How to write on a Ghost blog

Half of the reason I decided to start this blog is that I wanted to learn how to write. I don't mean handwriting, but the skill of combining words into sentences and paragraphs to form ideas and interpretations - writing. I haven't done this, as probably many others, since high school. But that will take time to practice and craft. As I started inviting my friends to the platform to write, I wondered how someone actually writes on a Ghost blog. After a little research, I found some answers and below I'll share what I think are the best ones.

What is Markdown?

Ghost natively supports a formatting syntax called Markdown. This allows for formatted text to be easily converted into HTML, the backbone of websites all over the internet. Markdown is great because it allows syntax such as bold and italicised text to be added. While Ghost has a simple toolbar and embeds, Markdown allows you to write without removing your hands from the keyboard.

How to get started...

Let us start with the basics. Bold text can be added by typing **bold**. Italics are created similarly, see the little list below:

*Italics*
**Bold**
***Bold & Italics***

Headings are just as easy. All you need to use is a # to signal which heading level to use:

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3

Images can be added as follows:

![image1](https://example.com/example.jpg)

The image between the square brackets is simply an alt-text description. Similarly, normal links can be added using markdown:

[link](https://example.com)

This creates a link like this.

Lists can also be helpful for summarising or, well, lists. Markdown supports two types: sorted and unsorted lists.

Sorted lists use number points like this:

1. Item one
2. Item two
3. Item three 

1. Item one
2. Item two
3. Item three

Unsorted lists are formatted like so:

• Item one
• Item two
• Item three

* Item one
* Item two
* Item three

Lastly, Markdown supports quote blocks that help text standout to create impact

This is impactful. Don't forget it

> This is impactful. Don't forget it

Is that it?

No. This is just a simple Markdown guide, and perhaps I'll create another for the intermediate and levels. This is just meant to help anyone who is looking to try writing on a Ghost blog for the first time. But this isn't just where Markdown is useful. Next time you write online, try some basic Markdown and you might be surprised just how widely it's supported.