How to Win a Watty Award

My name is Armiella. Last November, I wrote a book called Abby Dante and posted it on Wattpad. Recently, I found out that I won “On the Rise” in the Spiritual category of the Watty Awards. True, this is not the sought after “Most Popular” award, but if you’re looking for advice on how to get that, I can tell you how it works.

Step One

Write an awesome novel. Last year, I wrote my novel during the month of November for National Novel Writing Month. It was 50,000+ words, (the sole requirement of the contest). After writing it, I posted it on Wattpad, one chapter at a time, editing as I went. Granted, it’s still not perfect. I rewrote the ending a few times and I’m still not happy with it. I wouldn’t even think of publishing it, no matter what my fans tell me. However, few people on wattpad read past the first chapter. Focus on the opening, and you’ll do well.

Also keep in mind that grammar is important. Little mistakes can be ignored by most, but major errors tend to stick out and make you look bad. Capitalize the first letter of a sentence/name and the word “I.” Use proper punctuation; take advantage of spell check. If you find a mistake or someone points one out, fix it. It could make more of a difference than you think it would.

Step Two

Obtain readers. This is relatively simple. Everyone wants you to read their story, and many are willing to read yours in return. These are the kind of deals you want. You get back what you put into it. To find these agreements, go to the Share Your Story club. For more advice, read How to Promote a Wattpad Story.

Step Three

Find dedicated fans. I got lucky and didn’t have any competition, but most stories have to sit through December and gain votes. Read for reads will get your story noticed, but feel free to reach out to your friends and anyone you think is genuinely interested in the story. If they fan you, say thank you, and have a little conversation if you can. If they know you, they’ll be more likely to vote for you. Also, the number of fans you have determines which category you’re eligible for. In my case, I was third most popular, but I won On the Rise because the author ahead of me had three stories entered. (Now THAT’s a strategy!)

Step Four

Make your story look awesome. Give it a cool title, (mine is not that cool, but like I said, I was lucky). Create an eye-catching cover, or find someone in the club forums to make one for you. Just be sure that it catches the mood of your story and stands out in a crowd. Write an insane, mysterious description. Some people will fan you or read your story for that reason alone. Also, it’s good practice for query letters.

Step Five

Beg. Especially at this stage of the game. While most will ignore reading requests throughout the year, if you have a story in Round 2 of the Watty Awards and you can be personal and sincere in your request, people are more likely to give it a chance. Send a private message to anyone that you think would be interested in your story. If they specifically say on their profile that they hate vampires, don’t ask them to read your Twilight Fan-fiction. Think.

Hope this helps! Good luck to everyone in Round 2, and best wishes to next year’s competitors!