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Getting Started for Authors

This guide walks you through your first steps in Inkwren. By the end, you'll have your writing organized and ready to manage.

First: Verify Your Email​

After signing up, you'll see a banner asking you to verify your email address. Click the link in the verification email within 24 hours to complete setup.

If you don't see the email, check your spam folder or click Resend in the banner. If you forget your password before verifying, no problem—you can verify and reset in one step.

Step 1: Get Your Data In​

Option A: Import Existing Data​

If you have records in spreadsheets or other formats, import them:

  1. Go to Import in the sidebar (under Manage)
  2. Follow the CSV import wizard to map your columns

The import brings in your stories, publications, and contributors (including pen names) all at once.

tip

See the CSV Import guide for details on preparing your data.

Option B: Add Manually​

If you're starting fresh or prefer to add things by hand, follow this order:

1. Add yourself as a contributor:

  1. Go to Contributors in the sidebar
  2. Click Add Contributor
  3. Enter your name (or pen name)

If you write under multiple names, add each as a separate contributor.

tip

You can also create contributors on the fly when adding a story — type a name in the Authors field and click the + New button next to it.

2. Add your stories:

  1. Go to Stories in the sidebar
  2. Click Add Story
  3. Fill in the details and select yourself as the author
  4. Click Create Story

3. Add publications (when ready):

  1. Go to Publications in the sidebar
  2. Click Add Publication
  3. Enter the publication details (title, publisher, date)
  4. From the publication's Overview tab, click Add New Story or Link Existing Story to add stories
tip

See the Pen Names guide for more on managing multiple author identities.

Step 2: Track Submissions​

If you're actively submitting work to markets:

  1. Go to Submissions in the sidebar under the Business section
  2. Click New Submission
  3. Pick the story, market, and submitted date (defaults to today)
  4. Update the status from the row as you hear back

What's Next?​

Now that you're set up:

  • Explore your Dashboard — See your stats and what needs attention
  • Try the command palette — Press Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+/ (Windows/Linux) to search and navigate quickly
  • Check out Managing Stories for deeper coverage of story features
  • Browse the FAQ for answers to common questions