How to use text-to-speech on Wattpad

Wattpad is a social storytelling platform that can convert text to audio content. Learn how to best utilize Wattpad on your Android device.

How to get Wattpad to read to you on Android or iOS devices

Although popular, Wattpad doesn’t have the most intuitive mobile app. It comes with some content and reading preferences limitations.

Making Wattpad stories come to life on Android or iOS devices is a bit trickier than advertised. But it’s not impossible once you learn its features and how to navigate the app. This guide will help you learn all about Wattpad. Let’s dive in!

What is Wattpad

Wattpad is a social media storytelling platform that leverages text to speech (TTS) technology to deliver written content in an audio format that anyone can absorb while doing other activities.

Whether you’re an avid reader, a writer looking to gain notoriety or a casual short-story enthusiast, Wattpad caters to many needs.

The platform’s rich content library constantly expands thanks to Wattpad’s community. It also works with important partners in the entertainment industry like Hulu, Syfy, and Sony Pictures.

The read aloud feature turns written content into speech and makes Wattpad a convenient service for pretty much any user.

It caters to fanfiction book lovers, aspiring writers, avid readers, talent scouts, and users with reading disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD. If you want to share your own stories without selling them on Amazon or Kindle, Wattpad is a great place to do it. You may even upload a new chapter every week on the social storytelling platform and share your content with the community.

A brief history of Wattpad

Wattpad was founded in 2006 by Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen as a platform for individuals to share their own stories with other users. The platform quickly gained popularity and has since grown into a platform that offers both traditional book publishing as well as self-publishing options. It has even launched several successful published authors, such as Anna Todd, who first published her hit novel "After" on Wattpad.

Today, Wattpad has become a global phenomenon, with users from all over the world sharing their stories and connecting with each other.

The Wattpad community

Wattpad has created a community of readers and writers who are passionate about sharing and discovering stories. The platform encourages users to interact with one another, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. Writers can receive feedback, connect with readers, and gain valuable exposure. Readers can easily discover new stories and connect with their favorite authors.

The community on Wattpad is diverse and inclusive, with users from all walks of life. It is a platform that celebrates creativity and storytelling, and encourages users to explore new ideas and perspectives.

How Wattpad works

Wattpad works by allowing writers to share their stories, and readers to easily discover and read them. Anyone can create a free account on Wattpad and start publishing their own work. Once a story is published, it is available for readers to find through various search tools on the platform.

Readers can leave comments and vote for their favorite stories, allowing writers to see how their work is resonating with their audience. This feedback is invaluable for writers, as it helps them improve their craft and connect with their readers.

Wattpad also offers a range of tools and resources for writers, including writing prompts, writing contests, and publishing opportunities. These resources help writers hone their skills and gain exposure for their work.

Original stories and Wattpad books

Wattpad is known for its vast collection of original stories created by talented writers from all around the world. These original stories cover a wide range of genres, including young adult fiction, science fiction, and romance. Whether you're looking for a thrilling adventure or a heartwarming tale, Wattpad has it all.

In addition to the original stories, Wattpad has also ventured into the world of book publishing. With the success of many Wattpad stories, the platform has partnered with traditional publishers to bring these stories to a wider audience. Bestselling books such as "The Kissing Booth" have started as popular stories on Wattpad and have gone on to become global sensations.

Book deals and Wattpad studios

Wattpad's influence extends beyond the online platform. The success of its stories has attracted the attention of major players in the entertainment industry, including Netflix. Wattpad Studios, the company's entertainment division, has partnered with Netflix to adapt popular Wattpad stories into original series and movies.

This collaboration between Wattpad and Netflix has brought even more exposure to the talented writers on the platform. It has also given aspiring authors the opportunity to turn their stories into on-screen adaptations, reaching an even wider audience.

The Wattys and Watty Awards

Wattpad recognizes and celebrates the achievements of its writers through an annual event called The Wattys. The Wattys is a prestigious award ceremony that honors outstanding stories and talented writers on the platform. It is a highly anticipated event that brings together the Wattpad community to celebrate storytelling excellence.

The Watty Awards, a part of The Wattys, showcase the best stories across various categories, including fan fiction, teen fiction, and science fiction. Winning a Watty Award is a significant achievement for any writer on Wattpad, as it recognizes their talent and dedication.

Wattpad authors and writers

Wattpad has become a launching pad for aspiring authors, providing them with a platform to showcase their writing skills and build a fan base. Many successful authors have emerged from Wattpad, securing book deals and achieving bestseller status. These authors have not only found success in the publishing world but have also gained recognition in the entertainment industry.

Wattpad's influence has reached the literary hub of New York and beyond. Aspiring writers from Toronto to New York and everywhere in between have found a supportive community on Wattpad, connecting with fellow writers and sharing their passion for storytelling.

Join the Wattpad community today

If you're an avid reader or a budding writer, Wattpad offers a world of opportunities for you to explore. From discovering original stories and engaging with talented writers to participating in writing contests and potentially securing book deals, Wattpad is a platform where dreams can become reality.

So, visit www.wattpad.com, create an account, and join the vibrant community of readers and writers on Wattpad. Start reading, writing, and connecting with like-minded individuals who share your love for original stories and the power of words. The possibilities on Wattpad are limitless.

How to get Wattpad to read to you on Android

Before you activate “read to me” on the Wattpad Android app, it’s best to configure your reading preferences.

Download and install the Wattpad app from the Google Play store

You can find Wattpad on the Google Play app store or by clicking the app’s download button on the official Wattpad website.

Open the app and sign into your Wattpad account

You can register for an account in your browser and log into the Wattpad platform anytime. However, due to its limited online functionality, it’s best to use the mobile phone app for account creation, membership purchases, and other actions.

Tap on the profile icon in the top right corner of the main screen

The Wattpad app doesn’t have a direct link to the settings menu. First, you must go to your profile page by tapping the icon in the top left corner of the main screen.

Tap the “Settings” button

Once on the profile page, tap the settings gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen. You will see the advanced settings menu.

Look for “Reading Preferences” and select “Scrolling”

Setting the reading preference to scrolling is essential for a good flow during the audio narration. It helps avoid breaks during “page turns” and makes it easier to follow along on the screen.

All you have left is to find stories with text to speech enabled by the author or the platform. To do so, go to the search bar and look for stories using the tag #texttospeech. The results will display stories based on your genre settings with the read aloud feature enabled.

Tap on a story, hit the “Read” button, and wait for the content to load. Tap the “Play” button next to the “Listen with text to speech” option. Sometimes, you may have to repeat this for each new chapter.

Speechify

Speechify is a leading brand of TTS software and assistive technology. The app can act as a screen reader and turn written text into speech.

Not everyone can read stories or textbooks with ease. Some people don’t have the time or struggle with reading difficulties.

But Speechify offers a bit of everything to everyone. The TTS service even partners with Gutenberg.

You can control the playback volume, speed, and overall voice quality. And that’s not where the benefits end.

• An uninterrupted reading experience – Platforms like Wattpad often publish new chapters weekly, making it difficult to read or listen to something in one sitting. Speechify lets you upload complete documents or hear full narrations of free books.
• Start reading faster and better – Its text highlighting feature and controlled playback makes the TTS software ideal for improving your reading skills.
• If you want to try Speechify, registering for an account and testing the app takes just a few moments.

FAQs

Can I get Wattpad to read to me?

You could make the app read written content if the author or the platform enabled TTS for that story. Note that it usually applies to content with over 10,000 words.

Does Wattpad have audio books?

Wattpad has some audio books, although most audio content is available after adding TTS technology to written stories.

How do I get Wattpad to read aloud on iPhone?

The read aloud feature is only available for stories where authors enabled the text to speech function. A play button should appear on the story’s main page.