How to Create and Publish Your Blog Post

From no blog to new blog in minutes

This guide walks you through creating a Quarto blog post from scratch and getting it published. You do not need to install anything on your own computer — everything runs in your browser via RStudio Server.

Two separate things: submission and publication

Submitting for marking happens via Moodle — this is mandatory. Deadline: Monday 11 May, 12 noon.

Publishing on the blog is optional. If you want your post to appear on this site, follow the publication steps at the end of this guide.

What you need

Your Goldsmiths login (for RStudio Server)
A web browser
Your chosen target article
A .bib file with your references (see below)
At least one original visual aid you created

That is it. No software to install. No command line. No blog to new blog in minutes.

Step 1 — Open RStudio Server

Go to the Goldsmiths RStudio Server in your browser and log in with your Goldsmiths credentials.

What is RStudio Server?

It is a full copy of RStudio that runs on a university server. You access it through your browser like any other website. Your files are saved on the server, not your laptop — so you can work from any device.

Step 2 — Create a new Quarto Blog project

Click File -> New Project
Select New Directory
Select Quarto Blog
Give your project a name — use your surname and topic, e.g. wright-meditation
Click Create Project

RStudio creates a ready-to-use blog structure:

your-project/
  _quarto.yml          <- site settings (leave this alone)
  index.qmd            <- the listing page (leave this alone)
  about.qmd            <- an about page (optional)
  posts/               <- your post goes in here
    welcome/           <- a sample post (you can delete this)
  styles.css           <- styling (leave this alone)

Want to understand how Quarto blogs work?

The official Quarto documentation is excellent: Creating a Blog. It covers project structure, listings, categories, and RSS feeds. You do not need to read it for this assessment, but it is there if you are curious.

Step 3 — Create your post folder

Inside the posts/ folder:

Create a new subfolder named with your surname and topic — e.g. wright-meditation
Inside that subfolder, create a new file called index.qmd
Create an images/ subfolder for your visual aids

Your structure should look like this:

posts/
  wright-meditation/
    index.qmd            <- your post
    images/              <- your figures and visual aids
      cover.png          <- optional cover image for the listing
    references.bib       <- your reference file

Step 4 — Write the YAML header

Every post starts with a YAML header — the block between --- lines at the very top of your index.qmd file.

---
title: "Your Post Title Here"
author: "Your Name"
date: "2026-04-15"
description: "One sentence that appears in the post listing. Make it count."
categories: [meditation]
image: "images/cover.png"
bibliography: references.bib
toc: true
---

Field	Required	What it does
`title`	Yes	The headline of your post
`author`	Yes	Your name as it appears on the post
`date`	Yes	Must be `YYYY-MM-DD` format exactly
`description`	Yes	One-line summary shown in the listing
`categories`	Yes	Your module topic (see below)
`image`	No	Cover image shown in the listing grid
`bibliography`	Yes (if citing)	Path to your `.bib` file

Date format matters

Use YYYY-MM-DD exactly. Writing “15 April 2026” will break the build.

Categories for this module:

categories: [human-AI interaction]
categories: [meditation]
categories: [individual differences]
categories: [neuropsychology]
categories: [music psychology]
categories: [expert performance]
categories: [eyewitness testimony]
categories: [stalking]

Step 5 — Write your post

Write your science communication piece directly in index.qmd, below the YAML header.

Requirements

800–1000 words written for a non-expert audience
Written in the third person (you did not run the study)
Covers the research question, method, findings, and conclusions
At least one original visual aid you created
In-text citations and a full APA reference list

Adding images

Save your image in the images/ subfolder and include it:

![A clear caption describing what the figure shows.](images/your-figure.png)

Your visual aid can be a diagram, infographic, chart, or table — anything you created yourself. Canva, PowerPoint, Excel, Google Sheets, or R are all fine.

Citations and references

Add bibliography: references.bib to your YAML header (already done if you followed Step 4).

Create a references.bib file in your post folder. Each entry looks like this:

@article{condon2013,
  author  = {Condon, Paul and Desbordes, Gaelle and Miller, Willa B. and DeSteno, David},
  year    = {2013},
  title   = {Meditation increases compassionate responses to suffering},
  journal = {Psychological Science},
  volume  = {24},
  number  = {10},
  pages   = {2125--2127},
  doi     = {10.1177/0956797613485603}
}

Cite in text:

Meditation increased compassionate behaviour [@condon2013].

Condon and colleagues [-@condon2013] found that...

At the end of your post, add:

## References

::: {#refs}
:::

Quarto formats the reference list in APA style automatically.

Getting .bib entries

From Zotero: select your item -> right-click -> Export Item -> BibTeX -> save as references.bib.

From Google Scholar: search for the paper -> click the Cite icon (“) -> BibTeX -> copy the entry into your references.bib file. Check it carefully — Google Scholar sometimes has errors.

Step 6 — Preview your post

Click the Render button at the top of the editor in RStudio. This builds your site and opens a preview in your browser.

Check:

Your text appears correctly
Your image displays with its caption
Citations appear in the text
The reference list appears at the end
No error messages in the RStudio console

Something went wrong?

The most common errors: - Date format: must be YYYY-MM-DD - Missing closing ::: on a callout or div block - Wrong file path: check the image path matches exactly (case-sensitive) - Missing .bib entry: the citation key in your text must match the key in your .bib file

Step 7 — Submit for marking (required)

After rendering, find the HTML output in the Files pane
Tick the checkbox next to your post’s HTML file
Click More -> Export to download it
Submit the downloaded file via Moodle

Your reflection piece goes to the same Moodle submission page, same deadline: Monday 11 May, 12 noon.

Moodle is the only submission route

Work not submitted via Moodle will not be marked, regardless of whether it appears on the blog.

Step 8 — Publish on the blog (optional)

If you want your post published on this site:

In the RStudio Files pane, tick your entire post folder (e.g. posts/wright-meditation/)
Click More -> Export to download it as a zip file
Upload the zip to the PS51009D OneDrive folder

Gordon will review and add it to the site. You will be notified when it is live.

Optional features

These are not required for the assessment but are available if you want to go further. See the Formatting Guide for copy-paste code for every feature below.

Feature	What it does
Callout boxes	Highlight key terms, tips, warnings, or caveats
Pull quotes	Display a key sentence prominently
Tabset panels	Organise Method / Findings / Implications into tabs
TL;DR block	Three-bullet summary at the top of the post
Author card	Your name and bio at the end
Tables	Present key data from the study

Before you submit — checklist

800–1000 words, written in the third person
Covers research question, method, findings, and conclusions
At least one original visual aid you created
In-text citations throughout
Full APA reference list at the end
Reflection piece complete (480–600 words or 2.5–3 min recording)
Both components submitted via Moodle by Monday 11 May, 12 noon

--- title: "How to Create and Publish Your Blog Post" subtitle: "From no blog to new blog in minutes" toc: true toc-depth: 3 toc-location: left --- This guide walks you through creating a Quarto blog post from scratch and getting it published. You do not need to install anything on your own computer — everything runs in your browser via RStudio Server. ::: {.callout-note} ## Two separate things: submission and publication **Submitting for marking** happens via [Moodle](https://learn.gold.ac.uk/mod/coursework/view.php?id=1794744) — this is mandatory. Deadline: **Monday 11 May, 12 noon**. **Publishing on the blog** is optional. If you want your post to appear on this site, follow the publication steps at the end of this guide. ::: --- ## What you need - Your Goldsmiths login (for RStudio Server) - A web browser - Your chosen target article - A `.bib` file with your references (see below) - At least one original visual aid you created That is it. No software to install. No command line. **No blog to new blog in minutes.** --- ## Step 1 — Open RStudio Server Go to the Goldsmiths RStudio Server in your browser and log in with your Goldsmiths credentials. ::: {.callout-tip} ## What is RStudio Server? It is a full copy of RStudio that runs on a university server. You access it through your browser like any other website. Your files are saved on the server, not your laptop — so you can work from any device. ::: --- ## Step 2 — Create a new Quarto Blog project 1. Click **File -> New Project** 2. Select **New Directory** 3. Select **Quarto Blog** 4. Give your project a name — use your surname and topic, e.g. `wright-meditation` 5. Click **Create Project** RStudio creates a ready-to-use blog structure: ``` your-project/ _quarto.yml <- site settings (leave this alone) index.qmd <- the listing page (leave this alone) about.qmd <- an about page (optional) posts/ <- your post goes in here welcome/ <- a sample post (you can delete this) styles.css <- styling (leave this alone) ``` ::: {.callout-tip} ## Want to understand how Quarto blogs work? The official Quarto documentation is excellent: [Creating a Blog](https://quarto.org/docs/websites/website-blog.html). It covers project structure, listings, categories, and RSS feeds. You do not need to read it for this assessment, but it is there if you are curious. ::: --- ## Step 3 — Create your post folder Inside the `posts/` folder: 1. Create a new subfolder named with your surname and topic — e.g. `wright-meditation` 2. Inside that subfolder, create a new file called `index.qmd` 3. Create an `images/` subfolder for your visual aids Your structure should look like this: ``` posts/ wright-meditation/ index.qmd <- your post images/ <- your figures and visual aids cover.png <- optional cover image for the listing references.bib <- your reference file ``` --- ## Step 4 — Write the YAML header Every post starts with a YAML header — the block between `---` lines at the very top of your `index.qmd` file. ```yaml --- title: "Your Post Title Here" author: "Your Name" date: "2026-04-15" description: "One sentence that appears in the post listing. Make it count." categories: [meditation] image: "images/cover.png" bibliography: references.bib toc: true --- ``` | Field | Required | What it does | |-------|----------|-------------| | `title` | Yes | The headline of your post | | `author` | Yes | Your name as it appears on the post | | `date` | Yes | Must be `YYYY-MM-DD` format exactly | | `description` | Yes | One-line summary shown in the listing | | `categories` | Yes | Your module topic (see below) | | `image` | No | Cover image shown in the listing grid | | `bibliography` | Yes (if citing) | Path to your `.bib` file | ::: {.callout-warning} ## Date format matters Use `YYYY-MM-DD` exactly. Writing "15 April 2026" will break the build. ::: **Categories for this module:** ```yaml categories: [human-AI interaction] categories: [meditation] categories: [individual differences] categories: [neuropsychology] categories: [music psychology] categories: [expert performance] categories: [eyewitness testimony] categories: [stalking] ``` --- ## Step 5 — Write your post Write your science communication piece directly in `index.qmd`, below the YAML header. ### Requirements - **800--1000 words** written for a non-expert audience - Written in the **third person** (you did not run the study) - Covers the **research question, method, findings, and conclusions** - At least one **original visual aid** you created - **In-text citations** and a full **APA reference list** ### Adding images Save your image in the `images/` subfolder and include it: ```markdown ![A clear caption describing what the figure shows.](images/your-figure.png) ``` Your visual aid can be a diagram, infographic, chart, or table — anything you created yourself. Canva, PowerPoint, Excel, Google Sheets, or R are all fine. ### Citations and references Add `bibliography: references.bib` to your YAML header (already done if you followed Step 4). Create a `references.bib` file in your post folder. Each entry looks like this: ```bibtex @article{condon2013, author = {Condon, Paul and Desbordes, Gaelle and Miller, Willa B. and DeSteno, David}, year = {2013}, title = {Meditation increases compassionate responses to suffering}, journal = {Psychological Science}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {2125--2127}, doi = {10.1177/0956797613485603} } ``` Cite in text: ```markdown Meditation increased compassionate behaviour [@condon2013]. Condon and colleagues [-@condon2013] found that... ``` At the end of your post, add: ```markdown ## References ::: {#refs} ::: ``` Quarto formats the reference list in APA style automatically. ::: {.callout-tip} ## Getting .bib entries **From Zotero:** select your item -> right-click -> Export Item -> BibTeX -> save as `references.bib`. **From Google Scholar:** search for the paper -> click the Cite icon (") -> BibTeX -> copy the entry into your `references.bib` file. Check it carefully — Google Scholar sometimes has errors. ::: --- ## Step 6 — Preview your post Click the **Render** button at the top of the editor in RStudio. This builds your site and opens a preview in your browser. Check: - [ ] Your text appears correctly - [ ] Your image displays with its caption - [ ] Citations appear in the text - [ ] The reference list appears at the end - [ ] No error messages in the RStudio console ::: {.callout-tip} ## Something went wrong? The most common errors: - **Date format:** must be `YYYY-MM-DD` - **Missing closing `:::`** on a callout or div block - **Wrong file path:** check the image path matches exactly (case-sensitive) - **Missing `.bib` entry:** the citation key in your text must match the key in your `.bib` file ::: --- ## Step 7 — Submit for marking (required) 1. After rendering, find the HTML output in the Files pane 2. Tick the checkbox next to your post's HTML file 3. Click **More -> Export** to download it 4. Submit the downloaded file via **[Moodle](https://learn.gold.ac.uk/mod/coursework/view.php?id=1794744)** Your reflection piece goes to the same Moodle submission page, same deadline: **Monday 11 May, 12 noon**. ::: {.callout-important} ## Moodle is the only submission route Work not submitted via Moodle will not be marked, regardless of whether it appears on the blog. ::: --- ## Step 8 — Publish on the blog (optional) If you want your post published on this site: 1. In the RStudio Files pane, tick your entire post folder (e.g. `posts/wright-meditation/`) 2. Click **More -> Export** to download it as a zip file 3. Upload the zip to the **[PS51009D OneDrive folder](https://goldsmithscollege-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/gwrig002_campus_goldsmiths_ac_uk/IgARGfnH7ojgRqhRM7PF7HR_AbRQbdcJ_jeRtykPpkMi2E8?e=4m1SIt)** Gordon will review and add it to the site. You will be notified when it is live. --- ## Optional features These are not required for the assessment but are available if you want to go further. See the [Formatting Guide](posts/formatting-guide/index.qmd) for copy-paste code for every feature below. | Feature | What it does | |---------|-------------| | Callout boxes | Highlight key terms, tips, warnings, or caveats | | Pull quotes | Display a key sentence prominently | | Tabset panels | Organise Method / Findings / Implications into tabs | | TL;DR block | Three-bullet summary at the top of the post | | Author card | Your name and bio at the end | | Tables | Present key data from the study | --- ## Before you submit — checklist - [ ] 800--1000 words, written in the third person - [ ] Covers research question, method, findings, and conclusions - [ ] At least one original visual aid you created - [ ] In-text citations throughout - [ ] Full APA reference list at the end - [ ] Reflection piece complete (480--600 words or 2.5--3 min recording) - [ ] Both components submitted via [Moodle](https://learn.gold.ac.uk/mod/coursework/view.php?id=1794744) by **Monday 11 May, 12 noon** --- ## Further reading - [Quarto: Creating a Blog](https://quarto.org/docs/websites/website-blog.html) — the official documentation - [Example post](posts/example-post/index.qmd) — a complete worked example of the required style - [Formatting Guide](posts/formatting-guide/index.qmd) — copy-paste source code for every Quarto feature For questions about the assessment, post on the Moodle forum so everyone benefits from the answer.