> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://storypress.gitbook.io/storypress-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://storypress.gitbook.io/storypress-docs/building-your-site/start-building.md).

# Start building

Once your [**theme**](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/overview.md) is set ([fonts](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/fonts.md), [colors](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/colors.md), [nav](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/navigation.md), [footer](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/footer.md), [favicon](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/favicon.md)), you build the site by adding **pages** and **blocks**. This page is your roadmap.

***

## The basics

* **Pages** — Each URL is a page. You add blocks to the page in the order you want them to appear.
* **Blocks** — The building blocks of content: text, images, video, forms, maps, and layout blocks that hold others.

***

## Content blocks you’ll use most

| Need                      | Block                                                                  | Use it for                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Text**                  | [**Rich text**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/rich-text.md)          | Headings, paragraphs, lists, links. All your copy.                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Stills & video**        | [**Images**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/gallery.md) / **Asset**   | Photos, illustrations, and video (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo).                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **Layout**                | [**Container**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/container.md)          | Columns (1, 2, or 3). Put [rich text](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/rich-text.md) in one column and [image](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/gallery.md) in another for side-by-side layout. Control alignment and gap. |
| **Image + text together** | [**Image + text**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/image-text-rich.md) | One block that pairs an image with rich text—text on one side, image on the other (or text over image). No need to build it from a container unless you want to.                                                         |
| **Buttons / links**       | [**CTA**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/cta.md)                      | Buttons or links to another page or an anchor (e.g. `#contact`).                                                                                                                                                         |

So: [**rich text**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/rich-text.md) for words, [**images**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/gallery.md)/assets for media, [**container**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/container.md) when you want columns (e.g. text on one side, image on the other), and [**image + text**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/image-text-rich.md) when you want that pairing in a single block. [**CTA**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/cta.md) for actions.

***

## How they work together

* [**Container**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/container.md) **with 2 columns** — Add a Container, set columns to 2, then add e.g. [Rich text](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/rich-text.md) in the first column and [Images](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/gallery.md) (or Asset) in the second. You get text on one side, image on the other; alignment and column position (top/middle/bottom) control how they line up.
* [**Image + text**](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/image-text-rich.md) **block** — Add one block, add your image and your rich text. Choose “Text adjacent image” for side-by-side (with optional reverse order) or “Text over image” for overlay. Faster than building the same layout with a container when you only need one image + one text block.
* **Full-width sections** — Use a [Container](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/container.md) with 1 column (or no column setting) to group blocks and control max width. Add a Background block inside for a colored or image section.

The next page, **How blocks work together**, goes into layout patterns and options in more detail.

***

## Suggested order

1. [**Theme**](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/overview.md) — [Fonts](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/fonts.md), [colors](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/colors.md), [nav](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/navigation.md), [footer](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/footer.md), [favicon](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/favicon.md).
2. **Home page** — A few blocks: [rich text](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/rich-text.md) (intro), [image + text](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/image-text-rich.md) or [container](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/container.md) (image + copy), maybe a [CTA](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/cta.md).
3. **More pages** — About, Contact, etc. Reuse the same block types; theme keeps everything consistent.
4. **Forms, maps, feeds** — Add [lead forms](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/lead-form.md), [maps](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/map.md), [Instagram](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/instagram-feed.md), etc. when you need them; they’ll use your theme colors and fonts.

You’re not “just documenting”—you’re building. Start with the [theme](/storypress-docs/theme-and-setup/overview.md), then add content with text and images, and use [containers](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/container.md) and [image + text](/storypress-docs/content-blocks/image-text-rich.md) to shape the layout.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://storypress.gitbook.io/storypress-docs/building-your-site/start-building.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.