Getting Started on Ream in Just 5 Steps

New! 📺 Our video tutorial of this page is now on YouTube for visual learners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUTyLZnFcEc


So you want to start a subscription page on Ream? You’re in the right place! Ream is the subscription platform by authors for authors and has built the experience to be easy, and fun for you and your readers. Here’s how to set up your Ream page in one hour and manage your subscription in just 5 steps:


Step 1: Create your free Ream account and set up for payouts.

Go to ReamStories.com/create to set up your account with an email, display name, and password. As an author, make sure to select "Author" when creating your account. Then set up for payouts by navigating to the "Income" tab. For more about Ream's payouts, click here.

Pro tip: Be sure to choose an email address where you're comfortable receiving emails from readers. XYZauthor@myemail.com always sounds more professional than Grannyswindowbox@myhometown.com anyway. 😉


Step 2: Set up your page branding.

Click the Page tab in your Author Dashboard and then the “Edit” button in the bottom right-hand corner. To complete your page branding, you should add:

  • A page name, which is most often your author or pen name.
  • A banner image. The dimensions are 1600 px by 400 px with the center of the image viewable across all devices [full graphic sizing guide for Ream].
  • A profile picture.
  • A tagline, which is a one-sentence description of what you are creating on Ream. Most often authors share the genre they are writing.
  • Your page’s custom URL to share their page with readers.
  • An information section, which is similar to an About the Author section. Most often authors share their bio, what they are creating on Ream, and a brief FAQ about the platform and their tiers. And for a standard FAQ to include about Ream for your readers, feel free to repurpose any of the information we share in the platform Reader FAQ.

Step 3: Create your tiers.

This is optional and doesn't need to be completed before you launch your page.

However, if you wish to add paid tiers to your page's subscription, then follow the best practices below.

  • Add a Tier Name. You can name tiers with simply “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” to get started and over time customize the names to your brand. The best tier names resonate with your readers and complement the benefits you offer.
  • Add a Tier Image. This is completely optional. We recommend 600 px by 300 px for the image size.
  • Add Tier Copy, which is how you describe what your readers get for joining your subscription to your readers. The most common benefits authors offer on Ream are: early access to books before they are released elsewhere, access to some or all backlist titles, access to bonus content and short stories, signed books, swag, and merchandise.
  • Add Tier Limits, which are optional. This is where you can limit the number of members in your tier to make your Ream exclusive. You can change your tier limit anytime!
  • Once you have your tier(s) created all you have to do is hit save and your tiers will be visible on your page.

Here are some additional notes about tiers that we think you should know:

  • You can create Tier Welcome Messages, which are optional. This allows new readers to receive a nice, helpful email when joining your Ream. You can do this by clicking “More Actions” at the bottom of your tier when in the “Edit” view of your page. Here are more instructions on welcome messages and a blog post we create about creating great welcome messages here.
  • Paid tiers have a minimum of $3 per month on Ream and no maximum.
  • Once you set the price of a tier, you can not change it, but you can create a new tier at a new price point at any time.
  • Readers can only be in one paid tier at a time.
  • You can archive a tier anytime and make it invisible to the public, so new members can’t join (and can unarchive a tier to make it available for sign-up again). Subscribers to that tier will still have access.
  • Every Ream page automatically has the ability for readers to Follow your page (you should see the button on any Ream page you visit). Following is free for readers and allows the author to receive the reader’s email address to connect with them directly, publish chapters and community posts to Followers, and send email updates to Followers right inside Ream. You can learn more about Following on Ream here.
  • Higher tiers do not automatically get access to lower tiers. Authors must allow this through the Publish Now button.

Step 4: Publish any stories and community posts you want available for readers before you launch.

It’s not required to publish any content before readers view your Ream page. But it is best practice to have a few chapters live and ready and a community post welcoming your readers into your Ream.


To publish a story on Ream:

  • Head to the Stories tab in your author dashboard.
  • Enter your story metadata (title, cover, tags, etc.).
  • Then import your content. You can either copy and paste your chapters or you can import them as an .epub following these instructions.
  • You can publish a chapter now by navigating to your Chapter Controls section on the Publishing Page of your story, clicking the “Publish” button next to the chapter, then selecting the tier you want your chapters to be visible to. Or you can also schedule chapters to be published in the future. For a full tutorial on scheduling, check out our comprehensive guide here.

To publish a community post on Ream:

  • Navigate to the Community tab in your author dashboard and you can make posts there.
  • You can attach images and post updates to readers as well as select which tiers you want posts to be visible to.
  • You can even schedule community posts to be visible in the future, just like you can with your chapters!


Step 5: Launch your page and share your Page with your readers.

To launch your page, navigate to the Page tab in your author dashboard and click the “Launch” button at the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Ream will then check to see if your page is set up correctly and ready for paying subscribers. If you follow the steps in this guide, then you will be set!



Now with your page launched, you can share your Ream page with your readers. Woohoo!

You can find a shareable link for your Ream right inside the Dashboard tab in your author Dashboard. Underneath the “Share Your Ream” panel, you will find a link you can copy and paste to share with others.


FAQ:

1. Why should I trust you?
Ream was built by authors, for authors. It’s led by bestselling fiction creators who’ve built six-figure careers. We know firsthand what authors need because we’ve lived it. We help thousands of authors collectively earn over $1.2 million annually, all without venture capital, meaning our loyalty is to you, not investors.

2. How is this different from everything else I’ve seen?
Ream isn’t just a place to post stories. Ream is a complete publishing platform built for modern creators. You can publish serials, ebooks, audio, and comics all in one home, reach readers directly, sell however you want (subscriptions or single sales*), and build your audience without fear of censorship.

3. What’s in it for me, specifically?
You get full creative freedom, real ownership, and a direct path to income. Ream gives you the tools to publish, sell, and grow your readership, all while keeping your brand at the center. Whether you want to test a new story, drop a print edition, or earn recurring income, everything you need to run your author business lives in one place.

4. Will this really work for someone like me?
Yes, because it’s already working for authors at every stage. From new writers with small audiences to established authors who have their books in Kindle Unlimited, authors are earning income on Ream. You don’t need to be famous; you just need a story and the willingness to connect with your readers.

5. What held me back last time, and will this help me move past it?
Most platforms leave you shouting into the void or struggling with tech that wasn’t made for authors. Ream fixes that.
  • We guide you with onboarding and education tailored for fiction creators.
  • You can start earning without needing ads or a massive audience.
  • Our community and newsletters help you grow steadily, not burn out.

6. What’s the risk? What could go wrong?
Ream is free to join, and you only pay when you earn. The real “risk” is time, but that’s time invested in building an asset you own: your audience, your stories, your income. And we give you all the tools to make that time worth it.

7. Why now? Why not later?
Because the publishing industry is shifting fast. Readers are craving direct connections with authors, and social reading is the next wave of sustainable publishing. The authors who start now will be the ones leading, not catching up, when this model becomes standard.

8. What if this is just another shiny thing?
Fair question, but Ream isn’t a passing trend. We’ve been building this for almost three years, constantly improving based on author feedback. Every feature, from story organization to community tools, exists to make your fiction business sustainable. We’re in this for the long haul, and so are the authors who’ve already made Ream their home.

9. How exactly does it work?
You create your account, upload your stories in any format (serial, ebook, audio, or comic), and choose how you want to sell them — as single sales*, free chapters, or a paid membership. Readers can follow you for free, buy individual stories, or subscribe for exclusive access. Ream handles the tech, payments, and reader experience so you can focus on creating.

10. How do I start, and what’s the first step?
Start by creating your free Ream account and uploading your first story or chapter. From there, you can set up your store, customize your author page, and choose how you want to publish — free, paid, or both. Within minutes, your stories are live and ready for readers to discover, follow, and buy.

*Single Sales will be available later in 2025.


Does Ream support pen names? Yes, we do. If you want more information on how to set up multiple pen names under one account, click here. And if you already know how to set up a separate pen name but need some more guidance, click here.


If you have any questions about setting up your Ream author page, please reach out to our Support team at support@reamstories.com.

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