Are Published Wattpad Books Eligible For Literary Awards?

Man, this question digs into one of my favorite rabbit holes — the messy, exciting space where internet-first stories try to cross into the traditional awards world. I’ve seen so many writers blow up on platforms like Wattpad and then wonder, rightly, whether that visibility makes them eligible for literary prizes.

Real talk: eligibility depends entirely on the award’s rules. Big, legacy prizes tend to have strict criteria about where and how a book was first published. Many require a print or publisher-backed release in a specific country or jurisdiction, and some explicitly exclude works that were previously published in another format (including online serials). That said, if a Wattpad story is later picked up and published by a recognized publisher — or reissued with an ISBN and meets the award’s publication window — it can become eligible. I’ve watched writers who started on Wattpad (like the folks behind 'After' and 'The Kissing Booth') get traditional deals and new attention, even if the path to prize consideration is different for each award.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of spaces that welcome self-published or digital-first work: indie book prizes, genre awards, local literary contests, and platform-run competitions. If you’re aiming for mainstream literary prizes, my practical tip is to read the submission rules carefully, consider getting a publisher to handle entries, and invest in editorial polish and a formal release (ISBN, metadata, professional cover) so the book fits the boxes judges are checking. I love how Wattpad lets you prototype a story in public, but if you want trophies as well as readership, plan for the paperwork and the publishing pivot — it really can open doors.