How to Set Up a Publication in Medium
By: Shaunta Grimes
Tags: Byob, Writing, Blogging, Medium, Creativity

This post will be a quickie primer in how to set up a Medium publication to house your Blog-Your-Own-Book Challenge posts. We’ll talk about how to set up the publication in general, and then how to set up navigation in the publication so that your posts are all housed together nice and neat.

I hear you thinking: Do I really need to do this?

The answer is: Yes.

You should have a publication on Medium if your plan is to be a writer on Medium. My friend Ashley Shannon always says “every post needs a home.” She’s right. Sometimes that home is in someone else’s publication.

But sometimes it should be in your own. In your own publication, you can start gathering up an audience that’s yours. How cool is that?

Ready?

Create Your Publication

First steps first. You need to actually build a publication. This is way, way easier than you might think. You can do it in ten or fifteen minutes. Maybe a little longer if you want to spend time creating graphics for the header, avatar, and logo.

Step One: Go to the Publication Page

Click on your little round photo in the upper right corner of your screen, then click on ‘publications.’

Screenshot: Author

Step Two: Open a New Publication Page

Click on the ‘new publication’ button.

Screenshot: Author

Step Three: Create Your New Publication

Here are the questions you’ll be asked:

Name. This is where you’ll name your publication. It will become part of your URL: medium.com/YOURPUBNAME, so think carefully and choose wisely!

This is where you’ll name your publication. It will become part of your URL: medium.com/YOURPUBNAME, so think carefully and choose wisely! Tagline. This is a sentence about your publication.

This is a sentence about your publication. Description. This is a longer description than your tagline. Maybe two or three sentences. It will go in the footer of all your posts and show up in searches on Medium.

This is a longer description than your tagline. Maybe two or three sentences. It will go in the footer of all your posts and show up in searches on Medium. Publication Avatar. This is the picture that will show up in the little round circle at the top of page for your publication, similar to your personal avatar picture. It also shows up in previews of your content. It should be square and at least 60 X 60 pixels.

This is the picture that will show up in the little round circle at the top of page for your publication, similar to your personal avatar picture. It also shows up in previews of your content. It should be square and at least 60 X 60 pixels. Publication Logo. This one is optional. It’s something you can create that will be added to the top of every post. It should be 600 X 72 pixels.

This one is optional. It’s something you can create that will be added to the top of every post. It should be 600 X 72 pixels. Add your contact info, including your email address and social media links. These will be public, so consider creating a dedicated email address.

Add up to five tags to your publication, similar to when you write a post.

Add other writers or editors if you have them.

Click ‘next.’

Step Four: Set Up Your Publications Header

On the next page, you’ll be able to set up the header for your publication — what it will look like for readers.

We’re going to look at this tool bar:

Screenshot: Author