Hello, lovelies! If you're returning, I'm so happy to see you again! If you're new, thanks for stopping by. This week, we're talking about Wattpad Creators. I also give you a sneak peek about one of my (maybe temporarily) abandoned projects, a ghostly romantic horror tale about a group of paranormal investigators who get stuck in an asylum. I wonder if I should pick this one back up? You also have the chance to help me select the tone of my next story! 

As always, much love. 

𝒲𝒽𝒾𝓈𝓀𝑒𝓎

Wattpad Creators is an exclusive program where Wattpad offers supports to you to foster your creativity and help you find success on the platform. If you'd like to know more about the program, you can check out their website here: https://creators.wattpad.com/programs-and-opportunities/wattpad-creators-program/

I'm part of the first cohort, and I was invited after having been part of the Stars Program since 2019 (The Stars Program will officially be dissolved in December, 2022). I can't reveal everything about the perks, but here's what I can say: 

☞ There are tiers. 

☞  The support is good. 

☞ Wattpad is still working out the kinks, and there should be an application process by now.

☞ You DO NOT have to have been a Stars Program member to join. 

HOW TO PREPARE

If joining Creators is a goal of yours along the way, then I've got a few items of advice: 

☞ EDIT edit edit edit

☞ Keep writing

☞ Competitions & Contests (Getting on the Radar)

☞ Social Media/Build your Audience

EDIT

One thing I've noticed is that a lot of writers on Wattpad focus heavily on self-promotion, but they don't invest in the editing process. It's important to remember that the quality of works on Wattpad is increasing, with many pieces now comparable to mainstream published works. In the past, Wattpad was about sharing you work in progress (WIP) with all it's flaws. That was the fun of the process! But, the audience has changed and so has Wattpad. This means that people expect more from your work. You've got to edit for both grammar and content. I think I mentioned this a few weeks back, but its really important that you get into the habit of editing as you write. It's not always fun. Sometimes you want to just push out a chapter so the readers can enjoy it, but I promise you that you'll thank yourself for editing later. Taking those extra thirty minutes to an hour to scan over every chapter is ESSENTIAL. You only get one chance to make a first impression. 

You could look at options like hiring a professional editor, but if you're like me (*cough* broke student *cough*), that's just not fesible, as editors are EXPENSIVE. The best thing you can do is get yourself in the habit of creating works that are at least mostly copyedited. 

KEEP WRITING

Write like your life depends on it. For me, writing became my escape when I got divorced then moved from the US to Japan then Canada. I have at least 20 stories that I've started and even more "story starts" that I keep in my writing notebook (plot ideas, character ideas, writing prompts, etc). Getting into the habit of writing dailiy will not only make you a better writer, but it will also give you tons of ideas to fall back on when your inspiration is lagging. People will notice that creativity you posess. Again, think DIVERSITY. What underrepresented groups deserve representation in media? Keep these thoughts in the back of your mind as you write.

COMPETITIONS & CONTESTS

I know I mentioned this in another week's writers room, but you must enter your writing into competitions and contests. This is how you get eyes on your work, including the eyes of HQ. When I was still trying to get exposure, I actively participated in a lot of competitions hosted by Wattpad. Wattys is a given. Open Novella Contest is great, although I never participated in this one. Wattpad also does brand partnership deals sometimes and hosts writing competitions. Enter those. And enter ones hosted by fellow Wattpaders. The more eyes you get on your work, the more the algorithm notices, and the bigger chance you might attract some important attention/traffic to your stories. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

If you're a social media fan, then this one will be easy for you. BE ACTIVE. Be authentic and get your stories out there. Wattpad will notice if you get enough of a following. This is certainly the hardest one for me. If you guys have any tips for me about how to do well on social media, I'm all ears!

WATTPAD CREATORS CONCLUSION

Anyway, that's all I've got on Creators. Do you have any questions or thoughts? Due to contractual obligations, I can't give details about everything, but I'll totally share what I can!

Okie dokie! For this week's sharing circle, I've got a little bit of a ghost story. Spooky! I'd intended to for this to be a horror romance novel, and I've got about nine chapters written. What do you think? Should I roll with it and pick this story back up? It's called Ghost Pursuit and it's about a group of ghost hutners who get locked in an asylum where horror and weird, confusing romance ensues. 

***

"Evan, after the outro, make sure you get that B-roll shot as we pull away. I haven't forgotten the Octagon Hall debacle." Clementine made sure her directions were clear.

Evan was good, really good. But, he'd missed a couple shots over the past week in addition to the earlier screw up at Octagon, so she needed this outro to look perfect. In response to her words, the camera guy nodded, and Clementine grinned in anticipation of a conclusion to the investigation before turning to Jack and James. "Alright guys. Outtro time."

Taking their cues, the twins grabbed their equipment, beginning with the heavy storage lockers, and started loading it all up into their rental SUV in the background of the shot as Evan counted Clemy down:

"Three, two, one." After "one" he made a gesture with his hand, signaling Clemy to start. Squaring her shoulders and adopting her television persona, she began walking toward Evan while speaking.

"There you have it, folks. Our week in Magnolia Manor, one of the most notorious haunts on my side of the Mississippi. We laughed. We cried, and we found direct evidence that this haunt, right in my backyard, deserves its reputation as one of the most sinister spots in the south. I'm Clemy, lead investigator, and thanks for watching Ghost Pursuit. Stay sinister, sinners."

She finished the outro with her signature wink, and Evan cut the camera.

"Good?" she asked.

He smirked, offering her his annoyingly self-assured grin as he said, "Beautiful as always, Clementine."

She rolled her eyes then went over to the SUV to help the twins finish loading up.

"Fuck, I need a beer after that one." Jack groaned as he lifted the last big equipment locker into the back.

She nudged him as she grabbed a smaller case containing some of their more sensitive equipment. "Come on, Jack. Wasn't nearly as bad as Waverly Hills."

"Oh, God. Don't mention Waverly." James snorted.

"Scaredy cats." Clem laughed as she grabbed their folding table where they often set up the command center, with the DVR feeds and other remote observation equipment, during investigations. Still chuckling, she slid that in between the boxes.

Evan piped in from where he was fiddling with his equipment. "If you guys are done yapping, I'd like to get the shot of you pulling away so we can get the hell out of here?"

"Shit. He's bossy as hell." Jack mumbled as he closed the back of the SUV, prompting Clem to snort in amusement as she fished the keys out of her backpack then tossed them to James.

Smirking, she nodded in signal for them to load up as she bumped Jack's shoulder again and whispered, "He's fucking good, that's why."

"You realize your mics are still on, right?" Evan yelled.

The rest of them laughed as they finally hefted their tired bodies into the SUV and continued chuckling as Evan got into position to film them pulling down the iconic driveway. Once they were sure, Evan got the shot of them driving down the drive. James reversed so that they could pick up Evan.

Sighing from the passenger's seat, Clem unclipped her mic and shut it off before leaning back tiredly against the seat.

"Tired, Clemy?" Evan asked as he climbed into the back seat and tugged off his bulky headphones.

"Shut up, Evan. We're all exhausted. I'm just ready to get back to the hotel and shower before even thinking about that evidence we haven't reviewed."

"Oh shower. I'll join you."

Evan hadn't taken the hint that she simply wasn't into him, or he had and didn't care. Either way, she was on the verge of snapping at him. Clem wasn't alone in her ire, either. From the driver's seat beside her, James grumbled, and in the back next to Evan, Jack groaned.

"Hey, Evan?" Clem asked, eyes still closed.

"Yeah, Clemy?" The man said as he fiddled with his camera.

"Don't be an ass. If you keep it up, then I'll find myself a new cameraman. Understood?"

When she was done admonishing him, she opened her eyes and ventured a glance at the backseat where she saw Evan scowling at his camera. After a long moment, he agreed. "Understood."

"Good." Clem smiled as she settled back. "Taco Bell for dinner?"

Following her words, everyone groaned, which drew a smile to her lips. She loved the fact that they all hated her favorite fast-food restaurant so much. It sure had made for some fun late night arguments with the twins. She supposed it was good that those things could still make her laugh over ten years after she and the twins had founded Ghost Pursuit while they were in college.

Still smirking, she gave into the majority. "Fine. Let's just do McDonalds, you jerks. But, tomorrow night we go to the Bell." She was dozing off before their groans of displeasure had fully died away. 

Let's see. We've chosen our genre and setting. Now, let's choose the tone. I think everything I write has to have an element of romance. Otherwise, I can't motivate myself to write, lol. But, should we do something dark? Something light? Somthing silly? What are your thoughts? 

ᴅᴀʀᴋ

𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜

𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝒹

𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦

𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚢

Ø₮ⱧɆⱤ

Fellow writers, how about you? Do you write romance? If you do, do you have trouble writing any other genre? I'm curious how other authors play around in different genres!

I'm still collecting questions! I'm hoping ot have the first Q & A chapter live in the next month or so. You know the drill. 

𝘿𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚!

Alright, lovelies. That's all for this week. Again, I can't thank you enough for taking this journey with me. I was thinking of sharing some more personal stories. Are there any tips you'd like me to give? I've taught in Japan and was thinking of writing about the experience of applying for the Jet Programme. Would you find that useful? I was also an academic writing tutor, and I'm getting my PhD while teaching. Do you have any teacher/school questions? I was even in a ghost hunting group! Would you like some "real" ghost stories? Just let me know! 

𝙰𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎.