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How Wattpad and Fanfiction Are Changing Publishing (with Alessandra Ferreri)
Manage episode 487906279 series 3319773
How Fanfiction is Reshaping Publishing: A Conversation with Alessandra Ferreri of Wattpad
What do After, The Kissing Booth, and countless BookTok favorites have in common? They all started on Wattpad. In this episode, we sit down with Alessandra Ferreri, Head of Content at Wattpad and self-proclaimed “Fanthropologist,” to explore how fanfiction is influencing the future of publishing, screen adaptations, and Gen Z storytelling.
We dive into:
What makes a fanfic—or fanfic-inspired story—poised for mainstream success
The fan behavior Wattpad studies to identify breakout stories
Popular tropes and character archetypes trending on the platform
How fandom trends evolve from Wattpad to BookTok to bookstores and screens
The growing legitimacy of fanfiction in literary conversations
How Wattpad scouts original voices and builds community-driven success
Whether you're a longtime Wattpad reader or just discovering the platform, this conversation sheds light on how digital storytelling, fan communities, and BookTok trends are reshaping what it means to be a reader—and a writer—in 2025.
🎧 Perfect for fans of BookTok, fanfiction, romantasy, YA fiction, and those curious about the future of publishing.
—
About Our Guest
Alessandra Ferreri is the Head of Content at Wattpad, the global storytelling platform and webnovel leader from WEBTOON Entertainment. With nearly a decade of experience studying fan communities, she balances art and data to discover breakout stories that span books, screens, and genres.
—
✨ Book Talk for BookTok is your weekly deep dive into Romantasy, fantasy, and romance with the academic flair of an English class—but way more fun. Subscribe for author interviews, literary analysis, and all things BookTok-worthy.
Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured!
Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion.
Support the Show:
Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok
Merch: Etsy Store
Follow Us on Social:
Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok
TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok
YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
283 episodes
Manage episode 487906279 series 3319773
How Fanfiction is Reshaping Publishing: A Conversation with Alessandra Ferreri of Wattpad
What do After, The Kissing Booth, and countless BookTok favorites have in common? They all started on Wattpad. In this episode, we sit down with Alessandra Ferreri, Head of Content at Wattpad and self-proclaimed “Fanthropologist,” to explore how fanfiction is influencing the future of publishing, screen adaptations, and Gen Z storytelling.
We dive into:
What makes a fanfic—or fanfic-inspired story—poised for mainstream success
The fan behavior Wattpad studies to identify breakout stories
Popular tropes and character archetypes trending on the platform
How fandom trends evolve from Wattpad to BookTok to bookstores and screens
The growing legitimacy of fanfiction in literary conversations
How Wattpad scouts original voices and builds community-driven success
Whether you're a longtime Wattpad reader or just discovering the platform, this conversation sheds light on how digital storytelling, fan communities, and BookTok trends are reshaping what it means to be a reader—and a writer—in 2025.
🎧 Perfect for fans of BookTok, fanfiction, romantasy, YA fiction, and those curious about the future of publishing.
—
About Our Guest
Alessandra Ferreri is the Head of Content at Wattpad, the global storytelling platform and webnovel leader from WEBTOON Entertainment. With nearly a decade of experience studying fan communities, she balances art and data to discover breakout stories that span books, screens, and genres.
—
✨ Book Talk for BookTok is your weekly deep dive into Romantasy, fantasy, and romance with the academic flair of an English class—but way more fun. Subscribe for author interviews, literary analysis, and all things BookTok-worthy.
Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured!
Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion.
Support the Show:
Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok
Merch: Etsy Store
Follow Us on Social:
Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok
TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok
YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
283 episodes
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