Meet The Wattpad Stars: Brittany Geragotelis
After 10 years of pounding the pavement with publishers and agents, Brittany Geragotelis decided to break free from gatekeepers by posting an original story on Wattpad for free. “I loved the concept of Wattpad—the fact that anyone could post their material and that it gave the power back to readers by letting them decide what they wanted to read.” says Brittany about the decision.
For her, it was a bold move that would ultimately pay off with a three-book publishing deal and an invitation to join the Wattpad Stars program.
Brittany’s original story, Life’s a Witch, gained over 19 million reads in under a year. The instant recognition rekindled her love of writing and changed her perception of online communities.
As a former magazine editor, Brittany is no stranger to the rush of popularity that comes with rising stardom. The interviews she conducted over the course of her career helped her find out how other writers started in the industry and gave her insight into their creative process.
Now that the tables have turned, here are a few pro-tips Brittany shares about getting started as a writer:
Sit down to write every day: Even if it’s just a page. The habit of writing is what will help you finish your first story.
Tell the story you want to read: This will help shape your writing as a journey and give you the experience of creating something you’re interested in.
Don’t start a story until you have an outline: Everyone’s process differs, but outlines can really help with writer's block.
Read, read, read: You can learn a lot about writing by studying those that do it well. Bonus: reading is a great way to fuel inspiration and creativity.
Don’t listen to nay-sayers: Says Brittany, “You should never let someone else dictate your dreams! I say this because I went through 10 years of rejection from a lot of people whose opinion I thought mattered. If I'd listened to them, I would have given up (which I almost did). But I didn't and now, here I am. So, if you love to write, write. If you feel compelled to tell stories, then tell them. THAT should be what you're focused on...not whether someone else thinks your writing's worth being out there. Put it up on Wattpad and let readers decide for themselves.”