How to launch your online writing career

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How to launch your online writing career
Looking for revising tips or trying to find the right online writing platform?

MANILA, Philippines — Got some great story just waiting to see the light of day?

Finding a publisher or getting self-published used to take years — and lots of money. Thanks to the internet, however, we can now share our stories with millions of people with just a couple of clicks.

Here are some tips for launching your online writing career!

Keep revising separate from the writing process

Your masterpiece won’t come out during the first try. The first draft is usually called the vomit draft, and that’s fine! Don’t be too nitpicky about grammar and other rules of writing. Just get your ideas out on the page.

The second draft is for fleshing out the plot and characters, and making any structural changes, if needed. The third draft is when you start polishing and proofreading.

Give it some time before you begin rewriting so you can look at each draft with fresh eyes.

Show, not tell

Good writing makes the reader feel like they’re seeing the action unfold before their eyes.

Keep your adverbs at a minimum. Don’t just say your protagonist is angry. Instead, show the character’s actions and body language. Did he slam the door? Did he hurl a wine glass against the wall?

Another tip is to let your reader follow the story from the characters’ perspective. Use their train of thought to describe what’s happening, what they’re seeing, and the feelings these evoke.  

Don’t underestimate your readers

It’s tempting to write about light, easy themes to attract a larger readership. But maintain a genuine voice and you’ll attract your tribe — readers who are interested in your material.

Don’t be afraid to explore darker themes. As a writer, you need to capture elements of real life in your stories, and it definitely isn’t always pretty.

Get your work out there

Exposing your work to criticism isn’t easy. But you need it to improve.

Hone your skills and connect with other writers on Medium or WordPress. You can share writing prompts and critique each others’ works.

Join Facebook groups such as Freelance Writers of the Philippines to look for gigs and join writing competitions or workshops.

Find the right platform

Looking to monetize your talent? With Webnovel, a fictional stories hub, authors can get paid for their original work.

 

Webnovel has millions of users on various platforms — the app, mobile website, and desktop website — which means that your work can gain a lot of exposure.

Once writers post their original stories on Webnovel, the website’s editorial team offers professional writing advice.

If your work gets chosen for an adaptation, the royalty payment and Contracted Works Guarantee systems ensure the authors’ earnings. Authors also have the chance to participate in bringing their characters to life beyond the pages.

Authors share the revenue earned from website subscriptions, direct sales from other platforms, and monetization of the copyright.

For instance, Lynerparel, a popular Filipino Webnovel author, earns twice his full-time job salary.

LOCAL AUTHORS. Filipino Webnovel writers during the Webnovel fan meeting last November 24. There are currently almost a thousand original authors from the Philippines on Webnovel. Photo courtesy of Webnovel

Popular works can also be introduced on Amazon and other online platforms. Authors have the chance to publish their work in print and participate in book conventions.

ADAPTATIONS. Webnovel is the overseas portal of China Literature, which owns intellectual properties such as ‘Fighter of the Destiny,’ ‘Martial Universe,’ and ‘The Rise of Phoenixes.’ These Chinese TV dramas are on the air in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of Webnovel

Already got a budding idea? Write it down now so you don’t forget! – Rappler.com

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