Fresh off successful completion of the 2013 A to Z Blog Challenge, I joined the Writers of Kern Blog Challenge completing the first round of eight posts. I signed on for the second round but fell behind because of another challenge.
In 2007, I began blogging with a WordPress hosted blog. WordPress is a publishing platform that makes it easy for anyone to publish online. The WordPress platform powers millions of websites and comes in two formats: the fully hosted version available at ‘ ” ” ” ” ” ” ‘WordPress.com and the self-hosted version available at ‘ ” ” ” ” ” ” ‘WordPress.org.
At WordPress.com, bloggers don’t have to download software, pay for hosting, or manage a web server. Instead, they focus on creating content and letting WordPress handle the rest.
Self-hosting a WordPress blog requires some technical knowledge and places more responsibility on the blogger. The WordPress software is downloaded for free, but it must be installed on a web server before it will work.
I began with a WordPress hosted blog and made the move to a self-hosted blog after a couple of years. The self-hosted blog gave me more control over my blog’s access and appearance.
Recently, I wanted to make major changes to my blog’s structure and presentation elements. I explored installing a new theme. A blog’s theme is its skin, its public appearance. My search did not turn up a theme I liked as much as the theme I had. When I looked into revising the theme, I discovered it was no longer supported by WordPress. I contacted the foundry that produced the theme. They had an updated version they said I could revise by creating a child theme.
Whether performing a minor “tune-up” or a major overhaul, creating a child theme is the safest and easiest way to modify an existing blog theme. A child theme inherits all of the templates and functionality from its parent theme, but allows the blogger to make “non-destructive” changes to the parent theme because code in the child theme overrules code in the parent theme. However, looking at my theme’s code told me I was in over my head.
Web design interests me. I took a couple of web design classes a few years ago, not because I wanted a web design certificate but because I wanted access to the web design knowledge base. At this point in my life, I didn’t want to start attending classes again. What to do?
Answering the question led me to my favorite computer software application site, lynda.com. The lynda.com Online Training Library is a learning platform that teaches a growing range of computer skills in video format to members through monthly and annual subscription-based plans. Looking through the lynda.com course catalog, I found two recently published courses on WordPress: WordPress Essential Training and WordPress 3: Building Child Themes.
Both courses provide excellent information on the latest version of the WordPress platform. Diving into the second course, I spent a week going through the course videos several times. I applied each modification, meticulously following the course author’s step-by-step instructions. I finished with a theme that, in the words of the course author, takes my blog to “new levels of awsome-ness.” It was more work than I anticipated; but, I loved doing it because it’s challenging as well as creatively rewarding. Now I can change the theme any way I want.
So, it’s not just blogging. It’s blogging for the pleasure of blogging; and, the pleasure is intensified by knowing a blog’s beauty is more than “skin” deep.
I once heard of someone who, when asked the time, replied with instructions on building a clock. Asked about blogging, I would focus on content, not give instructions for building a blog theme or creating a child theme. For me, knowing what goes on under the blog’s hood is the real blog challenge.
Oh, Dennis. You are way over my head on this theme and “under the hood” business. You are right. This is a real blog challenge. I admire your diligence and hard work. xoA
I’m probably over my head, too, with the “under the hood” analogy. I don’t have a clue what is under the hood of a car! Car, key, gas, go. LOL
I really like the look of your blog since the changes. Nice to see you up and running again.
The inner workings of blogs and technology are not my forte, but I admire those who can navigate inside and know what they are doing.
I’m pleased your like the changes to my blog. I really don’t know what I am doing; but, the wonder of the internet allows me to find people who do. The WordPress platform offers support forums that are truly supportive. It’s an amazing resource.
Very informative. I didn’t realize wordpress had the .org site available for do it yourself types..of which I am not..Your blog looks great.
Thanks for reading my blog post. I appreciate your feedback.