**UPDATE: You probably noticed I switched back to WordPress, BUT I still highly recommend that anyone thinking about starting a blog start with Ghost. It lets you focus on writing without any stress from dealing with plugins and hosting.
I was searching and praying, praying and searching for the perfect blogging platform. About a week ago, I was inspired by professional blogger, Katie of Preschool Inspirations to pursue my dream of writing and create a blog.
With several other WordPress sites under my belt, I know the platform pretty well. WordPress is a labyrinth of possibilities, with an almost endless amount of plugins and a huge open-source community. An up-and-coming blogger can create a powerful website using only freebies.
On WordPress I’m like a child in a candy shop: I lick every lollipop trying to find the perfect flavor and forget to eat my dinner…I hardly ever wrote!
The power behind WordPress is stunning, and if you want your website to be able to do it all, WordPress could be your best blog-building friend.
But for me, I knew I needed something with a little less sparkle and a lot more concrete.
That’s when my seldom used blog on Blogger popped into mind. Thanks to Blogger’s limited plugins and theme options settled the restless designer in me, and I actually had a decent amount of content written on the platform.
However, that idea lasted maybe 3 hours…
After (shockingly) remembering my password from eons ago, I logged in and grimaced at the dashboard. WordPress had spoiled me. I loved the Content Management System (CMS) of WordPress, and coming back to Blogger was like switching to PC after using a Macintosh for 8 years. (Lots of clicking, various head scratching, Googling, and hair pulling…Not a pretty sight.)
Even the built-in ad-sense support wasn’t enough to soothe my thirst for a clean and understandable dashboard.
With a restless spirit and heavy heart, I felt God calling me to wait. (I hate that call!)
Even though it felt like 7 months, in hindsight I didn’t have to wait long. The following week, during my weekly download of goodies from Creative Market, I noticed something strange about the free website template.
The template looked like a WordPress site, and was simple enough for Blogger, but in the description it said the theme said: “not compatible with WordPress or Blogger.” It was for a weird thing called GHOST.
Ghost? Never heard of it…
I was drawn in by their claim to be faster than WordPress, with a simpler CMS.
Does this mean I get to write? Have I actually found the *one?! (satisfies my needs as a designer without letting me get lost in the concept and potential of what could be.)
Yes. Yes, I believe I have found the one.
I think Ghost will become the new best friend for serious bloggers who just want to create quality content—who don’t need a store, or forum, or billions of other distracting goodies. The folks at Elegant Themes have a detailed list of comparisons between WordPress (the Goliath) and Ghost (the David).
For me, finding this new platform feels like a green-light to blast full speed ahead. Let’s see where the wind might take this.
Karianne is the founder of Windmill Ways. She plays the cello professionally and currently works as an Art Director for a charity. Because she loves animated shows and movies, she studies 3D animation and graduated with a BFA with the unfortunate class of 2020. Her dream vacation would be just staying home, but "home" being a glamorous cabin somewhere in the mountains surrounded by forest.
Favorite band: Lord Huron
Favorite book: This Present Darkness
Favorite quote: "Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:20-21 (NLT)
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2 Comments
Reading the “Switching from a Mac to a PC” makes me laugh now 😀
Haha. Yes, and it’s especially ironic since I moved back to WordPress…just can’t beat the functionality!