Help & User Guide

1. Choose Join StoryBloom or open the registration page.
2. Enter a username, email address, and a unique password. A username must contain 3–30 letters, numbers, or underscores.
3. Confirm that you meet StoryBloom's minimum age requirement and accept the Terms and Privacy Policy.
4. Submit the form, then follow any email-verification instructions.
5. Sign in to personalize your reading experience.

1. Open Log in.
2. Enter either your username or email address and your password.
3. To log out on desktop, open your profile menu and select Log out. On mobile, open the navigation menu and find Log out.
4. Forgot your password? Use Forgot password, enter your account email, and follow the reset message.
5. When already signed in, visit Settings → Account access to change your password.

1. Open the verification email sent to the address you registered with.
2. Follow its verification link. If the email is missing, check spam and junk folders.
3. If a new email is needed, open Account access and choose Send verification email, when available.
4. On the first-time setup screen, choose favorite fandoms and tags to avoid, and decide whether mature story covers and summaries should be blurred.
5. Select Finish setup or Skip for now. You can change these preferences later under Reading & discovery.

• Home: continue reading, see recommendations and writers you follow.
• Discover: browse the archive and look for a particular story or mood.
• Bloom: explore reading moods, Memory Garden, Reading Paths, Bloomrooms, and Reading Circles.
• Search: use detailed filters including fandom, characters, relationships, and warnings.
• Library: return to saved stories and organize your shelves.
• Write: open your writer dashboard, story workspaces, drafts, and publishing tools.
• Profile menu: open settings, messages, support, and other account tools.

On a phone, tap the ☰ menu and open any collapsible sections to see more destinations.

1. Open Settings → Reading & discovery.
2. Set favorite fandoms, hidden tags, hidden fandoms, and other recommendation preferences.
3. Choose readable interface text sizes and accessibility preferences.
4. Try a website theme and adjust glow, movement, transparency, or button sizes if needed.
5. Save your account preferences. Some appearance choices are stored on the device you are using.

1. Open Discover.
2. Use the main search bar for a story title, author, character, fandom, or theme.
3. Try mood shortcuts such as Comforting, Romantic, Dark, Angst, and Healing.
4. Explore newer writers and quieter stories featured in discovery sections.
5. Open a story to review its summary, tags, warnings, completion status, and chapter list before reading.

Moods describe the reading experience; story tags describe what appears in the story.

1. Open Search.
2. Enter keywords, a fandom/universe, completion status, or Story Focus.
3. Add a relationship, featured character, or required tags to narrow results.
4. Use Exclude Story Tags or Exclude Story Warnings to avoid content you do not want.
5. Set minimum or maximum word counts, if helpful.
6. Tap Search archive and refine your filters if the results are too broad or narrow.

Tag fields offer matching suggestions, but different writers may use different wording. Try a shorter term if you cannot find a match.

1. Open a story page and choose Start reading or select a particular chapter.
2. Use Next chapter and Chapter list to move around the work.
3. StoryBloom tracks your reading progress while you read while signed in.
4. Return to Home → Continue reading or your reading history to find the story and chapter again.

If the story has been removed or made private by its writer, you may no longer be able to reopen it.

1. While reading a chapter, tap Aa / Text near the top of the reader.
2. Use A− or A+ to adjust font size.
3. Choose a page color: Paper, Warm, Night, or Midnight.
4. Choose a typeface: Serif, Sans, or Accessible.
5. Adjust line spacing and page width for comfort.
6. Use Reset reading settings to return to defaults.

Additional reading display and scroll/page preferences are available in Reading & discovery settings.

1. On a story page, find Save to your library.
2. Select a shelf, then choose Save.
3. Visit Library to browse your saved stories.
4. To make a new shelf, enter a name under New shelf, choose whether the shelf should be private, and select Create shelf.
5. Move a story between shelves from its story page or remove it from your library when you no longer want it saved.

Library shelves are for your reading organization; writer Story Collections and Story Series are different features.

1. On a story page, select ♡ Favorite to mark a favorite.
2. Open an author's profile and select Follow to keep up with them.
3. Look for new chapters and followed-writer activity on Home and in Notifications.
4. Use Notification preferences to choose which alerts you want.

Following a writer and saving a story are separate choices; you can do one without the other.

1. Open the chapter you finished or want to discuss.
2. Tap Comments to open the reader space.
3. Use ♡ Like chapter or choose up to two chapter-feeling reactions, when available.
4. Write a respectful comment in the comment box and select Post comment.
5. Pay attention to the writer's feedback preferences and spoiler-sensitive readers.

Near the end of a completed work, you may also see a Reader Postcard, a small private note shared with the writer rather than a public comment thread.

1. Open the Comments / Reader space of a chapter.
2. Expand Memory Petal.
3. Enter a short passage or describe a favorite moment, and optionally write why it matters.
4. Select a category such as Favorite moment, Comfort, Emotional, Beautiful writing, or Funny.
5. Tap Save to Memory Garden.
6. Visit Memory Garden to revisit or remove your private saved moments.

Memory Petals are private personal reading notes, not public story comments.

1. Open the story page.
2. Choose ⇩ Download EPUB, when the download option is available.
3. Open the downloaded EPUB with a compatible e-reader on your device.
4. Visit your Offline Library to find tracked downloads and download newer copies after a story is updated.

An EPUB is a separate file. Reading the file offline is not necessarily synchronized with progress in StoryBloom's online reader. Respect writers' rights when using downloaded copies.

• Bloom Hub: a starting point for mood-based discovery and reader activities.
• Reading Paths: create an ordered list of stories for a binge, pairing, theme, or suggested reading order.
• Reading Circles: create or join a shared reading discussion space and consider spoilers in your posts.
• Bloomrooms: private spaces for writer feedback and collaboration, with access determined by the room's settings.

1. Select Write to open your Writer Dashboard.
2. Review your stories, chapter drafts, scheduled chapters, audience activity, and statistics.
3. Select Create New Story.
4. Complete the four-part creation flow: Basics → Tags → Details → Review.
5. Choose Create private workspace to begin writing chapters without immediately publishing.

You can return to any story workspace from the dashboard using Continue drafting.

1. Under Basics, enter the title and a brief summary. A summary can be added later while the story remains a draft.
2. Under Tags, choose a content level and the warnings that apply.
3. Enter Fandom / Universe. Use Original Fiction for stories not tied to a fandom.
4. Add Story Focus, pairings/relationships, featured characters, and Story Tags. Choose autocomplete suggestions or add appropriate custom tags.
5. Under Details, set the language and completion status: Ongoing, Completed, or Hiatus.
6. Review all information before saving your private workspace.

1. While creating or editing a story, open the Details step.
2. Find Upload a finished cover image or Replace your cover image.
3. Select + Choose cover image, choose a file, and review its appearance in the preview.
4. Supported image types are PNG, JPG/JPEG, WEBP, and GIF; the maximum uploaded cover size is 5 MB.
5. Save your story details. You can replace or remove the cover later from the same screen.

1. Open the story in your Story Workspace.
2. Under Draft a new chapter, enter a chapter title.
3. Write or paste your text into the chapter editor. Use the formatting toolbar for bold, italic, underline, or alignment.
4. Choose Preview chapter to check how it will appear.
5. Select Save chapter draft to keep it private. For an existing chapter, use Save private draft when available.
6. Return from the dashboard to continue editing.

Saving a chapter as a draft does not publish it to readers.

1. Watch for the editor's autosave and browser-recovery message as you work.
2. If a browser copy is recoverable, use Restore browser copy after checking its contents.
3. Select Download backup to save a local copy of work in the editor.
4. For an existing chapter, open Revision history to review prior saved versions, where available.
5. From the Story Workspace, use Download TXT or Download HTML for a separate copy of your story.

1. Open the Story Workspace and prepare a chapter.
2. Check its title, content, formatting, summary, warnings, and content level.
3. Choose Publish chapter.
4. Publishing the first chapter makes a new private story public. Later draft chapters remain private until separately published or scheduled.
5. Use View published story to confirm the published page looks right.

To correct the chapter later, return to its editor. You can also use the Publishing checklist on an existing chapter.

1. Save your chapter first so it has its own editor page.
2. Open that existing chapter from your Story Workspace.
3. Find Schedule publication.
4. Choose a future Publication date and time.
5. Select Schedule chapter and confirm that the chapter shows a Scheduled state.
6. Check your dashboard for scheduled chapters; review or change the schedule from the relevant chapter tools.

Unpublishing a story cancels pending chapter schedules so it does not become public unexpectedly.

1. Open the story's Edit story details screen.
2. Set Completion status to Completed and save.
3. Return to the Story Workspace.
4. With unpublished draft chapters present, select Publish all chapters.
5. Confirm the bulk action and check your chapter list afterward.

1. Open the Story Workspace and select Edit story details to change title, summary, tags, warnings, status, language, or cover.
2. Under the publishing and organization options, select an existing Story Series or Story Collection.
3. If needed, use Create a story series or Create a story collection before assigning the story.
4. Save changes and review the public story page when applicable.

A Story Series is an ordered group of related stories. A Story Collection groups stories by theme, event, or purpose.

• Story DNA: open this tool in the Story Workspace for a spoiler-free snapshot built from the story's metadata and reading atmosphere.
• Continuity Board: open it from the same sidebar for help organizing story details as you write.
• Writer statistics: open View statistics from the dashboard to see reads, saves, comments, and per-story activity.
• Feedback: monitor chapter comments and notifications, and use the moderation tools available on your stories.

1. Open the story's Story Workspace.
2. Scroll to Story visibility.
3. Choose Unpublish story and confirm if prompted.
4. The story becomes private to readers, but its chapters, comments, statistics, and reading history are retained.
5. When ready, return to the workspace and choose Republish story.

This is different from deleting the story. Unpublishing cancels pending scheduled releases.

1. First, export the story as TXT or HTML if you want a backup.
2. Open Edit story details or the workspace's Danger Zone.
3. Select Delete Story.
4. Read the confirmation carefully. StoryBloom asks you to enter the exact story title and acknowledge the deletion before continuing.

StoryBloom does not assume a public URL gives permission to copy someone else's writing. You must show that you can edit an author-controlled area on the original work before any chapters are transferred.

1. Keep the original AO3 or Wattpad story accessible during verification.
2. Open the Writer Dashboard and choose Migrate from AO3 / Wattpad.
3. Paste the main story URL, then select Create verification code.
4. Follow the platform-specific steps below.

Start verified migration → · Open the detailed migration walkthrough

1. On StoryBloom, create a migration using an AO3 work link containing /works/.
2. Copy the temporary code. It begins with SB-VERIFY-.
3. On Archive of Our Own, open the work while signed in to the original author's account and choose to edit it.
4. Paste the code into the work summary or an author note. Save the changes so the code is visible on the public work page.
5. Return to StoryBloom and select Verify source control.
6. Wait for the Verified status; you can remove the code from AO3 afterward.

Do not put the code in a comment. Account-only AO3 works may need manual verification if StoryBloom cannot access the original page.

1. Start a migration with the main Wattpad story link containing /story/.
2. Copy the StoryBloom verification code.
3. Open the original story for editing on Wattpad.
4. Paste the exact code into the story description and save.
5. Return to StoryBloom and select Verify source control.
6. After StoryBloom marks it Verified, you can remove the temporary code from the description.

StoryBloom never needs your Wattpad password. If Wattpad blocks the automatic source check, request manual verification.

1. Once source verification succeeds, select Import as private draft.
2. After the import completes, select Open private story workspace.
3. Verify the title, summary, author, fandoms, relationships, characters, content level, warnings, and Story Tags.
4. Check that the cover, chapter titles, order, paragraphs, italics, and scene breaks transferred correctly.
5. Fix missing or incorrect metadata and formatting before publication.
6. Publish chapters individually or, for a Completed story, use Publish all chapters when eligible.

Verification applies to one migration cycle. A successful past import does not give unlimited access to re-import a source. If you remove the imported copy and begin a fresh migration, StoryBloom requires a new temporary code.

1. Create a new migration from the original story link.
2. Copy the newly generated code rather than reusing an older one.
3. Replace the old code on the source with the new code, save, and verify.
4. Remove the code after successful verification.

Verification codes expire. If yours expires, follow StoryBloom's prompt to generate a replacement.

• Code not found: check every character, save the original page, and put the code in the correct author-controlled field.
• Source not accessible: a private, deleted, password-protected, or platform-blocked source may require manual review.
• Another account claimed the source: automatic transfer pauses; request manual review for a legitimate coauthor or ownership dispute.
• Cover, description, or tags missing: check the private Story Workspace and correct what did not transfer before publishing.
• Some chapters appear missing: keep the work private, note the missing chapter numbers, and contact support.

More migration troubleshooting →

1. Open Settings → Profile.
2. Add or replace your profile picture, display name, bio, and website/social link.
3. Set Profile visibility to public to account members or followers only.
4. Under Who may message you?, choose Everyone with an account, People who follow me, or Nobody.
5. Select Save profile and visit View public profile to check the result.

1. Visit Settings → Notification preferences to choose which updates you want to receive.
2. Visit Settings → Reading & discovery to add hidden tags, fandoms, relationships, or authors.
3. Use Not for me on a recommendation to remove it from your personalized feed.
4. Save changes and refresh Home if you need to see updated recommendations.

Recommendation filters are not the same as blocking another user. Hidden content may still be found through a direct search.

1. Visit someone's profile and choose Follow if you want updates.
2. Use Message only when their messaging settings allow it.
3. Open your profile menu → Messages to view private conversations.
4. Respect requests not to be contacted and observe the Community Rules when commenting, messaging, or participating in reader groups.

1. Open a member's profile and choose Block; writers can also block a commenter from their chapter comments.
2. Confirm the action. The blocked account is not sent a block notification.
3. Blocking prevents direct messages and comments between the affected accounts, removes mutual follow connections, and hides one another's profiles, stories, and discovery activity.
4. To reverse this, go to Settings → Privacy & safety → Blocked users and choose Unblock.

Use blocking for personal boundaries. Use reporting when content or conduct might break the rules.

1. Review the Community Rules if you are unsure what is allowed.
2. Use the reporting option on the relevant story, comment, or profile when one is shown.
3. Provide a clear description of the concern, without sharing private passwords or security codes.
4. For a bug, account issue, migration problem, or moderation question, use StoryBloom Support.

Contact StoryBloom Support →

When anonymous publishing is available for a story, readers do not see your public author name on that story, while StoryBloom retains the internal account association needed for editing and moderation.

Your original writing remains yours, subject to applicable rights and StoryBloom's Terms. The website is a free, noncommercial fanfiction community, not a claim of nonprofit legal status. Read Your Stories, Your Rights for a plain-language explanation.

For password and email-verification controls, open Account access. If you want to permanently remove your account, open Settings → Data & account and review the deletion details carefully before confirming.

1. On the mobile website, tap ☰ to open the main navigation panel.
2. Use Home, Discover, Bloom, Search, Library, and Write to reach the main features.
3. Expand menu groups for account controls, notifications, downloads, and settings.
4. If your browser offers Install StoryBloom, use it to add a shortcut to your device when supported.
5. In the Android app, look for the corresponding reading, writing, settings, support, and migration destinations. Names or positions can differ between app versions and the website.

When instructions here refer to an exact button name, they describe the website unless the Android app specifically shows the same label.

• As a writer: check whether the story is still a private draft. Publishing its first chapter makes a new story public.
• Recently unpublished: open Story Workspace → Story visibility to republish if appropriate.
• As a reader: a writer may have made the story private or deleted it.
• Missing from Library: check the selected shelf or open the story page again and save it.
• Display seems stale: refresh, make sure you are signed into the expected account, and check the website version.

1. Check your connection and avoid closing the page while a save is in progress.
2. Return to the same story and chapter editor to check whether the server copy saved.
3. If you see Restore browser copy, review its contents before restoring.
4. Check Revision history for a previously saved chapter, if available.
5. Use a downloaded backup or external copy if the latest text is missing.
6. If the problem repeats, note the device, browser, chapter, and error message, then contact support.

Check these conditions: the story's completion status is Completed; it still has private draft chapters; every draft chapter has at least 20 characters of text; and your account can currently publish. Open Edit story details to update the status, then retry in the Story Workspace. If there are no drafts left, there is nothing for Publish all to do.

1. Confirm you used the main work/story URL, not a chapter link.
2. Check that the code is current and copied exactly.
3. Save it to the correct location: AO3 work summary or author note, or Wattpad story description.
4. Check whether the original story is publicly accessible.
5. Use the migration page's manual verification/review option if automatic verification cannot read it.

Detailed migration help →

1. Try the ☰ panel instead of a crowded desktop-style menu.
2. Open Reading & discovery settings and use the Larger controls button-size option.
3. If the interface feels too busy, reduce glow and visual effects or choose a simpler appearance.
4. Make sure the browser/app is updated, and report any controls that remain unreachable.

For a faster investigation, describe what you were trying to do, what happened instead, the approximate time, your device/browser or app version, and the story or chapter involved. A screenshot is useful if it does not expose personal information.

Open Contact StoryBloom →

Never send an AO3, Wattpad, or StoryBloom password or private verification code to another user.