I was working on producing an hour-long radio special back in March — you know, when the world exploded — and in the process, was having a bunch of discussions with my co-host and co-producer about how it all felt so different, covering the news like this.
When we’re facing a worldwide health crisis, engaging in long-overdue discussions about systemic racism and inequality and navigating a precarious financial situation in the U.S., to say the least — we aren’t reporting news or telling stories anymore, we’re recording history.
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably been jotting down a bunch of odds and ends lately, maybe even full stories or ideas for manuscripts (or musicals). As writers, in doing so, we’ve been subconsciously recording our own personal histories. Our emotional states, our deepest desires and hopes for the future and our greatest thoughts during this time. Maybe one day, our journal entries, our poems, our short stories that we write now will take on a new life as a historical record, either on a large scale or just within our families.
What we’re writing right now is important. But how, in this digital world where physical distribution of books and publications is more than difficult and everyone lives online, can we get our work out there?
It’s simple: we can start writer’s blogs.
A writer’s blog is sort of like an online notebook of your stories that anyone can read through posts. Sort of like this, but all filled with your work. It’s a really fun way to document everything and share it with the world. Not to mention it’s also a great addition to any portfolio. As a multimedia creative student, all of my professors at USC are always encouraging me to expand my portfolio and just try new things to add to it in any way that I can.
But aside from the potential vocational benefits, I think it’s a really interesting exercise in getting comfortable with self-publishing, and learning more about how all of your writing fits together to create your unique style. So, if you’re interested in building a little time capsule, a little piece of history of your quarantine musings, read on for some step-by-step instructions! It’s fun, easy and gives any recovering workaholic who’s already baked too many loaves of bread a more long-term quarantine hobby with a payoff.
- Create a WordPress.com site
Just like popular web builders including Wix and Squarespace, WordPress offers a wide variety of pretty and simple themes for you to create your blog. Why WordPress over builders? Well, while it’s a little less intuitive, WordPress has been around forever, so it has already proven its longevity. If Squarespace or Wix ever go out of business, there goes your site, but WordPress, according to many experts I’ve talked to, will be around for a long time. Plus, WordPress offers some really great SEO and monetization tools if your writer’s blog blows up and you want to get a paid subscription for pretty cheap.
But anyways, once you’ve picked a simple theme you like (my writer’s blog was made using the free Coutoire theme), add a few photos, and start making blog posts from your dashboard! From there, all that’s left to do is write.
**Oh, and if you’ve got any WordPress questions, leave them in the comments, I’ll be happy to answer to the best of my ability! This site is made on WordPress, too!**
- Dig through your journals and Notes app
Take a little stroll down memory lane and walk through your journals, stray Word Docs, and barely-decipherable 3 a.m. notes on your phone, searching for stories or trails of them. Then, make a master doc and start writing, rewriting and editing! As writers, these three mini-steps will probably come easily — get in the zone and let your fingers fly across the keys.
- Design/take pics for some cover art
Yeah, I know, it’s not exaaaaactly writing. But just like you’d give a short story collection or novel a cover, give covers to your posts or post collections. This will intrigue your readers to click on your stories once they reach your site — plus, they can all be repurposed into cute social media slides if you want to post about your little archive space!
Not really into design? Try Canva for free — a great tool with awesome, pro-looking templates for new designers 🙂
- Keep writing, and share your writer’s blog with our community!
Make yourself a writing and posting schedule — maybe on Saturday mornings, you sit down with a nice cup of tea and enter your ~indie writer zone~ for a couple hours, and post it by Monday evening. If you find yourself getting writer’s block, try some of our Writing Wednesday prompts — and tag us or submit them so we can see your interpretations!
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