How to Add and Publish Posts

The Write tab is where you create and edit all content for the website. Here is how to complete each section of the form.

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Step 1: Choose the Publication Type

At the top of the Write tab, click one of the three pills:

• Poem
• Essay / Dispatch
• Research Paper

Selecting a pill updates the form with the relevant fields for that content format.

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Step 2: Fill in Title, Slug, and Metadata

• Title: Enter the headline for your piece.
• Slug (URL identifier): Generated automatically from your title (for example, whispers-high-mountains). You can adjust this text if you prefer a different web address.
• Subtitle / Summary Excerpt: A brief overview that appears on the article card and under the title on the reading page.
• Category, Date & Reading Time: Enter your chosen category (such as Poetry & Literature or Linguistics), date (for example, October 2026), and estimated reading time (such as 3 min read).
• Tags: Enter comma-separated keywords (for example: Simte, Field Notes, Oral History).

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Step 3: Choose Cover Images and Card Plate Styling

Cover Image

• Type an existing path (such as /images/posts/photo.webp).
• Or click Upload Device Image to select a photo from your computer or phone. The editor creates an instant preview thumbnail.

Card Plate Styling

Under Preview Card Styling & Colors, you can customize how the article card appears in listings:

• Top Tip / Spine Color: Click any color swatch (Purple, Amber, Blue, Emerald, Rose, Sky) to color the accent stripe along the top edge of the card.
• Card Background Gradient Theme: Click a background tile (such as Poetic Violet, Ocean Indigo, Emerald Forest, or Midnight Slate) to set the card atmosphere.
• Watch the Live Card Simulation box on the right side of the screen update in real time.

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Step 4: Write in the Composer

Below the tailored fields, you will find the main text composer:

Quick Markdown Toolbar

Above the text area, use the toolbar buttons for instant formatting:

• B: Bold text (**text**)
• I: Italic text (*text*)
• H2 & H3: Section headers (## and ###)
• Quote: Blockquote formatting (>)
• List: Bulleted list items (-)
• Stanza Break: Horizontal divider (---)
• ↵ Verse Break: Inserts a markdown hard line break ( \n) so poetry verses break to the next line without extra spacing.
• Image: Prompts for an image URL and caption, then inserts an image tag.

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Step 5: Save or Publish

At the bottom of the form (and in the top-right action bar), you have several options:

• Live Preview →: Switches to the Preview tab to review the rendered article and full card styling.
• SPADTLS (Save Draft to Local Storage): Saves the entire form safely in your browser without touching the public website.
• SPADIRR (Save Draft in Remote Repo): Commits the post directly to GitHub with draft: true. Your draft is preserved in repository version control, but hidden from public visitors.
• Publish: Commits the post to GitHub with draft: false. This triggers a live deployment to lianhangluah.com.