The earliest act of creativity in many humans is the use of the building block, an abstract object used to create any structure imaginable. Maybe you used blocks to build an ancient fortress, or maybe you just experimented and just stacked the blocks together to see what happens. Minimal shapes like the building block poke at the curious mind, allowing the user to project whatever structure they see in their mind.
About WordPress Blocks
WordPress makes use of a digital version of these building blocks, aptly titled the WordPress Block Editor. This tool graced WordPress users in 2018, with WordPress 5.0, and added a whole new dimension of interactivity for the site. These blocks are abstract but readily available to use functions that can be added to your WordPress post or page like bricks in a wall. These blocks can be a large number of things, almost an overwhelming amount. Luckily, any user can simply click the upper-left plus button to open a navigation menu. Here you can explore all the different blocks at your disposal, or use the search engine to find exactly what you’re looking for. WordPress blocks are able to keep up with the increasing number of new users by giving them these easy to use options.
How To Build With Blocks
If you want to edit your blocks, take a gander at the right side menu, which is comprised of two navigation pages. The post navigation menu is used to make overall changes to your page. Right at the top you can set your featured image, the picture that visitors of your site will see when looking through your blogs. You can even quickly add an excerpt describing the image. This is also how you categorize your page and add tags to make for easier searching. The other menu is for specific blocks. Just click on any of your blocks, then head on over to right side menu to make adjustments. You can make basic changes such as changing the color of text or creating a colored background. You can also change the size of your text or give it a new font. There are plenty of options for text decoration that you can play around this. Also feel free to play around with margins or border size, whatever you can do to make your writing look eye-catching.
Now Picture This
WordPress’ Block Editor allows the user to insert pictures as their own blocks or as part of an existing block. Most blog runners are going to want to have visuals to complement their ideas, and knowing where to put them in a way that isn’t distracting but is still eye-catching is key. You can choose the size and shape of your image, as well as its relation to the text. You can also add captions, and these can be under the text or over the text.
Now placing your image is not as simple as just placing it where you want. Putting your image to the side of the text can cause problems with the size of an image. As you can see with the example up above, an image may show up tiny in the published site. You’ll need to make use of the columns block, which can allow your image to be placed in its own block besides the text. This might not seem inherently intuitive so its good to get that understanding in now. So feel free to experiment with your pictures, as visuals go a long way in giving your posts flavor.
The Intimidation of Imagination
Blocks are deceptively complicated to use. Block usage is instantaneous, but using them effectively can be a bit of a learning curve. The large assortment of blocks available can be seen as a goldmine for interactivity, but also an intimidating onslaught of gimmicks to the untrained eye. Users that are new to WordPress might not be sure the correct blocks to use in order to make their posts pop in a way that is not distracting. Essentially, endless options can create endless consideration, which can’t be good for productivity. This is why classes like CTEC160 are helpful to have, but other resources such as WordPress Adventures can come in clutch as well. Feel free to explore, but also consider doing your research before diving right in.
The minimalism of this editor allows you to work with a blank slate, free of clutter, but it also requires a more curious user. The more knowledgeable you are of the somewhat hidden features, the more you’ll get out of this.
In conclusion, WordPress’ Block Editor is an intuitive, if slightly intimidating, tool for personalizing your site and posts. You have a lot of options here that can make creating posts fun and playful, just keep in mind that its not as simple as it initially presents itself to be.
