What’s the Word: Introducing the Monthly WordPrompt

Your regular dose of tips,

tutorials, and inspiration.

Welcome to another edition of What's the Word!

In this issue we're introducing a new monthly blogging prompt, putting out a call for storytellers of all kinds, reframing how you view website building, sharing a brilliant new story from The Atavist, and more.

Let's jump right in!

Introducing the Monthly WordPrompt

Each month, we'll be bringing you a single word that serves as a prompt for your writing, your art, your coding — whatever it is that makes you, you.

For March, the WordPrompt is: BRIDGE.

Use that word as a jumping off point to publish a new post, whether you're a lifestyle blogger or a foodie, a photographer or a poet. However you create, be sure to add the tag #WordPrompt to your post and join others on WordPress.com using the prompt. Next month, we'll share a few of our favorites!

Write a Post

Calling All Storytellers

We're looking to partner with you — readers of this newsletter — to produce content that shares your stories and platforms! Do you keep a dedicated blog for your hobby? Maybe you've started an online business and launched your dream brand. Perhaps you run an online community. If you'd like to collaborate with us to produce and share content about your WordPress.com experience, we'd love to hear from you!

Fill out a short form and if it seems like there's a good fit, we'll reach out to discuss how we can work together:

Collaborate With Us

Website Building as a Hobby

It can cost a lot of money to build a website with a professional designer and developer. Average prices range from $3,000 to $15,000 and even much higher, depending on your needs. That's a lot of money!

So it makes sense if you want to play around with your website and try to learn things DIY-style. But it can be frustrating when you don't know much about design, or coding (which isn't really necessary, but it is kind of fun!), or about using WordPress blocks, for instance.

Here's a tip to make it less frustrating: rather than thinking about this DIY process as work, think of it as a hobby or a craft. You have to study up on the proper tools, practice your new skills, and iterate with what you've learned. So, join a webinar (see below for details), take a course, or gain some basic coding skills with Codecademy. Then it's as simple as taking the time to experiment!

__________

Of course, if you'd rather just have our professionals design your site, we're happy to help, for a fraction of the cost that I mentioned above. In fact, you can get a professionally designed, mobile-optimized website in about four business days for a one-time fee of $499. Click below to learn more:

Build My Website for Me

Join Our WordPress Experts for Free Webinars!

We're committed to making your website dreams a reality. Whether you're a blogger, small business owner, or artist, we want to provide you with the best tools and tips possible. Our free daily webinars are informative and interactive, providing you with the knowledge you need to succeed. From website building 101, to making money online, to blogging, and more, we cover the gamut.

Take a look at out our full schedule of webinars and get registered today:

Join a Webinar

Read (and Write for) the Best of the Web

Attention, all essayists: Longreads, Automattic's publication celebrating the best writing on the web, is looking for you! Whether you're a new or established writer, check out their call for submissions and submit your best personal, reported, or critical essay.

If you're more in the mood for reading than writing, The Atavist's gripping new story is hot off the presses. "The Voyagers" is the incredible tale of the first — and only — Russians to defect to the west over the icy Bering Strait.

Until next time,

Jeremy (and the entire crew at WordPress.com)