You need an account, a notable topic, and sources before Wikipedia will let you publish
Wikipedia does not let you create a page and publish it immediately. You must first register an account and wait at least four days. Then you propose your page in a sandbox or draft space, where experienced editors review it for notability — meaning the topic has been written about in reliable sources outside Wikipedia — and for neutral point of view. Only after that review, if the page meets Wikipedia's standards, can it move to the main encyclopedia.
The barrier exists because Wikipedia's core rule is that pages must document things that are already documented elsewhere. You cannot use Wikipedia to make something notable; you can only use it to reflect notability that already exists. This means your first step is not opening an editor — it is finding published sources about your topic.
Key Takeaways
- Wikipedia accounts must be at least four days old before you can create a new article in the main encyclopedia.
- Your topic must have been written about in reliable published sources — news outlets, academic journals, books from established publishers — not just mentioned online.
- You write your draft in Wikipedia's sandbox or in the "Articles for Creation" workspace, where volunteer editors review it before it goes live.
- The page must follow Wikipedia's neutral point of view policy, meaning it presents information without advocating for or against the topic.
- If your draft is rejected, you can revise it and resubmit, or ask for feedback on what needs to change.
Register an account and wait four days
Go to Wikipedia.org, click "Create account" in the top right corner, and fill in a username, password, and email address. Wikipedia will send you a confirmation email — click the link to verify your address. Your account is now active, but you cannot create new articles for four days. This waiting period is automatic and applies to all new accounts.
During these four days, you can edit existing Wikipedia pages, join the talk pages where editors discuss changes, and read the policies you will need to follow. Spend this time gathering your sources and outlining what your page will say. The stronger your sources, the faster your draft will move through review.
Gather sources that show your topic is notable
Wikipedia defines notability as coverage in reliable published sources — typically news articles, academic journals, books from established publishers, and documentaries. A Wikipedia editor will look for at least a few independent sources that have written about your topic. "Independent" means the sources are not written by you, not owned by the subject, and not primarily promotional.
If your topic is a person, look for news coverage, interviews in established outlets, academic citations, or mentions in published biographies. If it is a company or organization, find news articles, industry reports, or regulatory filings. If it is a creative work — a book, film, or game — look for reviews in major publications, awards, or academic analysis. If you cannot find multiple sources, your page will likely be rejected, and that is the correct outcome: Wikipedia reflects what the world has already documented, not what you want documented.
Save the URLs and titles of your sources. You will cite them directly in your draft, and editors will check them. If a source is behind a paywall, note that too — Wikipedia editors can often access paywalled academic journals through their institutions.
Write your draft in the sandbox or Articles for Creation
Once your account is four days old, you have two paths. The simpler path for new editors is Articles for Creation, a dedicated workspace where drafts go for review. Go to the Articles for Creation homepage, click "Start a new article", and fill in the title and a brief description of what your page will cover. Wikipedia will create a draft page for you.
The alternative is to write in your own user sandbox — a private workspace under your account where you can draft without anyone seeing it. To access it, click your username in the top right, then click "Sandbox". Write your article there, and when it is ready, you can move it to Articles for Creation for review.
Structure your draft like a Wikipedia article: an opening paragraph that defines the topic, sections with headings, and citations after every factual claim. Use the format [1], [2], and so on for citations, then list the full source information at the bottom under a "References" section. Look at an existing Wikipedia page in your topic area to see the format in action.
Follow Wikipedia's neutral point of view and style rules
Wikipedia requires neutral point of view, which means you cannot advocate for or against your topic. Do not write "This brilliant innovation changed everything" or "This flawed approach failed because...". Instead, write "The innovation was adopted by X organizations" or "Critics argued the approach had limitations because...". Attribute opinions to the people or sources that hold them.
Avoid promotional language. Do not describe a company as "industry-leading" or a person as "renowned" unless those exact words appear in your sources and you attribute them. Do not include information that exists only on the subject's own website or social media. Do not write about living people in ways that could be defamatory — stick to documented facts.
Use Wikipedia's citation style. After each factual statement, add a citation number in brackets. At the bottom, list each source with its author, title, publication, date, and URL. Wikipedia has templates for this — look at the "References" section of any Wikipedia article to see the format, or use the citation tool built into Wikipedia's editor.
Submit your draft for review
If you wrote in Articles for Creation, your draft is already in the review queue. If you wrote in your sandbox, go to your sandbox page, copy all the text, navigate to Articles for Creation, click "Start a new article", and paste your draft there.
Add a short note explaining why this topic is notable — point to your key sources and explain what makes this topic worthy of a Wikipedia page. Then click "Submit for review". Your draft will now be visible to volunteer editors who review new articles. This process usually takes a few days to a few weeks, depending on how many drafts are in the queue and how clear your sources are.
Editors will leave comments on your draft's talk page. They might ask for more sources, suggest rewording to be more neutral, or point out sections that need citations. You can revise your draft directly in response to their comments. If the feedback is substantial, ask for clarification — Wikipedia editors are usually willing to explain what needs to change.
Understand why your draft might be rejected
The most common reason for rejection is lack of notability: the topic has not been written about in reliable sources. If this happens, you will receive a message explaining which sources were missing or insufficient. You can revise your draft to add better sources and resubmit it, or you can ask the reviewing editor for specific guidance on what would make it acceptable.
Other rejections happen because the draft violates Wikipedia's conflict of interest policy — for example, if you are writing about yourself or your own company. This does not mean you cannot write about yourself, but you must disclose the conflict and follow stricter rules about neutrality and sourcing. Some rejections happen because the draft is too promotional or lacks citations. All of these can be fixed by revising and resubmitting.
If your draft is rejected and you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a second opinion. Go to the Articles for Creation talk page and explain why you think the topic meets Wikipedia's notability standards. Another editor may review your case.
Move your approved draft to the main encyclopedia
When an editor approves your draft, they will move it from Articles for Creation to Wikipedia's main encyclopedia. You will receive a notification, and your page will now be live and visible to everyone. At this point, other editors can make changes to your page — this is normal and part of how Wikipedia works. You can continue to edit it, and you can monitor changes by clicking "Watch" to add it to your watchlist.
Your page may be edited, reorganized, or have sections added by other editors. If you disagree with a change, you can discuss it on the page's talk page rather than reverting the edit immediately. Wikipedia values consensus, so explaining your reasoning usually works better than edit wars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a page about myself or my business?
You can, but you must disclose that you have a conflict of interest and follow stricter sourcing rules. Wikipedia prefers that people with conflicts of interest propose their pages in Articles for Creation rather than creating them directly. Be prepared for more scrutiny — editors will check that your sources are independent and that your language is neutral rather than promotional.
What counts as a reliable source?
Reliable sources are published materials with editorial oversight: news outlets, academic journals, books from established publishers, government reports, and documentaries. Personal blogs, social media, press releases, and self-published websites do not count. Wikipedia maintains a list of sources it considers reliable, but the general rule is: if it went through an editorial process before publication, it likely counts.
How long does the review process take?
Most drafts are reviewed within a few days to two weeks, but it depends on how many drafts are waiting and how clear your sources are. If your draft has obvious problems — missing citations or unclear notability — it may be rejected quickly. If it is close to acceptable, an editor may ask for revisions, which can extend the timeline.
What if I want to edit an existing Wikipedia page instead?
You can edit existing pages immediately — there is no four-day wait. Click "Edit" or "Edit source" at the top of any page, make your changes, and click "Publish changes". Your edit will go live right away, though other editors can revert it if they disagree. For major changes, use the talk page to discuss your reasoning first.
Can I delete my Wikipedia page if it gets rejected?
Your draft in Articles for Creation will stay there unless you delete it yourself. Once a page is published in the main encyclopedia, only administrators can delete it, and only if it meets Wikipedia's deletion criteria. If your page is rejected, you can revise and resubmit, or you can leave it in draft form. There is no penalty for having a rejected draft.