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Scribbles (Private Notes)

Scribbles are private, personal notes about books that only you can see. Unlike Lines and Reviews which are public, Scribbles are your private reading journal.

What Are Scribbles?​

Scribbles let you:

  • Keep personal thoughts and reactions private
  • Track reading progress and thoughts
  • Save quotes and passages for your own reference
  • Make notes about characters, themes, or connections
  • Maintain a personal reading journal

Key difference from Lines: Scribbles are completely private, while Lines are public social posts.

Creating Scribbles​

Starting a Scribble​

  1. Tap the Share tab
  2. Tap the pencil (edit) button
  3. Select a book from the search
  4. Write your thoughts in the text field
  5. Keep the mode as "Private Note" (default)
  6. Tap "Save"

The scribble overlay defaults to "Private Note" mode, indicated by a lock icon.

Auto-Loading Existing Notes​

When you open the Scribble editor for a book you've already made notes on:

  • Your existing note automatically loads
  • You can edit and update it
  • Saving updates the same note (you have one note per book)

Managing Your Scribbles​

Editing​

  1. Open the Scribble editor for that book
  2. Your existing note loads automatically
  3. Make your changes
  4. Tap "Save" to update

Viewing Your Scribbles​

Scribbles appear:

  • In the book detail view (visible only to you)
  • As a private note indicator on books in your collection
  • In your personal notes collection

One Note Per Book​

Unlike Lines (where you can post multiple times), you have one Scribble per book that you can continuously update as you read.

What to Track​

Reading Progress​

Chapter 5: Just met the mysterious stranger at the cafe.
Suspicious! Reminds me of the setup in...

Character Notes​

Emma - main protagonist, headstrong, reminds me of Elizabeth Bennet
Detective Chen - comic relief but surprisingly insightful

Quotes to Remember​

"The stars are not wanted now" - p. 142
This line hit hard after the revelation about Marcus

Themes and Connections​

Exploring grief similar to A Monster Calls
Color symbolism: blue = truth, red = lies

Personal Reactions​

This chapter made me cry. The scene with the father and
daughter at the hospital reminded me of Dad...

Converting to Public Posts​

Changed your mind about sharing? You can convert a Scribble to a Line or Review:

  1. Open your Scribble
  2. Tap "Share As"
  3. Select "Line" or "Review"
  4. Your private note becomes the draft
  5. Edit as needed and post

Note: This doesn't delete your Scribble - it creates a new public post with that content.

Privacy Guarantee​

  • Scribbles are never visible to other users
  • They don't appear in any public feeds
  • They're not included in book statistics
  • Only you can see your Scribbles, even on shared devices (when logged in as you)

Storage and Syncing​

  • Scribbles are stored in your account
  • They sync across all your devices
  • They're preserved even if you remove a book from your wishlist
  • No limit on Scribble length or quantity

Best Practices​

Write freely: Since they're private, don't self-censor.

Update as you read: Add thoughts chapter by chapter or section by section.

Track questions: Note confusing parts or questions to research later.

Capture feelings: Record your emotional reactions while they're fresh.

Make connections: Link to other books, movies, or personal experiences.

Save quotes: Copy meaningful passages with page numbers for reference.

When to Use Scribbles vs. Lines​

Use Scribbles When...Use Lines When...
Thoughts are personal or unpolishedYou want to engage with the community
You're still forming your opinionYou have a complete thought to share
Content includes personal informationContent is relevant to other readers
Taking study notes or researchSharing recommendations or reactions
Tracking reading progress privatelyParticipating in book club discussions
Writing Process

Many readers use Scribbles while reading, then convert the best insights into Lines or Reviews when finished. This lets you process thoughts privately before sharing publicly.

Keyboard Shortcuts​

When using BookWish on desktop:

  • Cmd/Ctrl + S: Save scribble
  • Esc: Close without saving changes

Data Export​

Want to keep backups? Premium users can export all their Scribbles as:

  • Plain text
  • Markdown
  • JSON (for data portability)

See Account Settings for export options.