diff --git a/public/assets/css/generalStyle.css b/public/assets/css/generalStyle.css
index c71a3783..6a3f9dbe 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/generalStyle.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/generalStyle.css
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ table {
 .input-error {
 	font-weight: bold;
 	color: red;
+	font-size: small;
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 1250px) {
diff --git a/public/assets/js/generalFunctions.js b/public/assets/js/generalFunctions.js
index 0556f0c5..129af6fb 100644
--- a/public/assets/js/generalFunctions.js
+++ b/public/assets/js/generalFunctions.js
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ function showError(elementId, errorMsg) {
 	errorDisplay.innerText = errorMsg;
 }
 
+function clearError(elementId,) {
+	var errorDisplay = document.getElementById(elementId);
+	errorDisplay.hidden = true;
+	errorDisplay.innerText = '';
+}
+
 // Create new error objects, that prototypically inherit from the Error constructor
 function FileError(message) {
   this.name = 'FileError';
diff --git a/public/assets/js/publishFunctions.js b/public/assets/js/publishFunctions.js
index 58bd51c1..552ecd0d 100644
--- a/public/assets/js/publishFunctions.js
+++ b/public/assets/js/publishFunctions.js
@@ -2,96 +2,6 @@
 function updatePublishStatus(msg){
 	document.getElementById('publish-status').innerHTML = msg;
 }
-// validation function which checks the proposed file's type, size, and name
-function validateFile(file) {
-	if (!file) {
-		throw new Error('no file provided');
-	}
-	// validate size and type
-	switch (file.type) {
-		case 'image/jpeg':
-		case 'image/jpg':
-		case 'image/png':
-		case 'image/gif':
-			if (file.size > 10000000){
-				throw new Error('Sorry, images are limited to 10 megabytes.');
-			}
-			break;
-		case 'video/mp4':
-			if (file.size > 50000000){
-				throw new Error('Sorry, videos are limited to 50 megabytes.');
-			}
-			break;
-		default:
-			throw new Error(file.type + ' is not supported a supported file type. Only, .jpeg, .png, .gif, and .mp4 files are currently supported.')
-	}
-	// validate the file name (note: different from the lbry claim name)
-	var invalidCharacter = /[^\w.-\s()]/g.exec(file.name);
-	if (invalidCharacter) {
-		throw new Error('Special characters, such as "' + invalidCharacter + '", are not allowed in the file name.');
-	};
-}
-// validation function that checks to make sure the claim name is not already claimed
-function validateClaimName (name) {
-	var deferred = new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
-		// validate the characters in the 'name' field
-		if (name.length < 1) {
-			reject(new NameError("You must enter a name for your claim"));
-			return;
-		}
-		var invalidCharacters = /[^A-Za-z0-9,-]/g.exec(name);
-		if (invalidCharacters) {
-			reject(new NameError('"' + invalidCharacters + '" is not allowed.  Use only the following characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, and "-"'));
-			return;
-		} 
-		// make sure the claim name is still available
-		var xhttp;
-		xhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
-		xhttp.open('GET', '/api/isClaimAvailable/' + name, true);
-		xhttp.responseType = 'json';
-		xhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
-			if (this.readyState == 4 ) {
-				if ( this.status == 200) {
-					if (this.response == true) {
-						resolve();
-					} else {
-						reject( new NameError("That name has already been claimed by spee.ch.  Please choose a different name."));
-					}
-				} else {
-					reject("request to check claim name failed with status:" + this.status);
-				};
-			}
-		};
-		xhttp.send();
-	});
-	return deferred;
-}
-// validation function which checks all aspects of the publish submission
-function validateSubmission(stagedFiles, name){
-	var deferred = new Promise(function (resolve, reject) {
-		// make sure only 1 file was selected
-		if (!stagedFiles) {
-			reject(new FileError("Please select a file"));
-		} else if (stagedFiles.length > 1) {
-			reject(new FileError("Only one file is allowed at a time"));
-		}
-		// validate the file's name, type, and size
-		try {
-			validateFile(stagedFiles[0]);
-		} catch (error) {
-			reject(error);
-		}
-		// make sure the claim name has not already been used
-		validateClaimName(name)
-			.then(function() {
-				resolve();
-			})
-			.catch(function(error) {
-				reject(error);
-			})
-	});
-	return deferred;
-}
 
 /* publish helper functions */
 
@@ -115,13 +25,14 @@ function previewAndStageFile(selectedFile){
 		previewReader.onloadend = function () {
 			dropzone.style.display = 'none';
 			previewHolder.style.display = 'block';
-			previewHolder.innerHTML = '<img width="100%" src="' + previewReader.result + '" alt="image preview"/>';			
+			previewHolder.innerHTML = '<img width="100%" src="' + previewReader.result + '" alt="image preview"/>';
 		};
 	}
 	// set the name input value to the image name if none is set yet
 	if (nameInput.value === "") {
 		var filename = selectedFile.name.substring(0, selectedFile.name.indexOf('.'))
-		nameInput.value = filename.replace(/\s+/g, '-');;
+		nameInput.value = cleanseClaimName(filename);
+		checkClaimName(nameInput.value);
 	}
 	// store the selected file for upload
 	stagedFiles = [selectedFile];
diff --git a/public/assets/js/validationFunctions.js b/public/assets/js/validationFunctions.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bfbe2a46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/assets/js/validationFunctions.js
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+
+
+// validation function which checks the proposed file's type, size, and name
+function validateFile(file) {
+	if (!file) {
+		throw new Error('no file provided');
+	}
+	if (/'/.test(file.name)) {
+		throw new Error('apostrophes are not allowed in the file name');
+	}
+	// validate size and type
+	switch (file.type) {
+		case 'image/jpeg':
+		case 'image/jpg':
+		case 'image/png':
+		case 'image/gif':
+			if (file.size > 10000000){
+				throw new Error('Sorry, images are limited to 10 megabytes.');
+			}
+			break;
+		case 'video/mp4':
+			if (file.size > 50000000){
+				throw new Error('Sorry, videos are limited to 50 megabytes.');
+			}
+			break;
+		default:
+			throw new Error(file.type + ' is not a supported file type. Only, .jpeg, .png, .gif, and .mp4 files are currently supported.')
+	}
+}
+// validation function that checks to make sure the claim name is not already claimed
+function isNameAvailable (name) {
+	var deferred = new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
+		// make sure the claim name is still available
+		var xhttp;
+		xhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
+		xhttp.open('GET', '/api/isClaimAvailable/' + name, true);
+		xhttp.responseType = 'json';
+		xhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
+			if (this.readyState == 4 ) {
+				if ( this.status == 200) {
+					if (this.response == true) {
+						resolve();
+					} else {
+						reject( new NameError("That name has already been claimed by another user.  Please choose a different name."));
+					}
+				} else {
+					reject("request to check claim name failed with status:" + this.status);
+				};
+			}
+		};
+		xhttp.send();
+	});
+	return deferred;
+}
+// validation function that checks to make sure the claim name is valid
+function validateClaimName (name) {
+	// ensure a name was entered
+	if (name.length < 1) {
+		throw new NameError("You must enter a name for your claim");
+	}
+	// validate the characters in the 'name' field
+	const invalidCharacters = /[^A-Za-z0-9,-]/g.exec(name);
+	if (invalidCharacters) {
+		throw new NameError('"' + invalidCharacters + '" characters are not allowed in the title.');
+	}
+}
+
+function cleanseClaimName(name) {
+	name = name.replace(/\s+/g, '-'); // replace spaces with dashes
+	name = name.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9-]/g, '');  // remove all characters that are not A-Z, a-z, 0-9, or '-'
+	return name;
+}
+// validaiton function to check claim name as the input changes
+function checkClaimName(name){
+	try {
+		// check to make sure the characters are valid
+		validateClaimName(name);
+		clearError('input-error-claim-name');
+		// check to make sure it is availabe
+		isNameAvailable(name)
+			.then(function() {
+				document.getElementById('claim-name-available').hidden = false;
+			})
+			.catch(function(error) {
+				document.getElementById('claim-name-available').hidden = true;
+				showError('input-error-claim-name', error.message);
+			});
+	} catch (error) {
+		showError('input-error-claim-name', error.message);
+		document.getElementById('claim-name-available').hidden = true;
+	}
+}
+// validation function which checks all aspects of the publish submission
+function validateSubmission(stagedFiles, name){
+	var deferred = new Promise(function (resolve, reject) {
+		// make sure only 1 file was selected
+		if (!stagedFiles) {
+			reject(new FileError("Please select a file"));
+		} else if (stagedFiles.length > 1) {
+			reject(new FileError("Only one file is allowed at a time"));
+		}
+		// validate the file's name, type, and size
+		try {
+			validateFile(stagedFiles[0]);
+		} catch (error) {
+			reject(error);
+		}
+		// make sure the claim name has not already been used
+		try {
+			validateClaimName(name);
+		} catch (error) {
+			reject(error);
+		}
+		isNameAvailable(name)
+			.then(function() {
+				resolve();
+			})
+			.catch(function(error) {
+				reject(error);
+			});
+	});
+	return deferred;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/views/index.handlebars b/views/index.handlebars
index 91f80c88..125deae6 100644
--- a/views/index.handlebars
+++ b/views/index.handlebars
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 <script src="/socket.io/socket.io.js"></script>
 <script src="/siofu/client.js"></script>
 <script src="/assets/js/generalFunctions.js"></script>
+<script src="/assets/js/validationFunctions.js"></script>
 <script src="/assets/js/publishFunctions.js"></script>
 <script typ="text/javascript">
 	// define variables
@@ -58,10 +59,5 @@
 		document.getElementById('publish-active-area').innerHTML = publishResults;
 		window.location.href = showUrl;
 	});
-	
-	//event listener to filter claim name inputs
-	document.getElementById('claim-name-input').addEventListener('input', function() {
-		var name = this.value;
-		this.value = name.replace(/\s+/g, '-');
-	})
+
 </script>
diff --git a/views/partials/publish.handlebars b/views/partials/publish.handlebars
index fd18d89b..2b662315 100644
--- a/views/partials/publish.handlebars
+++ b/views/partials/publish.handlebars
@@ -1,21 +1,19 @@
 <div class="panel">
 	<h2>Publish</h2>
-	<div class="col-left">
+	<div class="col-left" id="file-selection-area">
 		<div id="drop-zone" ondrop="drop_handler(event);" ondragover="dragover_handler(event);" ondragend="dragend_handler(event)">
 			<p>Drag and drop your file here, or choose your file below.</p>
 			<div class="input-error" id="input-error-file-selection" hidden="true"></div>
 			<input type="file" id="siofu_input" name="file" accept="video/*,image/*" onchange="previewAndStageFile(event.target.files[0])" enctype="multipart/form-data"/>
 		</div>
-		<div id="asset-preview-holder">
-			
-		</div>
+		<div id="asset-preview-holder"></div>
 	</div>
 	<div class="col-right">
-		<textarea id="direct-link-holder" hidden="true">No URL yet</textarea>
 		<div id="publish-active-area">
 			<div class="input-error" id="input-error-claim-name" hidden="true"></div>
 			<div class="claim-name-input-area">
-				Spee.ch/<input type="text" id="claim-name-input" placeholder="your-name-here" class="form-control">
+				Spee.ch/<input type="text" id="claim-name-input" placeholder="your-title-here" oninput="checkClaimName(event.target.value)">
+				<span id="claim-name-available" hidden="true" style="color: green">&#x2714</span>
 			</div>
 			<p class="stop-float">
 			<label for="publish-license">License:</label>
@@ -30,9 +28,33 @@
 			<p>
 			<div class="input-error" id="input-error-publish-submit" hidden="true"></div>
 			<button id="publish-submit" onclick="publishSelectedImage(event)">Publish</button>
-			<a href="/"><button id="publish-reset">Reset</button></a>
+			<button onclick="resetPublishArea()">Reset</button>
 			</p>
 			<p><i>By clicking 'Publish' I attest that I have read and agree to the <a href="https://lbry.io/termsofservice" target="_blank">LBRY terms of service</a>.</i></p>
 		</div>
 	</div>
 </div>
+
+<script type="text/javascript" >
+	function resetPublishArea (){
+		// reset file selection area
+		document.getElementById('file-selection-area').innerHTML = `<div id="drop-zone" ondrop="drop_handler(event);" ondragover="dragover_handler(event);" ondragend="dragend_handler(event)">
+			<p>Drag and drop your file here, or choose your file below.</p>
+			<div class="input-error" id="input-error-file-selection" hidden="true"></div>
+			<input type="file" id="siofu_input" name="file" accept="video/*,image/*" onchange="previewAndStageFile(event.target.files[0])" enctype="multipart/form-data"/>
+		</div>
+		<div id="asset-preview-holder"></div>`;
+		// reset 
+		document.getElementById('claim-name-input').value = '';
+		// remove staged files 
+		stagedFiles = null;
+		// clear any errors
+		document.getElementById('input-error-file-selection').innerHTML = '';
+		document.getElementById('input-error-claim-name').innerHTML = '';
+		document.getElementById('input-error-publish-submit').innerHTML = '';
+		// remove nsfw check
+		document.getElementById('claim-name-available').hidden = true;
+		// remove nsfw check
+		document.getElementById('publish-nsfw').checked = false;
+	}
+</script>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars b/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars
index 9532b449..9c7999e5 100644
--- a/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars
+++ b/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
 			{{#unless this.nsfw}}
 				<a href="/{{this.name}}/{{this.claimId}}">
 				{{#ifConditional this.fileType '===' 'video/mp4'}}
-					<video class="grid-item trending-video" controls onloadeddata="resetLayout()">
+					<video class="grid-item trending-video" controls onloadeddata="resetTrendingLayout()">
 						<source src="/media/{{this.fileName}}" >
 						{{!--fallback--}}
 						Your browser does not support the <code>video</code> element.
 					</video>
 				{{else}}
-					<img  class="grid-item trending-image" src="/media/{{this.fileName}}" onload="resetLayout()"/>
+					<img  class="grid-item trending-image" src="/media/{{this.fileName}}" onload="resetTrendingLayout()"/>
 				{{/ifConditional}}
 				</a>
 			{{/unless}}
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
 		itemSelector: '.grid-item'
 	});
 	
-	function resetLayout() {
-		console.log('resetting layout');
+	function resetTrendingLayout() {
 		msnry.layout();
 	}
 </script>