Wikipedia articles start with a topic that does not already have one, a reliable source to back up what you write, and an account you create for free
Creating a Wikipedia article means writing about a topic, citing sources that prove what you say is true, and submitting it for review by volunteer editors. Wikipedia will not publish your article when ready — it goes into a staging area called a draft first, where experienced editors check that you followed the rules. Those rules exist because Wikipedia's goal is a free encyclopedia anyone can read, not a place to promote yourself or your business.
The process takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on how clear your sources are and how well you follow Wikipedia's format. You cannot pay to skip the review, and Wikipedia does not accept articles that are mostly promotional, that lack sources, or that are about topics too small or new to have reliable coverage elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- You need a Wikipedia account (free to create) and sources from newspapers, academic journals, books, or other publications that are not owned by the topic's subject.
- Your article must be about a topic that does not already have a Wikipedia page and that has been written about in at least three independent, reliable sources.
- Wikipedia has a specific format for articles, including sections, citations, and links to other Wikipedia pages, which you must follow or editors will reject your draft.
- Your draft sits in a review queue where volunteer editors check it against Wikipedia's rules; approval is not may provide and can take weeks.
- Articles about yourself, your business, or your products are treated with extra scrutiny and are often rejected unless the topic has substantial coverage in major publications.
Create a free Wikipedia account and choose your topic
Go to Wikipedia.org and click "Create account" in the top right corner. You will need a username (which becomes public) and a password. Your username cannot be changed later, so choose something neutral — Wikipedia discourages usernames that look promotional, like "JennysBakeryShop" or "DrSmithDentist".
Before you start writing, search Wikipedia to confirm your topic does not already have an article. If a similar article exists, you cannot create a duplicate. If your topic is covered within a larger article (for example, a specific breed of dog covered in an article about dog breeds), you may be able to expand that section instead of creating a new article.
Check whether your topic meets Wikipedia's notability standard. This means the topic must have been written about in at least three separate, reliable sources that are not owned or controlled by the topic itself. A local newspaper article about a new restaurant counts. A press release from the restaurant does not. Academic journals, major news outlets, and published books all count as reliable sources.
Gather sources before you write
Wikipedia requires you to cite where every factual claim comes from. Before you write a single sentence, collect your sources and make sure you have at least three independent ones. Independent means they were not written by the same organization or person — a company's own website and its social media account do not count as two sources.
Write down the full publication information for each source: the author's name, the publication name, the date it was published, and the URL if it is online. You will need this information to create citations in your article. If you cannot find three reliable sources that cover your topic, Wikipedia will reject your article, so this step determines whether your project is possible.
Read what those sources say about your topic. Wikipedia articles should reflect what reliable sources say, not what you personally believe or what the topic's subject claims about itself. If a source says something different from what you expected, that is what goes in the article.
Write your article in Wikipedia's format
Log into your Wikipedia account and click "Create a new article." Wikipedia will ask whether you want to write in the main encyclopedia or in a draft space. Choose draft space — this is where new articles go for review, and it keeps incomplete work out of the main encyclopedia.
Wikipedia articles follow a standard structure. Start with an opening paragraph (called the lead) that summarizes the topic in two to four sentences. Then add sections with headings like "History," "Description," or "Notable Examples," depending on what your topic is. Each section should have two or more paragraphs.
After each factual claim, add a citation. In Wikipedia's editing window, you can click "Cite" to insert a citation template. Fill in the author, publication, date, and URL. This tells readers where the information came from and lets them verify it themselves. Citations are not optional — Wikipedia will reject articles with unsourced claims.
Link to other Wikipedia articles by putting double brackets around relevant terms: [[dog breed]] becomes a clickable link. Do this sparingly — link only to topics that help readers understand your article better, not to every possible related topic.
Submit your draft for review
When your article is complete, click "Submit for review" at the top of the page. You will see a form asking you to explain what your article is about and why the topic meets Wikipedia's notability standard. This explanation helps reviewers understand your work quickly.
In the explanation box, mention your three sources by name and explain why they show your topic is notable. For example: "This article covers a scientific discovery published in Nature in 2023, with follow-up coverage in Science Daily and The New York Times." Be specific — vague explanations slow down the review process.
After you submit, your draft enters a queue. Volunteer editors will review it within days or weeks, depending on how busy Wikipedia's review team is. You will receive a message on your Wikipedia talk page (a discussion area tied to your account) if an editor has questions or requests changes.
Respond to editor feedback and revise
Editors may ask you to add more sources, remove promotional language, reorganize sections, or clarify claims. Read their feedback carefully — they are not rejecting your work personally, they are enforcing Wikipedia's standards so the encyclopedia stays reliable.
Make the changes they request and click "Submit for review" again. If you disagree with feedback, you can explain your reasoning in the talk page discussion, but Wikipedia's rules take precedence over your preference. Editors have seen thousands of articles and know what works.
If your article is rejected, the editor will explain why. Common reasons include: not enough reliable sources, the topic is too new or too small to be notable, the article reads like promotion, or the topic is already covered in another Wikipedia article. You can revise and resubmit, or you can ask the editor for specific guidance on what would make it acceptable.
Understand what Wikipedia will and will not publish
Wikipedia will not publish articles that are primarily about promoting a person, business, product, or organization. If you are writing about your own company, your own book, or yourself, editors will scrutinize the article heavily and will likely reject it unless major publications have written about you or your work independently.
Wikipedia also will not publish articles about very recent events, very small local topics, or topics that have only been covered by social media, blogs, or press releases. The rule is that the topic must have substantial coverage in reliable sources — not just a mention, but real reporting.
Once your article is published, you can continue to edit it, but so can other Wikipedia editors. If you add unsourced claims or promotional content, other editors will remove it. This is normal and not a reflection on you — it is how Wikipedia maintains quality across millions of articles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for an article to be reviewed and published?
Most drafts are reviewed within one to four weeks, though during busy periods it can take longer. If an editor requests changes, the clock resets after you resubmit. straightforward, well-sourced articles move faster than those with unclear sources or structural problems.
Can I write about myself or my business on Wikipedia?
You can, but Wikipedia has strict rules against self-promotion. Articles about you or your business are reviewed more carefully and are often rejected unless major news outlets have written about you independently. Many editors recommend having someone else write the article and staying out of the editing process.
What happens if my article is rejected?
The editor will explain why in a message on your talk page. You can revise the article and resubmit, ask the editor for specific guidance, or start over with a different topic. Rejection is common and does not prevent you from trying again.
Do I need to be an informed to write a Wikipedia article?
No, but you do need reliable sources. Wikipedia values accuracy over informed — if you can cite three independent, reputable sources, you can write about the topic. The sources do the credibility work, not your background.
Can I copy text from other websites into my Wikipedia article?
No. Copying text from other websites, even with a citation, violates copyright and Wikipedia's rules. You must write in your own words and cite the source. Paraphrasing with a citation is the correct approach.