If there's such a thing as writer's block, then there can be such a thing as editor's block. And boy do I have editor's block. On February 18, 2020, I began updating my forgotten blog. I redesigned my portfolio back in 2019 before the year-end. Then I moved on to creating a new portfolio dedicated to UI/UX. And after completing the aforementioned, it was time to take notice of my neglected child, my blog, Let's Talk Design.
The changes I made to the aesthetics of the blog were superficial but led to more appeal overall. I did have to take time out converting it from a Jekyll blog. The next important edit was to the copy. I went through each post, rereading my old writing. Looking back at anything you've done in the past can be painful. What was I thinking then? It took a lot of effort to reread my post and edit not just the grammar but also the core of the content. I checked if the tone and views matched with how I currently present myself. Was the writing still "on-brand"? I reviewed the meta tags, imagery, and social media link previews. I did an audit of whether external links were broken or needed to be updated. By the end, I needed a break from editing.
I was motivated to edit my blog after considering how I come across online. If something has your name on it, please be mindful of how you're portrayed. Though this blog isn't what stands out on top when you search my name, I still knew it existed. My more prominent portfolios appear in search results alongside my social media account. One of which is Medium and has my more refined public-facing writing.
Before editing, I also thought about the chance of anyone being able to come across the blog. I often find a graphic designer, web developer or even creative director I'm intrigued about and search for any information I can find about them. Social media and portfolios are usually at the top of the results. Followed by mentions in interviews, events, and speaking functions. I'm the type to go beyond the first page of Google results. I'd noticed some of them occasionally wrote posts about their design process, current projects, showcases or other topics of interest. Most often the blogs were no longer being updated but their writing remained on the internet. That, of course, isn't a bad thing. I'm able to learn about their early career, pick up cool information, and see what they once wrote.
I was also motivated to write again. Currently, I'm going through a bit of a career shift and have been doing a lot of self-reflection. I learned new development languages and was improving as a designer. I got deeper into user experience and interface and was curious about how to share my findings beyond a short tweet. When motivation did strike to write a post, I'd look at my blog and soon advise myself against it. I argued I should at least tweak the design, and at most edit what I had written.
So there you have it. My reasons for updating and editing my blog. With a sprinkle of life lessons on being aware of what exists with your name on it. It's okay, if like myself, you have a blog or project that has landed into the neglected pile. Just make sure you'd be proud of it if a curious Googler stumbled across it online. If you do get time, feel free to look it over and make edits as I did.
