After lots of trial and error with WordPress this weekend, the domain – maryannschroder.com – represents an initial phase. I’m reasonably satisfied with the format and glad that everything “works” in terms of navigating. There are only two items posted. One is the “About” section and the other a piece under “Essays”.
I went by just the description in the syllabus of what a web portfolio should be (in addition to googling for some ideas, which did not prove particularly helpful). I understand that it should be a place to display work for the purpose of promoting oneself professionally. And that sounds good to me! Although there is not much content as of yet, I look forward to adding more and to getting feedback about how to best present oneself.
Hi Mary Ann! Congratulations on getting a WordPress up and running. I know from experience how frustrating it can be to get WordPress to do what you want it to do. But as you play around with it a little more, you’ll find it really can do some cool things.
I had a couple of thoughts about your portfolio. First, I wonder if you might consider including a photo of yourself on the homepage. The calendar graphic is a little impersonal, and I wonder if I didn’t know you would that invite me to stay on your site? Second, I’d recommend playing around with the various layout templates WordPress has to offer. I personally am not a huge fan of khaki brown sort of colors, and I think you’d find that other templates offer you more in terms of being able to have a cover photo, etc. on the homepage. Just play around with it–you can always change it back! (I find it kind of fun. But I’m a dork.)
Lastly, I positively adored your story “Johnny.” As an Athens-area native, I grew up far enough away from town where, when we came to town for an event of some kind, I too was always told to roll up my windows and lock my doors when passing homeless individuals on street corners. We were far enough away from day to day town life that the homeless population seemed foreign and dangerous (ain’t no street corners in Madison County, yall. Lots of dirt roads.). It took me beginning to work in restaurants downtown when I was 18 to learn to judge the homeless population as individuals and not as a group threat of some kind, so your story truly spoke to me. Thank you for talking about this topic so openly. You have a wonderful voice. Keep it up!
Hi Shelby, Thanks for the encouragement. I’m going to update the site in a few days and will keep those ideas in mind. I thought everyone loved khaki brown (haha!). I also very much appreciate your thoughts about the Johnny story. It’s very meaningful to me to hear your thoughts … Maryann