You need a Wikipedia account, a notable topic, and sources before you start
Creating a Wikipedia page is not the same as writing on a blog or website you own. Wikipedia has strict rules about what topics deserve their own page, and editors review new pages before they go live. You cannot simply write about yourself, your business, or a local event unless it has been covered by independent news sources or published books. The process takes weeks or months, not hours, and your first attempt may be rejected.
The fastest path is to start with a Wikipedia account, research whether your topic meets Wikipedia's standards, gather reliable sources, and then write in Wikipedia's specific format. If you try to publish without meeting these requirements, experienced editors will delete your page within days.
Key Takeaways
- Wikipedia only accepts pages about topics that have been written about in independent, published sources like newspapers, books, or academic journals.
- You must create a free Wikipedia account and wait at least four days before you can create a new page.
- New pages are reviewed by volunteer editors, and pages that do not cite sources or describe notable topics are deleted within seven days.
- Wikipedia has a specific citation format and style guide that your page must follow, and learning this format takes longer than writing the content itself.
- If your page is rejected, you can revise it and resubmit, but repeated rejections may result in a temporary ban from creating new pages.
Check whether your topic meets Wikipedia's notability standard
Wikipedia's core rule is that a topic must be notable — meaning it has been the subject of multiple independent, reliable sources. This does not mean famous. A local business owner, a regional athlete, or a small nonprofit may be notable if they have been written about in newspapers, magazines, or academic sources that are not controlled by the subject.
Search Wikipedia for your topic first. If a page already exists, you cannot create a duplicate. If no page exists, search Google News and Google Scholar for independent coverage. You need at least two or three sources that are not written by the person or organization you are describing. A company's own website, a personal blog, or a press release does not count. A newspaper article, a magazine feature, or a peer-reviewed journal does count.
If you cannot find independent sources, your topic does not meet Wikipedia's standard yet. Wikipedia is not a place to build a reputation or announce something new — it documents things that have already been documented elsewhere.
Create a Wikipedia account and wait the required time
Go to Wikipedia.org and click "Create account" in the top right corner. You will need an email address and a username. The username is permanent and visible to everyone, so choose something you are comfortable with long-term. You do not need to use your real name.
After you create your account, you must wait at least four days before you can create a new page. This waiting period is a spam prevention measure. During this time, you can edit existing pages to learn how Wikipedia works and to build a history as a contributor.
Some Wikipedia editors check the contribution history of new page creators. If your account is brand new with no edits to existing pages, your new page is more likely to be flagged for review. Making five to ten small, good-faith edits to existing pages first shows that you understand Wikipedia's rules.
Gather and organize your sources before you write
Collect the independent sources you found during your notability check. Save links to news articles, book excerpts, academic papers, or other published material. Wikipedia requires that you cite where each fact comes from, so you need the source material in front of you as you write.
Read through your sources and highlight the key facts that appear in more than one source. These are the facts you should include in your Wikipedia page. Facts that appear in only one source are risky — if that source is later found to be unreliable, your fact may be removed.
Organize your sources by topic. If you are writing about a person, group your sources by their early life, career, notable achievements, and controversies. If you are writing about an organization, group sources by founding, growth, and major events. This organization will become the structure of your page.
Write your page in Wikipedia's format and style
Wikipedia has a specific format for citations, headings, and links. The easiest way to learn it is to look at an existing page on a similar topic and use it as a template. Open the page, click "Edit" at the top, and read the source code. You will see how headings are formatted, how citations are added, and how links to other Wikipedia pages are created.
Start with a short opening paragraph that explains what your topic is in plain language. This paragraph should answer "Who is this person?" or "What is this organization?" in two or three sentences. Do not make claims that are not in your sources.
Add section headings for major topics: "Early Life," "Career," "Notable Works," "Controversies," or whatever fits your subject. Under each heading, write short paragraphs with facts from your sources. After each fact, add a citation in brackets that points to your source. Wikipedia's citation format looks like this: [1] or [2], and the actual source information goes at the bottom of the page in a "References" section.
Do not write in first person. Do not include your opinions. Do not add information that is not in your sources. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a promotional tool or a personal essay.
Submit your page for review
When your page is finished, do not publish it directly to Wikipedia. Instead, create it as a "draft" or "sandbox" page. Go to your user page, click "Create a draft," and paste your content there. This keeps your incomplete work separate from the main Wikipedia site.
Once your draft is complete, click "Submit for review." Your page will be added to a queue of new pages waiting for volunteer editors to check. This review can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Reviewers will check whether your topic is notable, whether your sources are reliable, and whether your writing follows Wikipedia's style.
While you wait, you can make edits to your draft based on feedback. Some reviewers will leave comments on your draft page suggesting changes. Read these comments carefully and revise your page accordingly.
Understand what happens if your page is rejected
If a reviewer decides your page does not meet Wikipedia's standards, they will reject it with a reason. Common reasons include: the topic is not notable, the sources are not reliable, the page is promotional or biased, or the writing does not follow Wikipedia's style.
A rejected page is not deleted immediately. You have time to revise it and resubmit. Read the reviewer's feedback, find additional sources if needed, rewrite sections that are biased or unsourced, and submit again. Many pages are rejected once or twice before being accepted.
If your page is rejected multiple times for the same reason, it may be deleted. If you keep resubmitting without addressing the feedback, you may receive a temporary ban from creating new pages. This ban usually lasts a few weeks or months.
Learn Wikipedia's citation and style rules in detail
Wikipedia has detailed guides for citations, formatting, and writing style. Before you submit your page, read the "Manual of Style" and the "Citing Sources" guide. These are long documents, but you do not need to memorize them — you just need to know they exist and where to find them when you have a question.
The most common mistakes new editors make are: citing sources incorrectly, using promotional language, including unsourced facts, and not following the standard section structure. Spending an hour reading these guides before you write will save you from rejection.
Wikipedia also has a "Neutral Point of View" policy. This means your page must describe your topic fairly, even if the topic is controversial. If your topic has critics, you must mention the criticism and cite it. You cannot write only positive things about a person or organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a Wikipedia page about myself?
Only if you have been written about in independent, published sources. Wikipedia discourages self-promotion, and pages created by the subject are reviewed more carefully. If you have been featured in news articles or academic papers, you can create a page, but it must be based on those sources, not on your own claims.
How long does it take to get a page published?
The review process typically takes two to four weeks, but can take longer if reviewers request changes. After your page is accepted, it goes live immediately. The entire process from account creation to publication usually takes one to two months.
What if Wikipedia deletes my page after it is published?
Published pages can be deleted if editors later decide the topic is not notable or if sources are found to be unreliable. If this happens, you can appeal the deletion or revise the page and request restoration. Deletions are not permanent — you can always resubmit with better sources.
Do I need to be an expert to write a Wikipedia page?
No. You need reliable sources and the ability to write clearly and neutrally. Wikipedia values accuracy and verifiability over expertise. If your facts come from published sources and your writing is clear, your page can be accepted.
Can I edit my page after it is published?
Yes. After your page is published, you and other editors can make changes. However, other editors may also edit or remove content if they think it is inaccurate or unsourced. This is normal — Wikipedia is a collaborative project, and pages are constantly refined by many contributors.