportunities for writers on the platform. Wattpad Studios helps writers realize their dreams that may range from getting them published or turning them into films. The program is dedicated to harnessing the power of story telling by propelling these stories into publishing houses and entertainment centers. Wattpad uses a mix of algorithms to determine the stories that can be propelled into these new opportunities. Wattpad focuses on the engagement between readers and the stories, in combination with other quality markers like sentence structure, word use, and vocabulary.

How do you get popular on Wattpad?

According to Wattpad writers are essential to the popularity of the community. They are viewed as the heartbeat of a site. As such, the company strives to create programs that support creativity and growth while simultaneously providing opportunities that help writers connect their stories with new audiences.

So, how do you get noticed on Wattpad? Some of the ways through which a writer can make money on this platform include:

Wattys

The Wattys awards refer to a program held annually that celebrates creativity and diversity of writers on the platform. This celebration recognizes the journey and contribution of millions of Wattpad writers and the struggles they have to go through to provide stories that entertain readers from all over the world. This award ceremony takes into consideration that story writing is a vulnerable experience that often offers validation and recognition to writers. as such it offers alright as a chance to showcase their skills and passion to the world through taking the stories to the next level, jump starting their careers, and exposing them to a wider audience. While this is not a direct way of earning passive income. It is a way of generating recognition and following that ultimately helps you and passive and even active income.

So, how does this work?

The website uses a mix of data science and overall editorial scores to rank all submitted works. Each submission is ranked according to the contest criteria created on the site. Annual international contest where authors submit their stories to earn a featured spot on the website’s homepage. more exposure for the writer considering the home page gets a monthly audience of more than 50 million readers. Cited as one of the largest online writing contests, the Wattys the writer to a new and an exploited group of readers which is integral when selecting other monetization methods on the platform.

Becoming a Wattpad Star

When you are beginning as a writer on the platform you are published works may garner a few hundred or thousand readers. This may be discouraging, particularly if you’re interested in monetizing your stories. Wattpad star is a milestone for writers that recognizes their impacts amongst readers and other writers. When you become a Wattpad star you will be exposed two unique opportunities that harness your potential as a writer. These opportunities increase your exposure to read us, provides you with access to tips and resources that are designed to help you optimize and amplify your success on the platform, and introduces you to a secret community of fellow Wattpad stars that provide you with an opportunity to collaborate with other writers and commiserate on your journeys on the platform.

So what does the program offer?

This program does not only expose you to a wider base of readers but comes with other advantages and features which include:

Introduction to a community of fellow stars where you are able to Bond over your experience on the platform and seek inspiration and motivation to empower your journey.
recognition for your hard work as a writer both on and off the platform.
The opportunity to enhance your writing skills by getting exposure and gaining access to a plethora of resources and other tools. These resources can help you rank on the platform.
exclusive consideration for other opportunities on the platforms such as paid stories program, Wattpad books, Wattpad studios, and brand partnerships. Additionally, you get the exclusive chance to pitch to partners of the platform.

How do you become a Wattpad Star?

You can become a Wattpad Star through one method:

By application

Requirements

Regardless of the method through which you become a Wattpad star, your profile must meet minimum requirements that include:

Have at least two narrative stories with at least 50,000 marked as complete.
Have began writing another story in the past 365 days
Have revised/modified/added a new segment to any of your existing stories in the last three months before your invite or application.
Must have logged into Wattpad in the past 60 days.

If you fit this criterion, you can apply through this online form that requires you to submit your email address, username on Wattpad, other platforms such as Kobo that have your stories, title of your best completed story, link to your story, if the story is part of a series, story category, any mature/adult themes such as drug use or suicide that may be in your stories, the level of intimacy or sexiness in the story, if your story incorporates any elements of diversity such as cultural, racial, religious, or age diversity, your target audience, a one-sentence description of your story that describes or relates to the the dramatic narrative and hook, Plot Summary, and other Wattpad opportunities such as paid stories that you may be interested in applying.

Once you have submitted the application, you will be invited by Wattpad HQ. It is important to note that Wattpad stars is only available for English Speaking Writers who have stories in English.

Wattcon

Wattcon is a festival similar to Comic con that brings the Wattpad community together to recognize and celebrate writers. This annual festival that is often held in New York is organized to discover, elevate, and celebrate diverse voices of writers on the platform. The best part about this celebration is that it can be attended remotely making it easier for people located across the globe to have access to the benefits of the event. As a new writer on the platform, this event will help you gain recognition for your efforts and even allow you to gain new followers without having to put in much effort. This is a strategic effort that is geared towards making money on the platform and should be considered once your signup on the platform.

Wattpad Picks

Wattpad helps writers get the popularity they deserve and this segment tags and features hidden gems and new writers to amplify their works. Once your story is recognized it will be featured as a Wattpad Pick for a limited time either in their themed list for up to one month or on the site’s official Featured List for two weeks. This helps readers discover new stories and will help you gain traction as a new writer. To be considered as a Wattpad pick, just tag your story with the #featured hashtag and apply here.

What are the minimum requirements to be considered?

You need to have a compelling story that appeals to readers through its creativity and uniqueness.
Your stories need to be of high quality and free from grammatical errors and typos.
The story needs to have a minimum of 10, 000 words or must be tagged as a completed short story or poem if it is less than 10,000 words.
The story cannot be submitted more than once within a three month period.
If it’s an ongoing story it must have a reasonable consistent update sequence.
If your story is tagged in the Random category then it’s ineligible for application.
The submitted story must be solely owned by you since you cannot nominate other writers.

Wattpad Futures

Wattpad futures was an experimental program that allowed a number of Wattpad writers to earn money from the ads. While this program made the writers some money, it was closed because it did not provide consistent income that many were looking for and was closed. The writers made money when users read their stories and interacted with the ads between chapters. Some of the issues that led to the failure of this program included running the Wattpad futures program on Beta mode for a long period of time which affected scalability, adding too many writers onto the program without considering the impact on the earnings, and lack of optimized tools that would help the writers earn more within the period. This program offered the possibility of earning passive income and may return in the future. As such, if you are striving to make money through this program then you should begin optimizing your content in case it relaunches in the near future.

Wattpad Contest

Wattpad holds annual writing contests where you can gain traction and popularity through partnerships with other brands which translates to more readers and followers for your niche. These contests are conducted in partnership with some of the world’s biggest brands and entertainment studios to help in creating, curating, and discovering stories that penetrate pop culture. These partnerships also help writers get recognized by the brands and win amazing prizes that helps heighten your exposure while simultaneously increasing brand recognition for the partners. You can find out which contests are occurring by clicking here.

So, if you often asked yourself if you can make money off Wattpad, then you should be convinced that it is possible. Wattpad is a great way of making passive income as you establish yourself as a writer in the industry. Stories on Wattpad have progressively become important elements in people’s lives. If you are a writer and are looking for a stress-free way of making money, then this is definitely an opportunity to look into. It can open a plethora of opportunities that will help you get more recognition and become more popular in the film making and publishing industry. Earning money on Wattpad should not be stressful if you are an aspiring writer.