This thesis investigates the impact of Wattpad on the power dynamics within YA publishing. It explores how Wattpad empowers young adult writers, fosters reader engagement, and challenges the gatekeeping role of traditional publishers. The rise of digital platforms like Wattpad signifies a fundamental shift in media consumption and content creation. Analyzing this dynamic is crucial to understand the evolving relationship between authors, readers, and publishers in the digital age.This research can contribute to the growing body of studies on digital publishing platforms, social reading communities, and their impact on the literary landscape. By analyzing Wattpad, the research explores reader empowerment, community-driven discovery, and the changing power dynamics within YA publishing. As a reader of YA fiction, I am fascinated by the emergence of alternative publishing platforms like Wattpad. Understanding how Wattpad empowers young writers and fosters reader engagement aligns with my interest in the evolving ecology of publishing and reading in the digital age.
Previous Research and Contribution to the Field (literature review)
Existing research has explored the digital media revolution in publishing, focusing on the rise of self-publishing platforms, e-readers, and online marketing strategies. Studies have also examined the role of online communities in book discovery and reader engagement. However, limited research specifically investigates the unique influence of social writing platforms like Wattpad on the YA fiction market.
*(Possible references)*
Atwood M (2012) Why Wattpad works. The Guardian x
Virginia Wolf x
Barthes R (1977) Image, Music, Text.
Hall, Work of Representation.
Pierre Bourdieu, literary field./Bourdieu P (1996) The Rules of Art: Genesis and Structure of the Literary Field.
Bourdieu P (1993) The Field of Cultural Production.
Jenkins H (2006) Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide
Bruno Latour: Actor network theory./Latour B (2005) Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory.
Hellekson K, Busse K (2014) The Fan Fiction Studies Reader.
Koss, M.D., & Teale, W.H. (2009). What’s happening in YA literature? trends in books or adolescents.
Parnell, C. (2021). Mapping the entertainment ecosystem of Wattpad: Platforms, publishing and adaptation. Convergence, 27(2), 524-538. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856520970141 x
Simone Rebora, Peter Boot, Federico Pianzola, Brigitte Gasser, J Berenike Herrmann, Maria Kraxenberger, Moniek M Kuijpers, Gerhard Lauer, Piroska Lendvai, Thomas C Messerli, Pasqualina Sorrentino, Digital humanities and digital social reading, Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, Volume 36, Issue Supplement_2, October 2021, Pages ii230–ii250, https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/fqab020
Ramdarshan Bold, M. (2018). The return of the social author: Negotiating authority and influence on Wattpad. Convergence, 24(2), 117-136. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856516654459 x
Ray Murray P, Squires C (2013) The digital publishing communications circuit. x
Murray S (2018) The Digital Literary Sphere.
Fuller D, Rehberg Sedo D (2013) Reading Beyond the Book: The Social Practices of Contemporary Literary Culture.
Wilska, T.-A., Holkkola, M., & Tuominen, J. (2023). The Role of Social Media in the Creation of Young People’s Consumer Identities. Sage Open, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231177030 x
the relation between reading and social understanding is unique to fiction (Kidd & Castano, 2017; Mar et al., 2006)
Theoretical (Analytical) Framework
-Gatekeeping Theory: This theory explores the control traditional media outlets have over the flow of information. It can be applied to analyze the shift in power dynamics as Wattpad allows writers to bypass traditional gatekeepers and directly reach readers.
-Network Society Theory: This theory focuses on the interconnectedness of information and communication in the digital age. It helps understand how Wattpad functions as a network for fostering collaboration between readers and writers, shaping trends, and promoting YA fiction through community engagement.
-Cultural Consumption Theory: This theory examines how audiences engage with and interpret cultural products like books. Wattpad can be considered a space for cultural consumption, where reader interaction with stories and community discussions shapes their experience and engagement with YA fiction.
Description of Research Methods
(mixed-methods approach?):
Quantitative Analysis: Analyze trending hashtags, genres, and user engagement metrics on Wattpad to understand popular themes and reader preferences within YA fiction. Explore data on read counts, comments, and user ratings for successful Wattpad YA stories.
Qualitative Analysis: Conduct online surveys with Wattpad users who read YA fiction to understand their discovery habits and engagement with stories on the platform.
If possible: Interview successful Wattpad YA authors to gain insights into their experiences with writing, building a readership, and navigating traditional publishing opportunities emerging from Wattpad success (thinking of some writers like: Erin Doom, Anna Todd, Vanessa Arcadipane). Analyze reader comments and discussion forums associated with popular YA fiction on Wattpad.
Ethical Approach
Informed consent will be obtained from all participants in interviews and surveys. Data confidentiality will be ensured throughout the research process. The research will adhere to ethical guidelines for online data collection and analysis, following the recommendations of the Swedish Research Council (VR).
Thesis Structure:
Chapter 1: Introduction:Introduces the research topic, relevance, research question, and personal motivation.
Chapter 2: Literature Review:Reviews existing research on digital publishing platforms, social reading communities, and the YA fiction market.
Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework:Discusses the theoretical frameworks used to analyze the research problem.
Chapter 4: Methodology:Outlines the research design, data collection methods, and data analysis procedures.
Chapter 5: (Wattpad and the Rise of User-Generated Content?):Examines the emergence of Wattpad as a platform for YA fiction, its features that empower writers, and the impact on the traditional publishing process.
Chapter 6: Reader Engagement and Community Dynamics:Analyzes how readers on Wattpad discover YA stories, engage with authors, and participate in community discussions shaping the YA fiction landscape.
Chapter 7: Disruption and the New Power Dynamics:Discusses the power shift within YA publishing due to Wattpad, how it challenges traditional gatekeeping, and the evolving relationship between publishers, writers, and readers.
Chapter 8: Conclusion and Future Directions:Summarizes key findings, discusses the implications for improvements or for the future.