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.

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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.

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✨ 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.

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