To Create A Simple Journal

I've had a few friends over my time here ask for advice on a few dA topics so I thought I'd make a post about each one as it happens again, in the hope that it may help someone.  I don't claim that this is the only way to do things - probably far from it!  Nor do I claim that there may not be errors here.  Please tell me - nicely! - if you find any and I will correct it!  I can no longer access the 'old way' of creating a journal, more's the pity, so I can only advise on how to do it through Sta.sh.  So, to the best of my knowledge, here is some helpful guidance for those who need it.

If you are not a premium member…
Look at your profile page and see the ‘journal’ tab along the top – click on the word ‘journal’.

You may be able to see an oblong that says ‘submit new journal entry’ in the middle – click on that.

If you can’t, then look for the word ‘submit’ in the green bar across the top – the one you use to submit art.  Click on that word ‘submit’ and then choose ‘write a journal entry’.  Now you are in Sta.sh and ready to go.

Click on ‘add title’ and type the title you want, then click in the main box and type your content, then click ‘preview’.  Check your work, then, back on the window where you created your work, click ‘submit’ and you’re done!

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If you are a premium member you can choose a pretty journal skin.  To do this, go to the deviantART homepage by clicking the word ‘deviantART’ on the top left of the green bar and type ‘journal skin’ into the search box – press ‘enter’ or click ‘search art’.

Have a look down the page, and find the the first item that says ‘installable journal skins’ underneath it.  Click on those tiny words ‘installable journal skins’, and then every item you're looking at is possible to choose from.  Find one you like.  Click on the thumb you like to go to the deviation page.  Be kind enough to Fave it and say thanks to the creator and then click ‘install’ on the right, just underneath the Fave button.

This takes you automatically to where you can create the journal.

Click where it says ‘add title’ (or similar) and type what you want your title to be.

Click in the main large box and type your content for everyone to see.

Add deviations if you wish – instructions below.

Click ‘preview’ and check your work.  If you’re happy, then go back to the window where you created your work, click ‘submit’ and you’re done!

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To add photos
You can do this in several ways once you're in Sta.sh…

1 – click on the small blue word ‘deviantART’ on the right under the words ‘add media’ and choose from your own gallery or favourites.  Or type a deviant or deviation name in the search box.  Click on the deviation and it will appear in your journal wherever you left the cursor.  Be careful that the deviation really does belong to the deviant you wish to honour - sometimes it shows you their favourites instead.

2 – go to a deviation and copy the thumbcode and then paste it into your journal.  It will magically turn into a picture.

3 - go to a deviation and copy the thumbcode and then paste it into something, anything that is not deviantART.  Where you see the code written as :thumb…..: type the word ‘big’ between the first : and the ‘t’ of thumb.  So you have :bigthumb….: (Where the dots are the thumbcode numbers.)  This, if you are a premium member, will show a larger picture in your journal.

4 – type HTML code to get the picture, but we won’t go there today

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To centre align your text

Some journal skins are centered already - the person that created the journal skin put it in the code when they created it. Some journal skins absolutely will *not* be centered even if you type the code in yourself. But... let's give it a try and see if you have chosen a skin that can be done. Most of them can.

Let's say that you want absolutely everything in the journal to be centered...

In the body of the journal skin where you are typing your content, make a line at the very top with no text. So in other words, go to the very top and press 'enter' to give yourself a blank line.

In this line type (also removing the space)

Don't give up - it will be easier and easier every time you are brave enough to try these steps - I promise!!!

I'm sure you can realise without me saying, but if you only want part of your journal centered then just put the first line, directly underneath. Anything before the <div align... will be left aligned and anything after the </div will be left aligned again.

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To edit your completed journal

Go to me.deviantart.com/journal and then you will see on the right a list headed 'Journal History'. Look down that list and find the correct journal title of the journal you wish to edit.  Usually this will be the top entry.  Click the word 'edit' on the right of that name.

Now you will be in the same window as you were when you created the journal.  Look at the content, find the part you wish to edit and make your changes.  Click 'update journal' and you're done.

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To delete a journal

Go to me.deviantart.com/journal and then you will see on the right a list headed 'Journal History'. Look down that list and find the correct journal title of the journal you wish to delete.  Click the word 'delete' on the right of that name.  If a confirmation comes up, accept it. (I don't want to delete any of my journals, so I can't check this.)


I hope you found this helpful and please feel free to comment below.