This document provides guidelines for editing KRNL's lifestyle and fashion blog. It outlines the tools and processes used, including Grammarly for editing, Trello for submissions and tracking work, Google Calendar for scheduling posts, and Wix for publishing. The summary details how writers submit work to Trello, editors then edit submissions on Wix, schedule posts, and update Trello and Google sheets for tracking. It also covers onboarding new writers and sending weekly email updates.
2. Grammarly
● Grammarly is what we recommend using to edit grammatical, spelling, and
phrasing errors. You can use Grammarly through the website, or through Chrome
by adding the extension directly to your browser, so that you do not have to open
the website separately. We recommend that blog writers use this software as
well.
Trello
● Trello is where blog writers will submit work, where submission weeks will be set
up, ideas can be placed, and other information can be shared. Writers submit on
a bi-weekly basis, so the lists are for those weeks.
https://trello.com/b/ZJEBJ7Bx/krnl-blogs
● Writers will add a card under the appropriate submission
week, add themselves as a member, add their article to the
description box, add photos as attachments, and add any
relevant links.
● You will take the writers’ work from Trello and place it on our
WiX site.
● As you receive and edit work, you can use the labels for each
card to keep track of the process.
3.
Google Calendar
● Part of the editing process is scheduling the blog on the KRNL Blog Google
Calendar by creating an event for the social team to see in order to post about
the blog.
● We plan the blog posts to be published at 12pm on weekdays, and if there are
enough in one week, we schedule them for 1pm, 2pm, and so on. We start with
one per day, however.
After you have scheduled the post, go back to Trello to label it as “Scheduled on
Calendar/REMIND TO SOCIAL”
4. Wix Site
● Once logged into Wix, you will see “My Sites.” You will click on the first site titled
KRNL L&F to work with blogs.
● From there, you will click Blog on the left-hand side of the page and it will take
you to the previously published blogs.
5. ● Click create new post in the top right corner.
● Copy and paste the title and description (article) from Trello into the new post.
● Here, you can edit, space, and fix anything necessary in the post. I like to space
out the blog quite a bit for easy-reading purposes.
○ The red lines under the words are my Grammarly extension suggestions. I
really like editing this way because you can see how the post will look
while editing - it’s all quick and cohesive!
6. To insert photos, I copy the image address from Trello, click the + sign on the post on
Wix, and the camera icon.
● To upload the photo, click
+ upload media (top left) and then click the link icon at the bottom left. There,
you can paste and import. Once it uploads to the gallery, you can click the photo
to insert it to the post.
● When the photo is in the post, I change the size to make it a little smaller just for
looks. You can size them however you see fit!
● The function bar that pops up when you hover the photo allows you to also place
the photo to the left or right of the page, rather than centered. I usually use this
function for posts with multiple photos! You can add a link to the photo within
this function bar as well.
Some blogs will have multiple photos, so just repeat this process by clicking the + icon
in the location you wish to place a photo. Writers are usually good about identifying
which photo should go with which section (i.e. fashion posts, lists).
7. ● Next, you should add the writer’s name to the post by clicking the settings button
on the left-side menu.
● On that same menu screen, you can click categories to have the post appear
under the appropriate section on the website.
● These aren’t too specific and many posts can be under more than one category!
● With lists in a blog, I like to emphasize them to be subheadings. You can do this
by highlighting the phrase and using functions in the pop-up menu. I usually use
bold and the T² function to make it bigger.
● Feel free to play around and, once again, just do what you see is best for each
post!
8.
When you’ve fully edited the post with photos and all, you are ready to schedule it!
● Click the drop down arrow beside publish in the top right corner.
● Click schedule post.
● Click the date and time for the post to be published.
● Click schedule
Throughout the editing process, or after the post is scheduled, you can go back to Trello
and label the post as necessary. I usually use edited, saved as Wix draft, and scheduled
on Wix.
9. New Blog Writers
When a new writer reaches out or is sent your way by another staff member, start by
sending them the Onboarding Email.
Hi ____,
We would love to have you write for our KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion Blog!
We use Trello and GroupMe to help us manage our KRNL blog posts.
We require one article every other week (bi-weekly) on a weekday of your choice, by 12 p.m. EST.
You can see story ideas, submission dates, and the summer content on our KRNL Blogs Trello board.
In order to add your post to Trello, you will create a card under the appropriate submission week. Then, you will add a title and copy
and paste your finished blog into the description box on the card, not in the comments. You need to add yourself as a member of the
card with the story that you want to write about, so we can make sure we know who submitted it. We recommend that you use
Grammarly and proof-read your blog before pasting it to the Trello card.
Each story needs original artwork to go with it. We encourage personal photos, but you can pull from social media and Unsplash.
This information is on the “STORY REQUIREMENTS” card on Trello. You are more than welcome to do videos as well. Be sure to read
through the rest of the story requirements and submission process before you start your first story.
Content strategies:
1. Download Grammarly. This will save us a lot of editing and be beneficial for your writing overall.
2. Keep in touch with the season.
Seasons (Fall Decor, Summer Playlist, etc.)
Local events (Keeneland, Formals, etc.)
Entertainment events (Award shows, fashion shows, etc.)
3. But don’t be basic.
Check our website to see if that story has already written.
Keep your perspective fresh.
4. Share your work!
Family, friends, and colleagues love to see your work, and we think it’s something to be proud of! Share links to your posts (once
published) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Instagram stories are a great way to share with your followers what you’re up to.
Follow KRNL Lifestyle & Fashion on Twitter (@krnl_lf) and Instagram (@krnl_lf). Also, get at least 3 friends to follow us on both!
If this is still something you are interested in, reply with your phone number and the weekday that you want to submit on. Then, I will
add you to our Trello board and GroupMe.
If you have any questions, let me know! Thanks for your interest in writing for our blog!
Arizzona Albright
Assistant Blog Editor
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
Once the writer responds, you will add their name, email, and phone number to the
Google Sheet that keeps track of submissions.
10. Blog Submission Google Sheet
The submission Google Sheet keeps track of each writer’s submissions for payment
reasons and to track their consistency. The editor in chief, lifestyle editor, fashion
editor, and the blog editor should all have access to edit the sheet.
Using the columns, highlight the weeks that the writer submitted a blog, and darken
those who did not submit. It’s best to highlight the submission right after scheduling the
post, so you don’t forget to later on!
The day of the week that the writer chooses is optional, it was helpful in the beginning,
but no one really sticks to it so it’s totally up to your discretion if you want to enforce it!
Adding Writers to Wix
To ensure that the writer receives credit for his or her work on Wix, send them the link to
the Trello board along with this link to become a member on Wix.
https://www.krnlmagazine.com/members-1
From there, they can create an account and set up a profile so that their name appears
on the list of authors to choose from on a blog post.
11. Weekly Email Updates
Blog editors are responsible for updating blog writers on a weekly basis about
submission requirements, blog ideas, general KRNL updates, and writing tips.
Here is an example email:
Hi, writers!
Happy submission week!
This week will be our final mandatory submission week of the semester. Final's week will be an optional week due to the semester
wrapping up and everyone's schedules being hectic.
So, please attempt to turn something in the next few weeks so we can end our spring semester of KRNL blogs on a high note! I really
appreciate all the work you've all put into this, so I want to have a great turn out this week.
On top of that, if you are not graduating and want to continue to write for KRNL blogs during the summer, which maintains a more
flexible schedule, let me know! We are very relaxed during the summer but still want to put content out when possible. Summer
content seems to be more enjoyable to write about, so I encourage you all to stick around!
If you plan to write during the summer, please send me a private message on GroupMe with your first and last name and the best
email address to contact you.
Thank you all for your amazing work! Have a great week!
Arizzona Albright
Assistant Blog Editor
Content Team Member
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
The day of the week you choose to send the email is up to you. Obviously the content of
each email just depends on how everyone is doing and what all is happening at KRNL!
GroupMe
When I have a solid list of blog writers established, I set up a GroupMe to send short
messages and make sure they have read emails I send out. It’s just a second way to
keep in contact with everyone!