Common Tasks

Onboarding

Get started with StorytellerOS through our guided setup process. The onboarding wizard helps you configure everything you need.

The Onboarding Process

When you first sign up, the onboarding wizard guides you through setup:

  1. Create your account
  2. Set up your data storage (Airtable)
  3. Create your first pen name
  4. Connect integrations (optional)
  5. Start using StorytellerOS

Tip

The full onboarding takes about 10-15 minutes. You can skip optional steps and complete them later in Settings.

Step 1: Account Creation

Create your StorytellerOS account:

  1. Enter your email address
  2. Check your email for the magic link
  3. Click the link to verify and sign in

Note

StorytellerOS uses passwordless authentication. You will receive a login link via email each time you sign in. No password to remember!

Step 2: Airtable Setup

StorytellerOS stores your data in Airtable (you own your data):

If You Have Airtable

  1. Get your Airtable Personal Access Token
  2. Enter it in the setup wizard
  3. We will create the necessary base structure

If You Do Not Have Airtable

  1. Click Create Airtable Account
  2. Sign up for a free Airtable account
  3. Return to the wizard
  4. Follow the token generation instructions

What Gets Created

The wizard creates an Airtable base with tables for:

  • Pen Names
  • Series
  • Titles (Books)
  • Chapters and Scenes
  • Characters
  • Finance Transactions
  • Tasks
  • Vendors
  • And more...

Step 3: First Pen Name

Create your first author identity:

  1. Enter the author name you write under
  2. Add an optional bio
  3. Upload an author photo (optional)
  4. Set your primary genre
  5. Click Create

Tip

If you write under your real name, just enter that. You can add additional pen names later.

Step 4: Connect Integrations (Optional)

Optionally connect external services:

FluentCRM

  • For email marketing features
  • Requires existing FluentCRM installation
  • Can be set up later

Direct2Readers

  • For direct sales tracking
  • Requires Direct2Readers account
  • Can be set up later

Social Accounts

  • For scheduling social posts
  • Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
  • Can be set up later

GitHub

Connect GitHub to back up your manuscripts with version control:

  • Your writing is automatically saved to GitHub
  • Full version history of all your work
  • Your content stays safe and recoverable

When you connect GitHub, StorytellerOS automatically creates the folder structure you need:

  • images/cover-images/ — For book covers
  • images/social-images/ — For social media graphics
  • pen-names/ — For your manuscripts

Note

If folder creation encounters an issue during setup, onboarding continues with a warning. The folders will be created automatically when you first use them.

API Keys

  • For AI features
  • OpenAI, Anthropic, Freepik
  • Can be set up later

Note

All integrations are optional. You can use StorytellerOS without connecting any external services.

Step 5: Complete Setup

Once you finish the wizard:

  • You are taken to the main dashboard
  • A welcome guide shows key features
  • You can start adding books and content

Restarting Onboarding

If you need to redo the setup:

  1. Go to Settings → Account
  2. Scroll to Advanced
  3. Click Restart Onboarding
  4. Confirm

Data Is Preserved

Restarting onboarding does not delete your data. It just lets you reconfigure connections and settings.

Skipping Steps

You can skip any optional step during onboarding:

  • Click Skip to move to the next step
  • Complete skipped items later in Settings
  • The app works with minimal setup

Getting Help During Setup

  • Click the help icon for contextual tips
  • Check this documentation for detailed guides
  • Contact support if you get stuck

What to Do After Onboarding

Once setup is complete:

  1. Create your first book — Go to Project Studio and add a title
  2. Import existing work — If you have manuscripts elsewhere
  3. Explore the dashboard — See what each section offers
  4. Connect integrations — Add any you skipped
  5. Customize settings — Adjust preferences to your liking

Best Practices

  • Complete Airtable setup — This is required for the app to work
  • Create at least one pen name — Books need to belong to someone
  • Skip optional items — Add them when you actually need them
  • Explore before integrating — Understand the app first
  • Save API keys securely — If you add them, protect them