Battle of the Words: Wattpad VS Published
The stage is lit with two spotlights and podiums, microphones angled and ready for use. Chatter echoes around in the room from the crowd, waiting in anticipation of the words they would soon hear. Backstage, the two speakers await their cues, one composed and holding a book with a smile. The other, jittery and on edge, phone in hand and tapping the screen nervously. A sudden hush falls over the crowd outside and the speakers snap to attention, making their way to the stage.
Both are authors. Both using different platforms to reach their audience.
Speaker one: “I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours. ”
Speaker two: “That’s one of the only things I’ve ever been certain about,” he replied fiercely. “I may have died, but it was Alicia who killed me. You brought me back, Jade. And not just then, but everyday for twelve years. You may not remember it right now, but I have a pretty dark side that I struggle with. Just a lot of baggage from my past and anger…it’s a lot. But having you in my life, having you there and believing in me, it’s helped more than you know. You’ve saved my life in more ways than I can count, Jade Amaris Danvers, and I fully intend on repaying that.”*
The crowd claps, impressed with the emotions in those words and acknowledgment of their efforts. A host enters the stage with a smile and asks the audience one question: Who can tell which of the quotations read was from a published novel? The quiet returns as the audience looks up in shock; they’d all assumed that both readings were.
Nowadays, books can be found anywhere. There are the novels and stories that are published by large publishing companies, gaining reviews and movie or show contracts. There are the stories that are self published and sold online in both physical and ereader forms. And now, in a time where many have a story to tell and a platform that can reach millions, there are stories that are posted one chapter at a time and gaining dedicated readers regularly. Those stories are published on Wattpad and other online writing platforms like it.
It’s hard to get published. I, myself, am a writer and have been trying for years with several different books to get published but have yet to hear back from an agent. Some of the most famous published authors in history were denied so many times, they almost gave up. And now, some of these famous authors, were discovered online through wattpad.
So does that mean that their writing isn’t at the same level as other published authors? Does not being published at all, except on these writing websites, mean that you aren’t an actual writer? I personally don't think so.
The first example I used above is from Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook and the second example is one of my own pieces from the book Blood Ties. My sample piece is very much my own work and in no way a fan fiction just because it's on Wattpad. I'm using the platform as a way to gain feedback and see if it is appealing to my target audience. In doing so, I've succeeded in both of those things and helped better myself further as a writer. Does it mean my book isn't a book? No, it just means that for the moment it hasn't reached the right person, and that's the point.
Books used to be just written or typed words on bound volumes of paper that we lugged around and read to escape the world. Now, in a world very much technologically centered, books have more format options. Audiobooks, eBooks, physical copies. To me, and many other aspiring authors in the world, Wattpad and other online writing communities exist as eBooks to help our stories reach around the world. Yes, many of the writings on these sites are fan fiction but not all of them are, and not all are written poorly. With a few creative changes and some time, all of those writings can become as extraordinary as the ones we buy in stores.
So why judge a book or its author by their platform?
*Sorry for the shameless plug, but if you're interested in reading my story, Blood Ties, hit the Wattpad link in my header above.
