We're sharing our favorite tricks for making reading and writing on the orange app so much easier.
Ever feel like you’re stumbling through Wattpad trying to find a decent read? Or maybe you just want it to work more smoothly? Well, worry no more! Here are ten killer Wattpad hacks—five for readers, five for writers—that’ll make your life a whole lot easier. Ready to level up? Let’s dive in!
1. Got Logged Out? Restart the App
So, the app logged you out for the tenth time this week? No sweat! Don't waste time typing in your username and password (again!). On your iPhone, just swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find Wattpad, and swipe it away. Then, reopen the app. This little trick can also fix other annoying glitches. Magic, right?
2. Hate Inline Comments? Turn Them Off!
Some people think inline comments are the best part of Wattpad, but to others they're the worst. If inline comments are distracting you while reading, you can turn them off. Just click your profile picture in the upper right, hit the gear icon, go to account settings, then reading settings, and toggle the inline comments on or off.
3. Customize Your Homepage with Tag Blocking
Tired of seeing recommendations that are totally wrong for you? Go to your homepage, tap the top right of the screen, select "Blocked Tags," and type in the tags you want to block. This will tailor your recommendations to better fit your taste.
4. Search Smarter8. Use Special Search Terms
Searching for something specific? Amp up your search game with special terms. You can use a dash (-) to exclude words you don't want.
Example: -anime
Search multiple hashtags with the hashtag symbol (#).
Want to search for a specific title? Type “title:” before your keywords.
5. Use Long Press for Quick Options8.
Want to quickly read, add to your library, or share a book? Just press and hold on the book’s cover. You’ll get instant options and a sneak peek of the book without having to dig around.
6. Refresh Your Book's Tags8
If you're like most people, you probably typed in your tags once when you wrote a story and then completely forgot about them. But many of the most-read authors have a trick up their sleeves—they keep experimenting with tags! If your story’s feeling a bit lonely, it might be time for a tag makeover. Change up your tags to attract new readers and see which ones really resonate. (And use all those tag slots!)
7. Beware of Read-for-Reads
Read-for-reads (R4Rs) can be a bit of a double-edged sword. While they’re great for exchanging reads, they might mess with the algorithm. Since many R4R participants read across all genres, the algorithm might think your story should be shown to folks who aren’t your target audience. The best thing may be to avoid them, but if you're going to do reading exchanges, keep them with people who already read books like yours.
8. Never Write Directly in the App4. Don’t Write Directly in the App
Writing directly in Wattpad’s app can be risky business. Glitches or intentional deletions could mean losing your precious words for good. Instead, write your story elsewhere (like a trusty document editor) and copy it over.
9. The First 2 Sentences of Your Description Matter Most
Your description is a big part of why someone chooses to read your book, but the first two sentences in particular are prime real estate. Most previews on the homepage only show these initial lines, so you need to hook readers with just those two. Steal a trick from Wattpad Originals and start with an ultra-short description before even diving into the full blurb. Those two sentences should be compelling and reflective of your story.
10. If Your Book is Complete, Mark it!
Want more eyes on your story? Make sure it’s marked as completed! Many Wattpad readers prefer finished books, so this little step can make a big difference in attracting those finish-line fans.
Got any hacks of your own? Drop them in the comments...
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