I try not to play Nostradamus, but I predict that this chapter is going to get more reads than most of the other topics I'll cover in this Wattblog.

So, how do you get more reads on your book?

To be honest, I don't know. 

Sorry. I wish I did know. I wish there was some button I could press, some spell I could cast, some secret sauce I could add to get more reads. But there just isn't. None that I know of anyway.

That said, there are a lot of good tips about the importance of writing a compelling story, using tags, engaging with readers, and posting on a regular schedule. This information is widely circulated on Wattpad. One great resource is the YouTube video I embedded at the top of this chapter. @jandralee offers some excellent advice. Give it a watch!

OK, that's the deal with getting more reads. Now, let's talk about why we want more reads.

I can't think of a single writer who doesn't want a bigger audience. In fact, one of the primary reasons I write is to tell stories that connect with people. The more people I reach, the better. 

But reads can also be a trap. Or, rather obsessing about reads can be a trap. You can make yourself miserable if you let the number of reads on your story define your success. You can also take that misery into your next book by chasing a story you think will be popular, even if your heart isn't in it. I've done that. It's brutal. Not only is the writing experience miserable, but you end up with a crappy story that doesn't please you or the audience. 

A healthier way to look at it is to write a story you're passionate about, tell it the best you can, and follow all the usual tips for getting it out there. Maybe you'll hit ten million reads, or maybe you'll get one read. But what's the difference?

(Don't say nine million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine).

The difference is actually nothing.

Seriously, reads don't define you, and they don't define your story. 

At WattCon 2018, one of the folks from Wattpad HQ made the following comment: We talk all the time about how the next HARRY POTTER  is on the platform right now, and it has one read. It's our job to find it.

Think about that for a second. It's your job to write a great story and put it out into the world. Yes, you can follow the great advice from @jandralee (and you should), but you can't control how many reads you get. So, why worry about it?

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