BONUS MODULE: LESSON ONE
What is Custom CSS and Why Use It?
Squarespace’s built-in Site Styles give you a lot of control over your website’s look. but sometimes, you want to go beyond what the default settings offer. That’s where Custom CSS comes in.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a coding language used to control how websites look. With it, you can adjust colors, fonts, spacing, sizing, and more — sometimes in ways that simply aren’t possible through Squarespace’s style panel.
What is Custom CSS?
Custom CSS lets you write your own rules for your website’s appearance. By adding these rules, you can override Squarespace’s default styles to achieve more precise or creative effects.
Examples of what CSS can do:
Change the font of a single heading, section, or page
Adjust spacing between elements beyond Squarespace’s drag-and-drop controls
Add unique effects, like colored borders, custom shadows, or subtle animations
Hide elements on certain devices, like removing a block on mobile but keeping it on desktop
Why Should Romance Authors Use CSS?
Using Custom CSS lets you:
Personalize your brand: Add fonts, colors, or styles that match your books’ vibe, whether it’s dark and moody, soft and whimsical, or modern and sleek.
Stand out from other author sites: Small, custom touches can make your website look professional and memorable… important for catching the eye of new readers and industry professionals.
Fine-tune your layout: Sometimes, you need adjustments beyond what Squarespace allows by default, like tweaking margins, resizing buttons, or aligning text exactly how you want it.
Important Considerations
While CSS is powerful, it’s not something to approach casually. a single typo can break styles on your site or cause layout issues. That’s why it’s important to:
Start with small changes. Always test your edits before applying them to your live site.
Understand what your code is doing. Don’t copy large blocks of CSS you don’t understand; use well-commented examples instead.
Back up your site. Keep a record of your original CSS and make sure you can revert changes if something goes wrong.
When Should You Use CSS?
You don’t need to dive into Custom CSS for every small adjustment… but it’s perfect when:
You can’t get the look you want with Squarespace’s built-in Site Styles
You want to match your website more closely with your branding or book aesthetics
You’re comfortable experimenting or ready to learn a little coding to make your site uniquely yours
Action Step:
Reflect on your site’s current design and note any elements you’d like to customize further such as fonts, buttons, or spacing. These goals will guide you through the rest of this module.
