Looking to understand how WriterShelf works? Here's a tour. See how to get started, set up your pen names and start publishing.

Create & Activate Your Account

WriterShelf is doesn't require registration to read articles. To publish articles or make comments, however, you need to create a WriterShelf account.

Signing up is a two step process. First enter your name, email and a password. You also choose a language version.

WriterShelf will send you an activation email.

Click on the Activate button in the email.

Check the recommendations for setting up your pen names.

Activating your account takes you to your My WriterShelf page where you can personalize your pen names and get an overview of your WriterShelf account. Only you see this page.

Account Settings

Click the Account button to see the global settings for your WriterShelf account.

Use this page to change your user name, email and password.

• Update the Language option to change the WriterShelf edition where your articles are published.
• Change your WriterShelf Digest options. Digest emails let you know when there are new articles from authors you follow and when others comment on your articles. 
• Choose whether you receive notifications when others comment on your articles.
• Set whether you receive backup copies of articles you publish via email. 
• Choose whether or not to receive emails from WriterShelf about offers we may have available.
• Confirm whether you wish to see adult content and that you have reached the age of majority in your location.
• This also the place to delete your WriterShelf account if need be.

If you make changes to your account settings, be sure to click the Update WriterShelf Account Settings button to register the changes.

My WriterShelf Page

Your My WriterShelf page is your WriterShelf account home. This is a private page that only you see.

The My WriterShelf page has two columns. The left column shows your pen names with icons and a private note only you see. The private note is a handy way to set a reminder of how you want to use the pen name.

The right column shows either global info for all your pen names or info on the pen name you've selected.

Global Account View

You'll also find info on notifications, book sales, traffic data and interactions with others.

Pen Name View

Select a pen name to display info and controls for that pen name.

You'll also find notifications, traffic data and interactions with others and a list of the content published under the pen name.

Customize Pen Names

To edit a pen name, select the pen name and click on Settings in the Pen Name Dashboard:

• Change the Pen Name (Pen names must be at least 2 characters but they can include special characters, symbols and emojis 👍😁)
• Add a publicly displayed email (for example, if you are using the pen name for a business)
• Add a Private Note (for your reference - only you can see)
• Add a Public Description / Tagline
• Add an About the Author blurb
• Add a Pen Name icon

If you wish to delete a pen name, you can do so at the bottom of Edit Pen Name page.

Click Update Pen Name at the bottom to save your changes. You'll go to your Pen Name Page.

Pen Name Page

The Pen Name Page is the home page for a pen name - the place where readers can find all the articles published under a pen name and understand the author's brand. 

Click the Pen Name Page button on the Pen Name Dashboard to open the Pen Name Page.

Author View

As the Pen Name owner, the Pen Name page displays the Pen Name Dashboard to give you access to tools and settings.

Reader View

WriterShelf users visiting your pen name page see an invitation to follow. The public tally board shows feedback the pen name has received, making it easy to spot trolls.

For example, here is the Pen Name Page for the official WriterShelf pen name.

Create a New Pen Name

WriterShelf lets you create as many pen names as you'd like. That makes it easy to have different pen names for different audiences and interests.

On your My WriterShelf page, click the My WriterShelf icon to show global info for your WriterShelf account and display the User Dashboard.

In the User Dashboard, click on Add New Pen Name.

The Create a New Pen Name page will display. Edit the pen name to create the identity you want. Preview the new pen name at the bottom of the page.

Writing Articles

Publishing articles on WriterShelf is a two-step process. First you draft an article, then you publish it.

That means you don't have to finish articles in a single go. You can create a set of drafts that you publish as you finish them. Draft articles are not visible publicly.

Getting to the Draft Articles List

There are two ways to open the Draft List to create a new draft:

1. Click on the the Draft List icon in the title bar.
2. Click New Draft in the Pen Name Dashboard in either Pen Name Page or My WriterShelf page.

Draft Articles List

The Draft Articles List shows drafts for all your pen names. It's the place to start new articles.

• Use the Draft a New Article button to open the editor. Using the button for a Pen Name automatically assigns that pen name.
• Click on the title of an existing article to edit the draft or use the article command.
  
• Existing drafts show you when they were created and last edited.

Draft Editor

The WriterShelf editor is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) tool with a wide range of editing, and formatting features that let you combine text, images and media.

The editor opens in compact mode but offers a full-screen mode for focused editing. Mobile mode for phones offers tailored operation and features.

• Articles auto-save every 5 minutes
  
• Change the Pen Name for an article any time before publishing. After an article is published, the Pen Name is set and cannot be changed.
• The content of articles can still be edited after publishing.

Adding Content

Insert images via URL or upload from your computer. Images inserted from your computer are automatically resized to a maximum width of 800 pixels.

Use the Media command to insert audio and video. 

Video URL

Embedded audio

The Code sample command lets you include HTML or other code in documents.

Using Paste

For many types of content, the editor lets you simply paste summary links into documents. This makes it easy to reference other content on the web and credit the source.

Tweets

WriterShelf on Twitter — “What you write today doesn’t have to dictate how you write tomorrow. Pen names give you the choice. https://t.co/vzgNTaWGHq #blogging #WriteYourPassion”
Twitter

Articles

Hubble celebrates 30 years of stunning science — Three decades on from its launch, the orbiting observatory is still producing cutting-edge research.
BBC News

Video

Grateful Shred - “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” (Official Video) Liberty Hair Farm — YouTube

Formatting Text

The editor has a set of built in heading, text and block styles to apply to content.

There are also formatting tools for bullets, lists, alignment, text and background colors. In short, there's lots of flexibility.

Add Tags

Add tags at the bottom of the Draft Editor, separated by commas.

Previewing an Article

Once you’ve finished your article - or as you are working on it - you can preview how it will look when it's published.

Click the Preview / Publish button at the bottom of the page.

The Preview & Publish page shows how your article will appear to readers once it is published.

At the bottom of the page you have commands to return to the editor or publish the article.

Return to Editor or Draft Articles List

If you want to make further changes to your article, click Return to Draft Edit without publishing. You'll return to the Draft Editor. Likewise, if you want to keep the article for editing later, choose Return to the Draft Articles List without publishing.

The Publish Step

Options when you publish let you control when and where article appear. You can add articles to books and mark as premium content.

Categories

Articles can appear under up to three categories on WriterShelf. Leaving this empty means the article will appear only on your Pen Name Page.

Show & Hide

If you're ready to publish your article but don't want it to display yet, you have a pair of options. The first is to publish the article as hidden. Pick Hide for this option.

The second is to set a date and time for the article to appear using scheduled release. Click the text to switch to that mode.

Scheduled Release

Pick a time zone and choose the date (Y/M/D) and time for the article to appear. Optionally, choose a date and time to retire the article. Prior to release, the article is hidden. After retirement, the article is again hidden. 

Including in Books

Add articles directly to one or more existing books under the current pen name when you publish. New articles go to the bottom of the chapter or section you pick.

Learn about creating books in this article.

Readership Controls

Readership controls let you mark articles as premium content and publish adult content restricted to readers over the age of majority.

• Follow to Read - Readers must follow your pen name to read.
• Approved Access - Readers must request access to read and comment.

Read more about publishing premium content.

Adding a Summary

Summaries let you set the blurb text that appears with article snippets. It is also the text that appears introducing premium content articles. 

Email Backup

WriterShelf can send you a copy of articles you publish as a backup. You get the HTML along with any articles you've uploaded. The feature is on for new articles but switches to off for updates.

Ready, Set, Go...

The final step is to click Publish and admire your handiwork.

WriterShelf is about helping you get your writing out into the world by breaking down barriers to sharing and connecting with others. We value your privacy and help you protect it.
If you have questions or feedback, leave a comment or email us at support@writershelf.com.

Join WriterShelf today!