BASE THEME
Included with every Fernlight install — no plugin required. Everything on this page is a stock theme pattern or style variation.
A calm, editorial WordPress block theme for writers. Everything below ships in the free theme download — no Companion, no Pro, no upgrades.
Hero patterns
Four ways to open a page — from full-bleed cinematic to type-only minimalism.
A quieter way to publish
Stories with room to breathe.
Introduce the publication, its point of view, and what readers will find here.
Essays on a slower life
Write like the reader has all the time in the world.
A single supporting line beneath the headline — what this place is, in one breath.
Journal
A clear title for this page.
A short, useful introduction that sets expectations without overexplaining.
Page-section patterns
A library of composable sections for building any page in the Site Editor — no code required.
This week
The lead essay, given the most room
A sentence or two of standfirst to draw the reader into the featured piece.
A second piece
One line of context.
“A short pulled line that adds a little texture.”
About
Hello, I write here.
Two or three sentences on who you are, what you pay attention to, and why someone should keep reading. Keep it warm and specific — this is the line that turns a visitor into a subscriber.
— Your name
Browse by topic
01
Slow over fast
A sentence or two on the first principle behind the work.
02
Depth over reach
A sentence or two on the second principle.
03
Care over volume
A sentence or two on the third principle.
200+
Essays published
8k
Readers subscribed
6
Years writing
Kind words
“A sentence in the reader’s own words about what your writing did for them.”
Reader name
“A second short quote — specific beats glowing every time.”
Reader name
“A third quote to round out the row.”
Reader name
Questions, answered
How often do you publish?
A short, honest answer. Keep it to two or three sentences.
Can I share or reprint your work?
State your terms plainly so readers and editors know where they stand.
How do I get new pieces by email?
Point readers to the newsletter and what to expect after they subscribe.
How it works
A simple path from first note to finished thing.
01
Gather the thread
Name the question, collect the pieces, and decide what the reader needs first.
02
Shape the draft
Turn the material into a clear sequence, with enough room for the important turns.
03
Send it well
Publish, send, or hand off the work with the context people need to use it.
01
Notice
Name the first principle, observation, or benefit in a few grounded sentences.
02
Consider
Offer a second perspective that helps readers compare, reflect, or choose.
03
Begin
Close with a practical next step that feels possible today.
A heading that frames the section
An introductory paragraph that sits beside the heading and gives the section its context. Two or three sentences is plenty.
A second paragraph if the idea needs room to settle.
Questions I am still carrying
- What keeps returning, even after the easy answer is gone?
- Where does the work feel most alive, unfinished, or worth following?
- What would be more honest to leave open?
Featured note
Pair one strong image with one clear thought.
Add context, a personal observation, or a useful invitation. Keep the copy brief enough that the image still has room to speak.
Worth remembering
Put the useful part where nobody can miss it.
Summarize the practical takeaway, define an important term, or give the reader a small action to try next.
Post building-block patterns
Drop these into any post body to structure long-form writing — lead paragraphs, pull quotes, tables of contents, footnotes, and more.
Open with the sentence that earns the reader’s attention — concrete, a little unexpected, and pointed at what the piece is really about.
Key takeaways
- The single idea a reader should leave with.
- A supporting point or surprising detail.
- What to do, try, or notice next.
In this piece
A passage worth setting apart from the body — long enough to breathe, short enough to remember.
Source
A brief line, centered, for emphasis without spectacle.
Attribution
“The quiet sentence, set large, is the one a reader carries home.”
Attribution, source
Editor note
Use this aside to add context without interrupting the main essay. Keep it brief, useful, and easy to skip.
Carry it with you
- What part of this felt true before you had words for it?
- What would change if you gave this more time?
Notes & sources
- Source or aside, with a link where relevant.
- A second note.
Share
About the author
Add a warm, concise biography that establishes perspective and gives readers a reason to stay connected.
Archive & query patterns
Five ways to lay out a post list — grid, editorial list, card grid, and a featured spotlight. These pull real posts from the Journal below.
No featured post found.
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The case for a slower publishing rhythm
Fernlight was built on the assumption that most writers publish less often than the content-calendar industry wants them to, and that a site should feel complete at any size — five posts or five hundred. This is the last of five sample posts on this demo. Below is Companion’s Related Grid block, hand-curated rather than…
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A short note on full-bleed images
Full-bleed figures break the reading column deliberately, for the images that deserve the extra weight. Use them sparingly — once or twice per essay, at most.
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What Companion adds that you stop noticing
The best features are the ones you forget are features. Heading anchors, a reading progress bar, automatic prev/next navigation, instant search — none of it announces itself, and that’s exactly the point. Hover any H2 in this post. You’ll see a small anchor link appear — that’s Companion, quietly making every heading shareable.
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Notes on choosing a style variation
Fernlight ships with seven built-in style variations and five more from Fernlight Pro. That’s twelve total looks from one codebase, switchable in seconds from the Site Editor with zero content migration. The rule of thumb: Sage for calm editorial defaults, Ink for a serious newsroom feel, Dark for a true dark-mode reading experience, and the…
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Why a demo site should tell the truth
Most theme demos are stage sets. Every image is stock, every button is disabled, and the moment you click something real the illusion collapses. This site is the opposite of that: it is a live WordPress install running the actual Fernlight theme, the actual Companion plugin, and the actual Pro plugin, unlocked to its top…
-
The case for a slower publishing rhythm
Fernlight was built on the assumption that most writers publish less often than the content-calendar industry wants them to, and that a site should feel complete at any size — five posts or five hundred. This is the last of five sample posts on this demo. Below is Companion’s Related Grid block, hand-curated rather than…
-
A short note on full-bleed images
Full-bleed figures break the reading column deliberately, for the images that deserve the extra weight. Use them sparingly — once or twice per essay, at most.
-
What Companion adds that you stop noticing
The best features are the ones you forget are features. Heading anchors, a reading progress bar, automatic prev/next navigation, instant search — none of it announces itself, and that’s exactly the point. Hover any H2 in this post. You’ll see a small anchor link appear — that’s Companion, quietly making every heading shareable.
-
Notes on choosing a style variation
Fernlight ships with seven built-in style variations and five more from Fernlight Pro. That’s twelve total looks from one codebase, switchable in seconds from the Site Editor with zero content migration. The rule of thumb: Sage for calm editorial defaults, Ink for a serious newsroom feel, Dark for a true dark-mode reading experience, and the…
-
Why a demo site should tell the truth
Most theme demos are stage sets. Every image is stock, every button is disabled, and the moment you click something real the illusion collapses. This site is the opposite of that: it is a live WordPress install running the actual Fernlight theme, the actual Companion plugin, and the actual Pro plugin, unlocked to its top…
7 built-in style variations
One click in the Site Editor re-themes color, contrast, and mood across the whole site — same layouts, new personality. This demo runs the default Sage variation.
Fernlight Sage (default)
Calm, editorial green — the theme’s signature look.
Fernlight Clay
Warm terracotta neutrals for a softer, human feel.
Fernlight Dark
Full dark mode with the same contrast guarantees.
Fernlight Dusk
Cool lavender-grey for a quieter, nocturnal tone.
Fernlight Ink
High-contrast monochrome for a serious, newsroom feel.
Fernlight Sky
Airy blue-grey, bright and open.
Fernlight Warm Sand
Sunlit neutral beige, gentle and grounded.
13 one-click page starters
Appearance → Fernlight → Getting Started can install any of these as a real draft page in one click, fully built from theme patterns.
Context-bound templates & headers
Search header + results pattern, live
Custom 404 hero + helper links
Category hero + archive header patterns
Browse-all-topics pattern (see Journal)
Two additional header layouts (Centered, Minimal) and a Minimal footer variation ship in the theme and can be swapped per-site in Appearance → Fernlight → Settings.
Give the reader one clear next step.
Invite them to continue reading, explore a resource, or join the conversation.