You need a Wikipedia account, a source to cite, and a reason the topic belongs there
Creating a Wikipedia page is not the same as posting to a blog or social media. Wikipedia has strict rules about what gets a page and what does not. Before you write anything, you need to understand that Wikipedia only accepts pages about topics that have been written about in reliable sources — newspapers, academic journals, books from established publishers — outside of Wikipedia itself. If nobody has written about your topic in those places, Wikipedia will not have a page for it, no matter how well you write.
You also need a Wikipedia account. Go to Wikipedia.org, click "Create account" in the top right, and fill in a username, password, and email address. You do not need to verify your email when ready, but you should do it within a few days. Wikipedia tracks who makes changes, and having a real account (rather than editing as an anonymous IP address) makes your edits taken more seriously.
The third requirement is knowing where your topic fits. Wikipedia has millions of pages organized into categories. Before you create a new page, search Wikipedia to see if a page already exists under a different name, or whether your topic is already covered as a section within a larger page. If your topic is a person, check both their full name and any common nicknames or stage names. If it is a company, search the company name and also the industry or product it is known for.
Key Takeaways
- Wikipedia only creates pages for topics that have been written about in reliable sources like newspapers, journals, and published books — not blogs, press releases, or social media.
- You must create a Wikipedia account before you can create a new page, and your account must be at least four days old and have made at least ten edits elsewhere on Wikipedia.
- Search Wikipedia thoroughly before starting, because your topic may already have a page under a different name or be covered within a larger article.
- Your first edit should be a draft submitted for review, not a live page, so experienced editors can check your sources and writing before it appears publicly.
- Wikipedia editors will delete pages that lack reliable sources, promote a person or business, or cover topics too small or new to have received outside attention.
Meeting Wikipedia's account requirements before you start
Wikipedia does not let brand-new accounts create pages when ready. Your account must be at least four days old, and you must have made at least ten edits to existing Wikipedia pages. These edits can be small — fixing a typo, adding a citation, correcting a date — but they have to be real contributions, not test edits or spam.
This waiting period exists because Wikipedia has been targeted by people trying to create promotional pages for themselves, their businesses, or their products. By requiring new accounts to prove they understand how Wikipedia works, the site filters out most of those attempts. Make your ten edits on pages related to your topic if possible, so you learn the style and citation format Wikipedia uses.
While you are making those edits, read the Wikipedia article on "Notability" — it is the core rule that determines whether a topic gets its own page. In general, a person needs to have been written about in multiple reliable sources that are independent of them (meaning the sources did not interview them or rely on their own website). A business needs significant coverage in business publications or news outlets. A local event or small organization usually does not meet this standard.
Gathering sources before you write a single word
Before you write anything, collect the sources you will cite. Wikipedia requires that every factual claim be backed by a source, and that source must be something a reader can actually look up — a published article, a book, a government record, a court filing. Blog posts, press releases, social media, and the subject's own website do not count as reliable sources for Wikipedia purposes.
For a person, look for newspaper articles, magazine profiles, academic papers, or book mentions. For a company, search business news sites, industry publications, and major newspapers. For a historical event or topic, look for books, academic journals, and established news archives. Write down the exact URL, publication name, author, and date for each source. If you cannot find at least three to five independent sources, your topic probably does not meet Wikipedia's notability standard, and creating a page will result in deletion.
Wikipedia has a tool called "Reliable sources" that lists which publications it considers trustworthy. The New York Times, BBC, NPR, academic journals, and major publishers are on the list. Local news sites, trade publications, and established magazines usually are too. Self-published books, blogs, and websites run by the subject themselves are not.
Writing your draft in a sandbox before submitting
Do not create your page directly on Wikipedia. Instead, create it in your user sandbox — a private workspace where you can write and edit without anyone seeing it until you are ready. Go to your user page (click your username in the top right after you log in), then click "Sandbox" or create a new subpage called "Sandbox". Write your article there.
Wikipedia articles follow a specific format. Start with an opening paragraph that defines the topic in plain language — who the person is, what the company does, when the event happened. Then add sections with headings like "Early life", "Career", "Personal life", "Criticism", or "Legacy" for a biography. For a company, use sections like "History", "Products", "Leadership", or "Controversies". Each claim needs a citation in the form of a superscript number that links to a source at the bottom.
To add a citation, type the source information between <ref> and </ref> tags. Wikipedia has templates that make this easier — you can use <ref>{{cite news|title=|author=|date=|url=}}</ref> for a news article, for example. At the bottom of your draft, add a section called "References" and type <references /> to display all your citations.
Submitting your draft for community review
Once your draft is complete, do not publish it directly to Wikipedia. Instead, submit it for review using the Articles for Creation process. Go to the Articles for Creation page on Wikipedia, click "Submit an article", and follow the steps to upload your sandbox draft. Write a brief note explaining why this topic deserves a Wikipedia page — mention the reliable sources you used and why the topic meets Wikipedia's notability standard.
Your submission will be reviewed by experienced Wikipedia editors, usually within a few days to a few weeks. They will check whether your sources are reliable, whether your writing follows Wikipedia style, and whether your topic actually meets the notability requirement. If they approve it, your page goes live. If they ask for changes, you can revise your draft and resubmit. If they decline it, they will explain why — usually because the topic lacks sufficient reliable sources or is too promotional.
Do not be discouraged if your first submission is declined. Many Wikipedia pages are rejected the first time and accepted after revision. The most common reasons for rejection are weak sources, too much promotional language, or a topic that is too new or too small to have received significant outside coverage.
Understanding what Wikipedia will and will not accept
Wikipedia will delete pages that are primarily about promoting a person, business, or product. If your article reads like a resume, a company bio, or marketing copy, it will be flagged for deletion. Wikipedia wants neutral, factual information, not praise or endorsement. Write about what the person or organization has done, not why they are great.
Wikipedia will also delete pages about topics that are too new. A person who became famous last month, a company that launched last year, or an event that just happened usually does not have enough reliable coverage yet. Wikipedia generally expects a topic to have been written about in multiple sources over a period of time, showing that the coverage is not a one-time news spike.
Pages about local topics — a small town business, a local politician, a neighborhood event — are often deleted unless the topic has received coverage in major publications. Wikipedia is not a directory of every person and business; it is a general encyclopedia. If your topic is primarily of interest to people in one city or region, it may not meet the standard.
Maintaining your page after it goes live
Once your page is published, other Wikipedia editors can edit it. This is normal and expected. They may reword sentences, reorganize sections, add or remove information, or flag parts that need better sources. You can edit your own page too, but remember that Wikipedia is collaborative — if another editor changes something you wrote, do not when ready change it back. Instead, discuss the change on the page's "Talk" tab.
Watch your page for vandalism or misinformation. If someone adds false information or deletes large sections, you can revert those changes. If you notice that a claim in your article lacks a source, add one. If you find a better source for something, update the citation. Wikipedia pages are living documents that improve over time as more people contribute.
If your page is tagged for deletion, do not panic. Read the deletion notice carefully and address the specific concern. If the issue is weak sources, find better ones. If the issue is promotional tone, rewrite those sections in neutral language. You can argue your case on the deletion discussion page, and other editors will vote on whether to keep or delete the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a Wikipedia page about myself?
You can, but Wikipedia discourages it and editors scrutinize self-created pages heavily. If you do create a page about yourself, you must follow the same rules as anyone else — cite reliable sources, write in neutral language, and avoid promotional tone. Many self-created pages are deleted because they read like resumes or marketing materials rather than encyclopedia entries.
What if Wikipedia keeps deleting my page?
If your page is deleted multiple times, the topic probably does not meet Wikipedia's notability standard yet. Focus on getting your topic covered in reliable sources — newspapers, magazines, academic journals — outside of Wikipedia. Once your topic has significant coverage in those places, a Wikipedia page becomes much easier to create and keep.
How long does it take to get a page approved?
The Articles for Creation process usually takes a few days to a few weeks, depending on how many submissions are in the queue and how quickly volunteer editors review them. During busy periods it can take longer. You can check the status of your submission by visiting the Articles for Creation page and looking for your draft.
Can I add a photo or video to my Wikipedia page?
Yes, but the image must be freely licensed — meaning it is in the public domain or released under a Creative Commons license that allows Wikipedia to use it. You cannot use copyrighted photos or videos without permission. You can upload images to Wikimedia Commons and then add them to your page, or link to images that are already there.
What happens if I disagree with an edit someone made to my page?
Use the Talk page to discuss it. Click the "Talk" tab at the top of your article, then click "New section" and explain your concern. Other editors will see your message and discuss whether the edit should stay or be changed. Wikipedia works by consensus, not by individual ownership, so be prepared to compromise or accept decisions made by the community.