I started this project by setting up all the required pages and making sure the basic structure of the site was up and running before focusing on content. Clicking through the pages first showed me how a reader would navigate the site, which allowed me to then revise the writing. Once the pages were properly in place, I focused on editing content, reorganizing sections, and moving images around so that each page would feel more balanced and easier to read.
Next, I chose the Hemingway theme out of the preset Appearance options because it has a simple layout and works well for a writing-focused site. This decision aligns with the University of Maryland Baltimore’s web-writing guidelines, which prioritizes clear layouts, short paragraphs, and minimal distractions so that readers can skim content more easily. I also replaced the default farmhouse image with a picture of a pink full moon, since it reflects the tone of my site better while showing more intention and personality without overwhelming the content.
For my About Page, I recalled Susan Greene’s notes on effective “About Us” pages, especially the part about avoiding hype and focusing rather on clarity, values, and useful information. I aimed to clearly explain the purpose of the site and my goals as a writer without the need for exaggerated broad claims. This gave the page a fun, informative feel.
When it came to my writing sample, I followed the article from the Indeed editorial team, which suggests selecting a concise piece that best represents your work without being so long that it runs the risk of boring your readers. I chose a focused sample that reflects my writing style and revised it to ensure headers, formatting, and images were all aesthetically pleasing and placed where I wanted them. Throughout the website, I added headers, bolded key sections, and simplified navigation to improve overall usability. So far, my revisions focus on clarity, user-friendly layout, and making the site function as a clean, creative digital space.
Metacritical Update: Vision for the Future
So far, my site portrays a clear personal voice and consistent theme across all pages. One of its strongest qualities is that it is designed to relay authenticity in the form of my real life goals and areas of interest rather than try to be something it’s not; not overly formal, no self-promotion like modern day social media platforms like IG or LinkedIn.
My content mirrors my real personality, which could facilitate a real connection with visitors while also making the site a fun place to explore. Navigation is straightforward, and the structure permits for users to move between sections with the click of a button. Overall, my site succeeds in presenting a cohesive identity.
Still, there are areas where the site could be improved. Some pages would benefit from stronger content chunking, such as shorter paragraphs, additional spacing, or more subheadings. Web writing guidance suggests that readers often skim content, so making the text easier to skim would enhance readability.
Visual hierarchy could be made stronger by emphasizing key information through formatting choices like headings, spacing, or bold and italic fonts. That way, users would feel more comfortable when exploring my site.
Another thing I could do is bring some variety into my pages. As it stands, all my pages have the same background, the same default setting as the homepage. I want my blog to look distinct from my pages. I want the homepage to look like the homepage; a real difference from the blog but maybe it could stay in the same visual category as the Contact and About pages.
With minor refinements, I think I could take my site from a default Word Press prototype to a real Angel Fire sparkle glitter experience.
Final Metacritical Reflection
The first change I made to my final site version was the addition of images to my home and author bio page. According to the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), images and graphics “make content more pleasant and easier to understand for many people… in particular for those with cognitive and learning disabilities.” How could I introduce myself or my website to audiences without an accompanying image? This way, comprehension can reach a wider range of audiences beyond the need for words.
The photo I selected for my “Author Bio” was also at the top of one of my blog posts (“Ultra, Ultra, Ultra Music Festival”) so, to avoid needless repetition, I replaced the blog selfie with a photo of Ultra’s Main stage at peak fireworks at night.
I also broke up the paragraphs of texts with more images from this year’s festival. According to University of Maryland, Baltimore’s “Best Practices for Web Writing,” “…add fresh content (text, images, video) as often as possible.”
This reinforces trust with the user and makes my content appear up-to-date and sharp.
Next, I noticed my side bar looked messed up. It lacked a title, it had blank spaces where it looked like titles should go, and more importantly, it did not list all of my blog entries. Katy Cowan emphasized the importance of an organized blog space in her article, “Top Tips for a Successful Blog.” She stated, “…when designing your blog — either creating one from scratch or using any of the free blogging platforms online — try and keep the layout clean, fresh and uncluttered.”
I edited my side bar under Appearance > Widgets > Side Bar. I gave it a title, “Recent Posts,” and I enabled the features “Display post date” and “Display featured image”. I changed the number of visible items from 5 to 20, allowing for all my blog entries to be visible dating back to February. I selected “Update” to lock in my changes. I noticed grey lines were still visible, giving the side bar an unfinished appearance, so I went back into the widget editor one last time to remove them by “cutting” the boxes.
I even personalized the search bar button with something I might say to a user if we were out at a show or festival, “Let’s go!” Small stylistic choice like this one preserved a consistent voice/presence throughout my site.
I reviewed all pages and posts to ensure all had clean headings, paragraphs, chunking, sufficient white space, and easy navigation for a seamless user experience.
Finally, I made small revisions to my page titles and wording to make them as clear and direct as possible. According to WordStream, optimizing content for search engines can improve both visibility and clarity. Instead of using vague or overly stylized titles, I focused on clearly naming topics like “music festivals” in order to intentionally make the site content easier for readers and search engines to find.
Website Checklist
Works Cited
Cowan, Katy. “Top Tips for a Successful Blog.” The Guardian, 17 Nov. 2011,
https://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2011/nov/17/top-tips-successful-blog.
Greene, Susan. “How to Write a Killer ‘About Us’ Page.” Susan Greene Copywriter, https://www.susangreenecopywriter.com/articles/write-killer-about-us-page.html.
“Guide to Submitting a Writing Sample.” Indeed Career Guide, Indeed, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/guide-to-submitting-a-writing-sample.
University of Maryland, Baltimore. “Best Practices for Web Writing.” Website Manual,
https://www.umaryland.edu/cpa/website-manual/prepare/web-writing/.
WordStream. “The Expert’s Guide to Keyword Research for SEO Copywriting.” WordStream, www.wordstream.com/articles/keyword-research-for-seo-copywriting.
World Wide Web Consortium. “Images Tutorial.” W3C Web Accessibility Initiative,
https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/.