You need a Wikipedia account, a notable topic, and sources before you start writing
Creating a Wikipedia page requires three things upfront: a registered Wikipedia account (free), a topic that meets Wikipedia's notability standards, and published sources that document your topic. Wikipedia does not accept articles about unknown people, unreleased products, or topics covered only in blog posts and social media. Before you write anything, you should research whether your topic already exists under a different name, and whether it has enough reliable sources to support an article.
The process takes weeks or months, not hours. Wikipedia editors review new articles for accuracy, neutrality, and proper sourcing. Many first submissions are rejected or heavily edited. Understanding what Wikipedia wants — and what it will not accept — saves you time before you start writing.
Key Takeaways
- Wikipedia requires a free account and will not publish articles about private individuals, unreleased products, or topics without published sources.
- Your topic must meet notability standards, which usually means it has been covered in independent, published sources like newspapers, books, or academic journals.
- New articles go through a review process where experienced editors check for accuracy, bias, and proper citations before publication.
- You must write in a neutral point of view, cite every factual claim, and follow Wikipedia's formatting rules or your article will be rejected or heavily revised.
- Starting with a draft in your user space or a sandbox lets you build the article without it appearing on the main site until it is ready.
Check if your topic already exists and meets notability standards
Search Wikipedia directly for your topic using the search box on any Wikipedia page. If an article exists under a different name, you cannot create a duplicate. If nothing comes up, search again using variations — different spellings, alternate names, or broader categories. A company might be listed under its parent organization; a person might be under a stage name or birth name.
Next, determine whether your topic meets Wikipedia's notability guidelines. Wikipedia has specific standards for different categories: people, companies, events, and creative works all have different thresholds. A person generally needs significant coverage in multiple independent, published sources — not just mentions, but substantial articles about them. A company needs to be notable in its field or have significant public impact. A local business, a private individual, or an unreleased product will not meet the standard, no matter how well-written your article is.
Read Wikipedia's notability guidelines for your topic category. If you are unsure whether your topic qualifies, post a question on the article's talk page (the "Talk" tab at the top of related Wikipedia pages) or ask in the Wikipedia help desk. Editors there can tell you honestly whether the topic is likely to survive review.
Create a Wikipedia account and gather your sources
Go to Wikipedia.org and click "Create account" in the top right. You need a username and password; an email address is optional but recommended. Your account is free and takes one minute to set up. Wait a few days before creating your article — new accounts have restrictions on what they can publish directly to the main site.
While you wait, collect your sources. Wikipedia requires citations, and the sources must be reliable and independent. Reliable sources include published books, academic journals, newspapers, magazines, and established news websites. Blog posts, social media, press releases, and self-published websites do not count. You need at least three to five independent sources, depending on your topic, and they should cover different aspects of what you plan to write.
Save links to your sources or download copies. You will cite them in your article using Wikipedia's citation format, which looks like this: <ref>Author. "Title." Publication, Date. URL</ref>. Wikipedia's citation templates can format this automatically if you provide the information.
Write your article in a sandbox or draft space first
Do not write directly on Wikipedia's main site. Instead, create your article in your user sandbox — a private workspace where you can draft and edit without the article appearing publicly. Go to your user page (click your username in the top right after logging in), then create a new page called "User:YourUsername/Sandbox" or "User:YourUsername/Article Draft".
Write your article there using Wikipedia's markup language. Start with a lead section that summarizes the topic in two to four paragraphs. Then organize the rest into sections with headings like "Early Life," "Career," "Notable Works," or "History" — whatever fits your topic. Keep the tone neutral and factual; do not write persuasively or include your opinions.
Every factual claim needs a citation. After each sentence or paragraph with a fact, add a reference tag with your source. Wikipedia's visual editor makes this easier — you can click "Cite" and fill in the source information, and Wikipedia formats it for you. If you use the code editor, you will type the reference tags by hand.
Follow Wikipedia's style rules and neutral point of view
Wikipedia has strict rules about how articles should read. The neutral point of view (NPOV) is the most important: you cannot advocate for or against your topic. If you are writing about a company, you cannot praise it or criticize it. If you are writing about a person, you cannot make them sound heroic or villainous. State facts, cite sources, and let readers draw conclusions.
Avoid promotional language. Do not use words like "innovative," "groundbreaking," "leading," or "world-class" unless they appear in your sources and you attribute them. Do not include unsourced claims about achievements or impact. If a company claims to be the largest in its field, cite a source that verifies that claim.
Use Wikipedia's standard formatting: bold the article title once in the first sentence, use heading levels correctly (== for main sections, === for subsections), and keep paragraphs short. Read similar Wikipedia articles in your topic area to see the expected style and structure. Your article should look and sound like other Wikipedia articles, not like a blog post or marketing material.
Submit your article for review
When your draft is complete and cited, move it to the main Wikipedia namespace (the public site) or submit it through Wikipedia's Articles for Creation process. If your account is new, use Articles for Creation: go to the Wikipedia help desk or search "Articles for Creation" to find the submission form. Upload your draft there, and experienced editors will review it within one to four weeks.
Reviewers will check whether your topic is notable, whether your sources are reliable, whether you have cited everything, and whether the writing is neutral. If they accept it, your article goes live. If they reject it, they will explain why — usually because the topic is not notable enough, the sources are not sufficient, or the writing needs major changes. You can revise and resubmit, or ask for feedback on how to improve it.
Even after publication, your article can be edited by other Wikipedia users. Do not be alarmed if someone changes your wording or reorganizes sections — that is normal. If someone removes content, check the edit history and talk page to see why. You can discuss changes with other editors on the article's talk page.
Understand what Wikipedia will reject
Wikipedia will not publish articles about private individuals with no public profile, no matter how detailed your sources are. It will not publish articles about unreleased products, upcoming events that have not happened yet, or topics covered only in blog posts and social media. It will not publish articles that are primarily promotional, even if they are well-sourced.
Wikipedia also has rules against conflicts of interest. If you are writing about yourself, your company, your family member, or someone who pays you, disclose that on the talk page. Editors may still review your article, but they will scrutinize it more carefully for bias. Many editors prefer that you do not write articles about yourself at all — instead, ask another editor to create it based on your sources.
If your article is rejected, ask the reviewer for specific feedback. Some topics genuinely do not meet Wikipedia's standards, and no amount of revision will change that. Others need more sources, better citations, or a rewrite to remove bias. Understanding the reason for rejection helps you decide whether to revise or move on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a Wikipedia article published?
Articles submitted through Articles for Creation are usually reviewed within one to four weeks. If your article is rejected, revising and resubmitting can take another month or more. Some articles go through multiple rounds of feedback before acceptance. The entire process from draft to publication often takes two to three months.
Can I write about myself or my business?
You can, but you must disclose the conflict of interest on the article's talk page. Many editors prefer that someone without a personal stake in the topic write the article instead. If you do write about yourself or your business, expect stricter scrutiny for bias and promotional language. Your sources must be independent — you cannot cite your own website or press releases you wrote.
What counts as a reliable source on Wikipedia?
Reliable sources are published, independent, and fact-checked: newspapers, magazines, academic journals, books from established publishers, and major news websites. Blog posts, social media, press releases, and self-published websites do not count. Local news sources are acceptable if they are professionally published. When in doubt, check Wikipedia's list of reliable sources or ask an editor.
What happens if my article is edited after it is published?
Other Wikipedia editors can change your article at any time. This is normal and expected. If you disagree with an edit, you can discuss it on the article's talk page or revert the change and explain why. Major changes should be discussed first. If someone vandalizes your article, you can report it or revert the damage yourself.
Can I delete my Wikipedia article if I change my mind?
You cannot delete your own article, but you can request deletion by adding a tag to the article or posting on its talk page. An administrator will review the request. Deletion is granted if the article does not meet notability standards, is promotional, or violates other Wikipedia policies. If your article is deleted, you can appeal the decision or revise it and resubmit.