There is something romantic and mysterious about using HTML, but it’s like drinking decaf coffee…. Why would you bother?
I built my website the easy way – on the WordPress platform. And WordPress has Gutenberg. Using Gutenberg is as easy as building with blocks.
That’s a very simplistic description because Gutenberg does a heck of a lot more than that.
If I want to add a Heading with Gutenberg – I just select the heading I want, and Gutenberg does the HTML for me.
WordPress didn’t always have Gutenberg.
Gutenberg launched with WordPress 5.0. I’d been hearing about it for a while at Meetups and WordCamps, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. So when a Beta version plugin was announced prior to the launch, I installed it on my main website. But not without some deliberation.
From the first encounter, I was hooked. And it was the WYSIWYG that snagged me.
Sadly, some of the platforms I write for don’t use Gutenberg, so I still get to dabble in some of the romantic HTML stuff.
It’s 9pm on Sunday night. Thank goodness it’s a long weekend, or I’d be panicking! The day has gone, the blog post isn’t written, but I fixed my broken website today.
And the Blog?
A broken website wasn’t on the plan for today. Nope. Today was going to be catch up on writing day. Well – catch up on the Ultimate Blog Challenge, actually.
That was the plan – before I checked my email.
There, glaring at me, was an email from WordPress. No, not personally from WordPress. I mean, it had the word WordPress on it. And it had the words technical error; broken; and the name of the theme I use, but not necessarily in that order.
I get a lot of emails like that and I don’t take a lot of notice. They’re usually just alerting me to a broken link, or a plugin needing an update. But this one was different. When I saw those ‘broken’ and ‘technical error’ words, I panicked.
Was my website broken? Were all my blogs gone?
Once I calmed down and started thinking a little more rationally, I logged into my website, held my breath, and closed my eyes.
Then I slowly opened one eye, then the other, and then started to breathe again.
If there was something wrong, I couldn’t tell. I mean, it looked okay to me. And my blogs were all there. Phew!
The problem had something to do with a recent update on one of the plugins. And the fact the theme hadn’t kept up with the updated plugin, which seemingly made them both incompatible.
But it was a big enough scare to send me scurrying off to Google in search of another theme.
I needed a theme that:
would play nicely with Gutenberg (WordPress Block system)
The link opened to a well-organised page that gave the basic description of each recommendation, which made it easy to choose the best theme for my humble needs.
Installation and activation were quick and easy, as I would expect from a popular plugin. Oh, and it was f-r-e-e, which is even better.
I love how easy it is to switch themes in WordPress. Naturally, I used live preview so I could see how my site would look, before I hit the final button. And yes, it might take some getting used to the different layout, but it looked okay.
My new theme is the most customisable theme I’ve ever used.
So today, I tweaked my new theme.
One of the first things I checked was the comments section. It seems to be working – well it was when I sent myself a test comment. But if you find any problems with it, please let me know.
Tweaking is by no means finished, but I’ll work on it over the next few days.
It’s Saturday morning and I’m sitting here sipping the first life-saving coffee of the day. As I savour each precious gram of caffeine, my eyes scan Facebook to see how the world fared without me while I slept. Then out of the blue, the words ‘WordCamp Brisbane 2019’ leap from the screen. Yep! WordCamp Brisbane happened over a week ago and I haven’t written a word about it. So if you are wondering …. “WordCamp Brisbane 2019??? What’s a WordCamp?” …. let me explain.
WordCamp is an event I start looking forward to the minute the previous one ends.
Maureen Durney
Let’s unpack WordCamp…
From Pre-Party to Pack-Up
I’ll start with a definition of WordCamp, then I’ll give you the low-down on why it is the highlight of my year.
WordCamp is an event that occurs in cities around the world, usually annually, that focuses on everything to do with using the WordPress open source platform. That’s tech-talk for saying it’s all about building websites with WordPress.
That’s my very simplistic definition and I’m sure the organisers of WordCamps, and WordPress aficionados, could come up with a more sophisticated explanation. But I am neither of these. I am simply a WordPress user.
Brisbane started hosting their WordCamps in 2015 at the University of Technology (QUT) on George Street – and this year was no different.
Remind me to tell you how much WordCamp costs – because that’s the important part!
The Pre-Party kicks it off
It all began with a pre-party for Speakers, Organisers or Volunteers who were in town the night before WordCamp officially began.
The Bar was perched on the rooftop of a local establishment on William Street. Huddled around a patio-heater to ward off the chilly night air, WordCamp-ers gathered – and networked.
When I arrived the bar was open, so I sidled on over, wallet in hand, and ordered a drink.
No money changed hands!
There was no charge – not then – and not hours later. The Sponsors of WordCamp Brisbane 2019 had put a generous amount of cash in the till – and said…
“Drink Up! The Drinks Are On Us!”
And then the food arrived! Lots of fabulous ‘snacky’ food!
With drink in hand I found a comfy bar stool on which to perch to do some serious people-watching. I can talk under water with a mouthful of marbles, but in a big crowd – I need to warm up first. People-watching is what I start with.
Within a few minutes I was joined by Korryn Haines, one of the WordCamp speakers. Korryn and I chatted about all things WordPress and life in general, until two young men from Texas joined us. BlueHost, Sponsor and web-hosting company, had flown Devin and Chris to Brisbane for WordCamp.
The sounds of bubbly conversations echoed around us as we laughed and talked for a couple of hours. Korryn and I did our best to teach our new American friends the quirky language that makes us uniquely Australian.
And that was how WordCamp Brisbane 2019 began…. and continued…..
Day 1 of WordCamp Brisbane 2019
By 9am, we volunteers had scanned or checked our way through the registration of hundreds of Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors. And handed out the same amount of lanyards, badges and swag. Oh, swag is another bit of tech-talk – it means the freebies the generous sponsors provide.
Wapuu What?!
This year the swag included a furry little yellow Wapuu.
A Wapuu is a character that has become the mascot of WordPress WordCamps. At a WordCamp after-party in Japan 2009, a group of WordCamp-ers thought it would be a good idea to have a WordPress mascot.
The idea was taken seriously!
After much deliberation, the Wapuu was unveiled at WordCamp Fukuoka in Japan, two years later. Each WordCamp adds their own cultural flavour to the basic Wapuu.
A creative display of our Wapuus
And my cute little Wapuu
The Presentations
Once registrations were all done, WordCamp Brisbane 2019 kicked into high gear with two streams of presentations. The hardest thing was to work out which of the two outstanding speakers to listen to, since most of us haven’t worked out how to be in two places at once – (the organisers moved so fast I guarantee they’re the only ones who know how to do this…).
(Photo of schedule displayed at WordCamp Brisbane 2019)
At WordCamps there is no shortage of technology. Each presentation is professionally recorded, with some even being live-streamed. So when you have to choose between two great presentations, you can catch up later on the one you missed via WordPress TV.
And the Speakers?
The organisers of WordCamps are inundated with submissions from great Speakers (click here to read more about the amazing speakers at WCBNE2019).
So how do they choose the Speakers?
With great difficulty!
If they could, they would choose them all, but there just isn’t enough time.
So a lot of agonising-organising hours go into selecting the range of presentations that WordCamps are now famous for. And the decisions reflect all levels of expertise. Some Speakers talk of their emerging journey with WordPress, others speak to high-end developers, and others pitch to the in-between.
With the number of submissions received, you’d be right in thinking WordPress pays a lot of money for Speakers to attend.
Yep! Right in thinking that, but wrong!
The Speakers are all volunteers – even those who need a passport and international flights to get here.
So why do people beat down the door of WordCamp organisers to be selected to speak?
Because that’s what WordPress is about.
It’s all about the community.
WordPress is open source software:
The term “open source” refers to something people can modify and share because its design is publicly accessible.
https://opensource.com/resources/what-open-source
The people who use WordPress help and support each other, and give back to the community of WordPress users.
WordPress community members are the most generous individuals and organisations you will ever meet.
The Sponsors
Speaking of generosity, the Sponsors have it in bucket-loads.
Image from https://2019.brisbane.wordcamp.org/
Click here to read about the amazing Sponsors who helped make WordCamp Brisbane 2019 the biggest WordCamp in Australia so far!
JetPack, BlueHost, GreenGeeks, Conetix and WP Engine are just some of the companies who were ready, willing and able to answer attendees questions over the WordCamp weekend.
And it was the Sponsors who paid for the venue, Pre-Party, After-Party, recording of presentations, food, coffee and swag – andsubsidise tickets for attendees (more about that later).
Speaking of food….
The coffee wagon was primed up and ready to go, and the caterers delivered enough food to feed the masses – all four-hundred and forty of us.
Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, were provided each day. Dietary differences were catered for. And the coffee continued to flow.
By the end of Day 1 we were all feeling a little overwhelmed by the amount of information we had absorbed. But luckily we mustered enough energy to make our weary way to the Botanic Bar at the back of the University, just in time for the After-Party that kicked off at 6pm.
The bar was open – the food arrived – and there was even a Photo Booth at the back of the room. With no shortage of props, individuals and groups outdid each other in vying for the best ‘photo-booth-selfie’.
The party was in full swing.
Drinks, including Mocktails for non-drinkers like me, were plentiful. And just as at the pre-party the night before, no money changed hands in the process. WP Engine sponsored the After-Party. And we thank them, as we do all sponsors, from the bottom of our hearts (and stomachs!).
Day 2 WordCamp Brisbane 2019
With most of the registrations processed on Day 1, there wasn’t as much for volunteers to do on Day 2. We knew the process: answer questions; give directions; run microphones; time Speakers; clear up after meal-breaks; work out which presentations to listen to; eat; drink coffee; etc., etc., etc.,; and network.
If you want to know why networking is important, ask Sally. She has enough information to write a book about it!
(Photo of schedule displayed at WordCamp Brisbane 2019)
I will forever be indebted to:
Luke Carbis – for teaching me that building your own Block in Gutenberg is a lot easier than I would have thought.
Robert Li from WP Engine – for his presentation on Lead Generation. Robert stepped up without much warning to replace a Speaker who was unable to get there.
Paul Luxford – for enlightening me about the 10 things my WordPress website can do that I didn’t know it could do.
Cameron Jones – for showing us how easy it is to develop our own plugin for a WordPress website. Despite his young age, Cameron is an absolute Guru – having built his first website in Primary School.
Sadly, I didn’t get to listen to Korryn’s talk because I was timing the Speakers in the other room, but I’ll certainly be tuning in to WordPress TV to catch up on it.
Closing Remarks
At the end of the two days, the Organisers summed up the successful weekend.
Should I have been surprised by these stats?
440 registrations – making it Australia’s Biggest Wordcamp (well done Brisbane!!!)
An astonishing 1050 coffees consumed in two days! – I hope the Sponsors are aware of how many lives they may have saved – mine included.
Everyone I spoke to as I helped with the packing up, whether they were first-time attendees or old masters, agreed that the weekend had been amazing!
And the outcome of two fabulous days of WordCamp Brisbane?
Sponsors:
took care of the sustenance and hydration of all who attended WCBNE2019
cemented relationships with current and new clients
answered technical questions
took care of the recording of each session
taught us how to pick a lock – yep! – and I now have the hardware to do it
Speakers:
shared their knowledge, thereby creating a lot of ‘ah ha!’ moments
provided shortcuts for WordPress users and website developers
answered a lot of questions
Organisers breathed a heavy sigh of relief in the knowledge that the countless hours of preparation had paid off
Volunteers hung up their high-viz vests and promised their tired feet a restful night
Old and new friends:
networked
shared tech stories
vowed to meet again at another WordCamp
Attendees gathered up their swag, said their goodbyes, and wondered how such an amazing weekend could cost so little.
And each one of us gave thanks for the overwhelming amount of knowledge we had acquired over the two full days of presentations
Okay – so how much did it cost?
Right at the outset I promised to tell you the important bit – The Cost! – and here it is.
I’ve described the:
pre-party
after-party
morning teas (times 2)
lunches (times 2)
afternoon teas (times 2)
coffees (1050 served over 2 days)
high-calibre speakers, both national and international
swag
hire of venue
tech-gurus on hand to answer questions
tech-gurus recording the sessions for catch-up on WordPress TV after the event
And the cost of all this?
$50.00!!!
That’s It!
Not per-day…
Total!!
And you wonder why WordCamp is the highlight of my year?
I buy my ticket as soon as they go on sale!
I’ve volunteered in other years and had to tell people that we can’t sell them a ticket at the door because tickets sold out weeks before.
I’ll keep you posted on when WordCamp Brisbane 2020 is happening so you can jump in and get your ticket.
If you live anywhere else in the world, check out a city near you for a forthcoming WordCamp.
But get your ticket early!
And so for another year, another successful WordCamp Brisbane has signed off.
And it wouldn’t have happened without the combined effort of the Organisers, Sponsors, Volunteers, Caterers, Coffee Wagon and especially – Attendees.
I am already looking forward to WordCamp Brisbane 2020!
WordPress is introducing Gutenberg as a new way to add and edit content on WordPress websites, based on a Block Editor concept. The full WordPress 5.0 version isn’t available yet, but the (Beta) Plugin is. When WordPress 5.0 arrives, Gutenberg will be built-in to it, and it will change the way we build WordPress websites.
Disclaimer:
I’m not an expert in Gutenberg, or creating websites. This post is simply to show you how a novice website builder (me), has installed the Gutenberg plugin, and started using it right from the get-go. I created this page on my iPad Pro, not a desktop or laptop, so if things look different on your screen – that might be why.
MD
At the WordPress Meetups I attend, I’ve been hearing about how good Gutenberg is going to be. And when I found out that a Gutenberg (Beta) plugin was available, I thought about installing it – but I didn’t.
I sat back for a while, and waited
Eventually, curiosity got the better of me, and I installed the plugin. And then I sat back again, and waited. Installing a new plugin is one thing; activating it is something else.
I was a bit hesitant because I had read some reviews that hinted that it wasn’t quite ready – one review even suggesting that it might break your website. I was excited about trying it, but certainly didn’t want my site to ‘break’, even though I’m not sure what a broken site looks like.
When the videos from WordCamp Sydney 2018 were released recently, I couldn’t wait to see them. I followed the link to YouTube and tuned in to see the Panel Q&A on Gutenberg. An experienced website builder gave it the thumbs up – having activated the plugin – with no adverse effects on her site.
That was all the encouragement I needed. I activated the plugin and figured out where to start. Super fast – super easy.
So what does Gutenberg do?
Right out of the box, I began by adding a Quote to a blog post I had started a few days before I downloaded the plugin.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert Einstein
All I had to do was just click on the + sign, and add a block to write a Quote in. What makes it really easy is being able to add the author of the quote, in a pre-determined place. Before Gutenberg, I used to spend a lot of time trying to make sure the author tag stayed close to the quote, without being picked up in the formatting assigned to the quote itself, usually a Heading. With the Gutenberg block – it’s all taken care of.
It doesn’t matter that I started the blog using the traditional method – Gutenberg just slid into place, effortlessly.
And to see if using Gutenberg from scratch is just as easy, this post was created using Gutenberg – from beginning to end. It couldn’t have been easier.
Block-based, and easy
It’s the blocks that make Gutenberg easy to use. Instead of building a page in a single block, Gutenberg provides multiple blocks for adding text, images and quotes (plus a whole lot more). By having everything in blocks, I can move them up or down the page without having to mess around with cutting and pasting.
Each item is in its own block. This paragraph is in one block, and the images (below) are in their own. This gives me the flexibility to move things around without the risk of losing the whole page, or messing things up.
It gives the page flexibility
Adding a new paragraph still works the same way. Hitting the Enter or Return button moves the cursor down to the starting point of the new paragraph. But instead of continuing the text in the same Block as the previous paragraph, Gutenberg slips a new block in, without you even noticing – until you want to change something. When you click on the paragraph, you open up the Block – and the manoeuvreability comes into play. You can easily change the paragraph to a heading, or move the block up or down the page, or even convert the text to a list.
Adding a photo
Just click on the plus-sign to add a Block and the available options open up. Select the Image icon, and add your photo. You still have the same features – either select a photo or image from your Media Library or upload a new image. It’s all just easier with Gutenberg.
I Love It!
This is only scratching the very outer layer of what the Gutenberg plugin can do. I have only played around with the parts that are relevant to me, right now. As my needs grow, so will my learning.
In writing this naiive and humble outline of my short journey with Gutenberg, I hope I have inspired you to get that domain name you’ve been thinking about, download WordPress and the Gutenberg Plugin, and start creating your own website.
And for the more experienced WordPress website creators, I can’t wait to read about your journey with the new Gutenberg (Beta) Plugin.
In today’s blog post I’m supposed to answer a question that comes up often in my comments. I don’t have the answer. In fact, I don’t even have the question. But what I do have is a question of my own. It’s a question that I ask myself constantly.
How the heck do you work out the Comments section on a blog site?
This is the one thing that has kept me up at night since the Blog Challenge started. I have ‘plugged-in’, tweaked, and deleted everything that isn’t nailed down in the back-end of my site, and still I haven’t worked it out. I was lucky enough to be able to sit down with my tech-guru on the weekend (thanks Ricky), who went straight to the source of the problem. He unchecked a box here, checked a box there, and Voila!, I was able to find the comments, under the heading of Comments. I walked away from the table, confident that I would now be able to see the comments people have been leaving, and know where to find them in future.
Problem solved – Except?
I still can’t get the comments to land on my actual blog page. I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. When I didn’t know much about my website, and my site was much more simple, comments used to just land at the bottom of the blog post. I would approve, or not approve them, and that would be it. But when I got a bit more technical and started adding more Plug-ins, the wheels started falling off the wagon. It seems that plug-ins, much like humans, have fall-outs with each other. And when they don’t get along, or stop talking to each other, it gets ugly.
And there, in a nutshell, is my problem.
How do I get the Comments to land at the bottom of a blog post on a WordPress Website?
All answers to this problem will be gratefully accepted, and I thank you in advance!
I can’t resist a challenge! – well, as long as the challenge fits within the reasonable limits of my comfort zone. A recent email had the word ‘Challenge’ in it, so naturally it got my attention. The email was a call to action to sign up for the July Ultimate Blog Challenge. It sounded simple enough – write a blog each day for thirty-one days – so I signed up. But it’s the ‘each day’ bit where I usually come unravelled. I’ve been known to set all sorts of agendas to keep me on track, but my creative-train is easily derailed. It doesn’t take much: an invitation here, a slack day there, and before I know it – I’m panicking about a deadline.
I can usually get the writing part done reasonably fast, but it’s the other bits that make the difference between meeting deadlines – and hearing them whoosh by.
The Support I Need
My websites are built on the WordPress platform, simply because the support from WordPress is phenomenal. WordPress Meetups and WordPress WordCamps are for learning new things, as well as getting answers to questions and solutions to problems. Meetups are held monthly in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, so I get two opportunities a month to learn something new.
WordCamp Brisbane 2017
WordCamps are less frequent, usually once a year in any city, and provide a weekend of learning. You have the opportunity to attend as many talks as you can comfortably fit in over two days. Everything from novice topics, to the highest level for developers, is covered at WordCamp. While costs might vary slighltly in some cities, I only paid $50 for the WordCamps I attended, and that covered admission, food, after-party, t.shirt and lots of swag (that’s tech talk for freebies – thank you WordPress!). Generous sponsors contribute to the cost of the event so that we can attend without breaking the bank – and they bring lots of swag too – (thank you sponsors!).
Smart-casual wear is fine for the After Party (WordCamp Brisbane 2017)
Getting your ducks in a row before you hit the ‘Publish’ button.
Okay, these are Canada Geese, but you get the picture, right?
The real value of Meetups and WordCamps is the networking. It’s the people you meet before and after each session that really makes the difference. The true value of networking, according to networking guru Sally Eberhardt, is the sharing of ideas and information. And I couldn’t agree more.
At WordCamp Sunshine Coast 2016, I met some other bloggers during one of the coffee breaks. One of them shared some valuable information about a Plugin that monitors the readability and the ‘find-ability’ of your website – (thanks Di Hill). I downloaded and have been using Yoast ever since. When I get the readability right, I get a green light, and another green light when I have all the right elements to make my site more ‘findable’. With WordPress websites, adding a Plugin or two is easy, but since I plugged-in Yoast, the days of writing a quick blog have ended. If I choose to ignore the suggestions, I can still write and publish a fast blog. When I follow the suggestions, it slows things down, but it is SO worth it. When you get all your ducks in a row, you get a green light. I love that green light!
I’ve been limbering up for long enough..
… now it’s time to get out on the track, and start sprinting.
My random blog posts have probably been a bit too random lately and need reining in a bit (okay – a lot!). While I was holidaying overseas earlier this year, I signed up for the Ultimate Blog Challenge for January. It seemed like a great idea at the time. Piece of cake, I thought; I have plenty to write about; I can do this. Then disaster struck. I broke my wrist and ended up in a full cast. The cast started at my shoulder and ended just above my fingers, with a quirky bend at the elbow. I couldn’t tie my hair back with one hand – it just can’t be done, but I managed to type – very s-l-o-w-l-y. So I wrote blogs for the challenge. I didn’t manage every day; in fact I didn’t even get half-way, but I gave it a good shot.
At the time, I was also negotiating with the Travel Insurance company to get me home for possible surgery. I’ve used the same company for years and now I know why. They organised amazing flights and took care of everything I would need for a very comfortable trip home. I managed to dodge the surgery, but that’s another story. It would have been great to have seen more of Seattle, but I will remember with fondness the people I met while I was there. It’s the people you meet that make the difference between a good trip, and a great trip.
So let the Ultimate Blog Challenge begin!
Hopefully I will make it through to the end of July with thirty-one new posts, all my ducks in a row, and have successfully completed the July Ultimate Blog Challenge. My floors might not get up-close-and-personal with the vacuum cleaner for the entire month, and I might be living on cheese and crackers, but (hopefully) I will have thirty-one new blog posts completed by the time July bids us farewell. And with the first day of the new month just one sleep away, well at least here in the Southern Hemisphere, I’m starting to panic already.
I can do this! I can do this! I (think) I can do this. And the only way to do it is roll my sleeves up, and start; so let the Ultimate Blog Challenge begin!
These are ducks! – but they’re not exactly in a row – yet.
Journey through the July Ultimate Blog Challenge with me:by subscribing to my Blog.
