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Getting Started with Narrativ

5 min read · Last updated June 2026

Narrativ is an email list platform built specifically for authors. Unlike general tools like Mailchimp or Kit, Narrativ is designed around how authors actually work — managing a reader list across multiple book titles, sending campaigns, and understanding which readers are most engaged.

This guide walks you through everything you need to do to go from zero to your first campaign.

Step 1 — Create your account

Go to narrativ-app.com and sign up. During onboarding you'll be asked to:

You can always update these details later from the Profile section in the left nav.

Step 2 — Add your books

Your reader list in Narrativ belongs to you as an author — not to any single book. This means subscribers you collect for one title can be emailed about all your titles. Books are used for organization and segmentation, not as separate lists.

To add a book, click Your Books in the left nav, then click + Add Book. You'll be taken to the book setup page where you can enter the title, genre, and description.

Tip: Add all your published titles upfront, even if you're only actively marketing one right now. It lets you later segment your list by which book a reader signed up for.

Step 3 — Set up your signup page

Every Narrativ account gets a hosted signup page at a URL like narrativ-app.com/subscribe?author=2. Readers visit this page and enter their name and email to join your list.

To customize it:

  1. Go to Email List in the left nav
  2. Click Customize → in the Signup Page section
  3. Edit your headline, subtext, button text, and brand color
  4. Upload a logo if you have one
  5. Customize the confirmation email readers receive after signing up
  6. Click Save

Step 4 — Share your signup link

Once your page looks good, start sharing the link. Good places to put it:

Step 5 — Add your first subscribers

If you already have a reader list somewhere, you can import it. Go to Email List and click Import CSV. Your CSV should have at minimum an email column; a name column is optional but recommended.

To add individual readers manually, click + Add Subscriber and fill in their details.

Important: Only import subscribers who have explicitly opted in to hear from you. Importing a purchased list or contacts who never signed up will hurt your deliverability and may get your account suspended.

Step 6 — Send your first campaign

Once you have subscribers, you're ready to email them. Click + Campaign in the Email Campaigns section of the Email List panel. Write your subject line, your message, choose your audience, and hit Send now.

After sending, you'll see open rate and click stats populate as readers engage with the email over the next 24–48 hours.