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Getting Started for Publishers

This guide walks you through setting up Inkwren for your publishing operation. By the end, you'll be ready to manage publications, track submissions, and coordinate your editorial workflow.

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 publications, stories, and contributors 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:

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

Add your contributors:

  1. Go to Contributors in the sidebar
  2. Click Add Contributor for each author you work with
  3. When adding stories, select which contributor to credit

Step 2: Configure Your Workspace​

Review your workspace settings:

  1. Click your workspace name in the sidebar
  2. Click Manage Workspace
  3. Check the feature toggles on the General tab to enable/disable specific capabilities
  4. Review workflow stages under the Editing tab

On higher-tier plans, you can customize workflow stages—add, rename, or reorder them to match how you work.

tip

See Understanding Workspaces for details on workspace configuration.

Step 3: Invite Your Team (Optional)​

If you're working with editors or assistants:

  1. Click your workspace name in the sidebar
  2. Click Manage Workspace
  3. Click the Members tab
  4. In the invite form at the top, enter their email and choose a role:
    • Admin: Full access to workspace settings and content
    • Editor: Can edit content but cannot manage workspace settings
  5. Click Send Invitation — they'll receive an invitation email

See Managing Collaborators for more details on team management.

Step 4: Start Managing Submissions​

With your publication set up, you're ready to track submissions:

  1. Open your publication
  2. Go to the Manuscripts tab
  3. Click Add Submission to record incoming work
  4. Move submissions through your workflow stages as you review them

Or, to add accepted stories directly:

  1. Open your publication
  2. From the Overview tab, click Add New Story or Link Existing Story to add work to your table of contents

Step 5: Set Up Contracts (Optional)​

If you need to manage contributor contracts:

  1. Click your workspace name in the sidebar
  2. Click Manage Workspace
  3. Click the Contracts tab
  4. Upload .odt or .docx contract templates with placeholders like {{AUTHOR_NAME}}, {{STORY_TITLE}}, {{PUBLICATION_TITLE}}
  5. Create contract workflow stages to track contract status (e.g., Sent, Signed, Filed)
  6. When accepting a submission, generate a contract from your template

What's Next?​

Now that you're set up:

  • Explore your Dashboard — See publication progress and what needs attention
  • Check out Managing Publications for deeper coverage
  • Review Editorial Workflows for workflow customization
  • Browse the FAQ for answers to common questions