A Brief History

I am by no means an expert; I merely want to share what I've experienced so far on my wattpad journey with you. Psst! I'm still learning also, so feel free to comment any tips you have along the way for myself and fellow readers.

Before I begin my self-help guide for everything to do with Potter fan fiction, I need to tell you a little about myself. For I believe I am pretty experienced in these matters and wish to lead you on a journey of my mistakes and successes. I've been on wattpad for 8 years (on 11th May 2018) and I've learnt a lot of things from when I was actively writing to barely there: enjoy.

When I was around ten/eleven; I first read Harry Potter.

Then, when I had just turned twelve I discovered wattpad:

And what happens when child meets wattpad, head and heart swimming with love for Snape?

SNAPE DAUGHTER FAN FICS, YAAAAS.

(Insert several first drafts, plot hole filled work and a chapter where I mistakenly wrote LUCIUS KILLED SIRIUS BLACK)

(I know it was Buckbeak so — shh)

Cut to when I'm sixteen, after four years of constantly churning out fic, I'm in my last year of school and drowning in work.

ARE YOU GOING TO UPDATE.

Came the lone call of a fan on my latest story, it had been a month since the last update.

'So sorry,' said I, apologetically, clasping my hands together and tripping over a pile of muggle school work. 'I'll be back soon, I just want to finish my exam—'

'Update?' Another fan joined their side, a bewildered expression on their face.

'Yes, hang on,' I pleaded, sat in my room staring guilty at my laptop and revision notes in my hand. 'I'm just coming, dear.'

Then came the thunderous sound of hands clapping, pitchforks clanking together and an almighty roar of voices:

UPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATE —

'ENOUGH!' I roared.

My finger warily hovered over the button that would allow me to close my account. My finger trembled, I frowned and retrieved it. I couldn't do it.

Then a little voice popped up on my screen:

Dear Lucy,

I'm really enjoying this work! I love the way you construct your sentences! Whenever you're ready, come back to wattpad; good luck with your exams.

I smiled to myself before closing the window to wattpad.

'It's okay,' I told myself. 'I'm going to leave my work up for people to enjoy while I take a break. Even if the work is full of grammatical errors; some people seem to love it!'

So I did.

Fast forward a few years to 2018 and I've just turned twenty.

Exams for muggle school are done (much like O.W.Ls)

Exams for muggle A levels are done (sort of like N.E.W.Ts)

And I've got a place at my chosen university.

I awoke from my slumber one morning and take out my phone to check my messages:

As usual; nothing — what's new.

Then I find the little orange app with a white 'w', it's still on my phone. I click on it curiously to see what's been happening and find:

Holy Mother.

Over 5k notifications?!

Yes, it's true.

I scroll through a few and then open my inbox to find a bundle of envelopes fall upon my head; all with kind words!

Gee, this is nice!

I think I'm coming back.

Shall I post a message publically to let everyone know where I've been?

No, it doesn't sound good enough.

What shall I do?

I know, the only thing I've ever known: I'll write a book.

So that's how I came back.

And here I am!

(Crickets)

I'm TheHalfBloodPrincess!

(Publishes new story)

(Nothing)

Oh.

Okay, that aside.

Having a break from wattpad and coming back, I've learnt a lot of things about Harry Potter fan fictions and from that (as well as previous knowledge I acquired from being on it constantly) I want to tell you what I've learnt. On how to be:

- a good reader.

- a ____ writer*

- How to not tell everyone that Lucius killed Sirius Black when it was really Fred Weasley.

So take my hand and put your pitchforks down; let me tell you all I know about writing and reading Potter fan fiction!

* I can't tell you to be a good writer, you can only become a good writer if you believe you are one. But I can tell you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. How to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death.