Publishing Checklist

Publishing Checklist

Use this checklist before publishing a new Blackthorn Field Notes post.

File and Front Matter

  • Filename follows _posts/YYYY-MM-DD-short-title.md
  • layout: post is present
  • Title is clear, human, and accurate
  • Date is correct
  • Categories match the established site category names
  • Tags are useful and not excessive
  • Description is present and works as a one-sentence preview
  • Image is included only if the image path is real

Category Standards

Use category names consistently so category pages continue to work.

Common pairings:

categories: [disability, advocacy]
categories: [technology, systems]
categories: [relationships, boundaries]
categories: [healthcare, accessibility]
categories: [personal-essays]

Other supported categories include:

advocacy
accessibility
boundaries
disability
healthcare
personal-essays
relationships
survival
systems
technology

Accessibility and Reader Support

  • Does this post need a plain-language summary?
  • Does this post need a content note?
  • Headings are descriptive and useful
  • Links use meaningful text, not vague text like “click here”
  • Any images have meaningful alt text or are decorative
  • Read-aloud controls still make sense for the post
  • Save as PDF / print output is reasonable

Plain-Language Summary

Use plain_summary when a post is long, emotionally dense, concept-heavy, or likely to benefit from a quick orientation.

Example:

plain_summary: "This article explains how healthy relationships require shared responsibility, repair, and emotional accountability."

Content Note Review

Ask whether the post discusses any of the following:

  • Trauma
  • Abuse
  • Emotional conflict
  • Relationship instability
  • Healthcare distress
  • Medical fear
  • Self-harm or suicide
  • Grief
  • Sexual harm
  • Violence
  • Discrimination
  • Poverty
  • Food insecurity
  • Housing instability
  • Disability-related harm

If yes, consider adding a brief, neutral content_note.

Example:

content_note: "Discusses emotional conflict, trauma responses, and relationship instability."

Content notes should be clear but not graphic. They should help readers make informed choices without turning the note itself into another source of distress.

Body Review

  • Opening hook is strong
  • Main point is clear
  • Personal/systemic example is grounded
  • The system failure is named
  • Why it matters is explained
  • What needs to change is practical and specific
  • Closing thought lands cleanly
  • No manual subscribe/share/support footer is included inside the post
  • Repetition is intentional, not accidental
  • Tone is clear, human, direct, emotionally honest, systems-aware, and unapologetic without becoming cruel

Final QA

  • Preview the post on mobile
  • Preview the post on desktop
  • Confirm dark/light mode readability
  • Confirm links open correctly
  • Confirm categories display correctly
  • Confirm RSS/feed updates after publishing
  • Confirm the post appears in Latest Field Notes