Whats the Difference Between WordPress Plugins vs Themes Explained

Wondering whats the difference between WordPress plugins vs themes?In general,  you use a WordPress theme to change how your site looks and a plugin to add or change functionality on your site.However, in real life, the lines can get kind of blurred, which is why we think its helpful to spend some time covering the differences between WordPress plugins vs themes.Keep reading to learn more about the similarities and differences, as well as when you should use a plugin vs a theme. build any kind of website you could imagine, it would be bloated and confusing. Therefore, WordPress ‘core’ is kept deliberately streamlined. It includes only features useful to the vast majority of users.To shape your WordPress starter site into the website you want, you can install a unique collection of themes and plugins. These are add-ons to the platform – small pieces of software that can be downloaded and installed on your WordPress site. They include new features and functionalit y, ranging from the simple to the complex:In other words, you can think of WordPress as a modular system. You start with a basic foundation, and add on only the elements you need. This is an excellent way to build a website, as it means you have a lot of control over its look and function.The key differences between WordPress plugins vs themesSo far, we’ve talked about what these two types of add-ons have in common. However, they come in two ‘flavors’ for a reason. Lets cover the key differences between WordPress plugins vs themesWordPress themesWordPress themes are designed to make large-scale changes to your website’s appearance. This includes its design, layout, colors, navigation, and everything else involved in its overall look.Your WordPress site can only have one theme active at a time, while you can use as many plugins as you want.Most WordPress sites start out with a default theme installed, which is serviceable but looks very basic:However, by in stalling another theme, you can radically transform the way your site is laid out. For instance, here’s the same site pictured above, using the Hestia theme instead of the default Twenty Seventeen theme:Some themes, like Hestia, are ‘multipurpose’ in nature. This means they include customizations and options for a wide range of site types. Others are ‘niche’ themes, designed for a specific purpose (such as business themes or photography themes). Either way, you can almost always customize aspects of your chosen theme, such as its color scheme and even sidebar placements.WordPress pluginsWhile themes alter your website’s design, plugins are meant to add new features and functionalities. In simpler terms, themes affect what your site looks like, and plugins affect what it can do. This means plugins can’t be as easily summarized, since there are solutions for just about any functionality you can imagine.Some plugins focus on adding one spe cific feature to your site. Contact Form 7 is a perfect example, letting you build customizable forms and embed them on your pages.Other plugins, such as Jetpack or Wordfence, provide a variety of helpful tools and functionalities. No matter what you’d like your site to do, there’s a plugin to help get the job done.The overlap between WordPress plugins vs themesSo far, the distinction between WordPress plugins vs themes seems pretty clear. In theory, they’re two different types of add-ons with unique purposes. However, in practice, there is some overlap.The most common example is themes that do more than just alter your site’s appearance. Although visual style is still the focus of almost any theme, some will also include the types of features that could  be added by a plugin instead.For instance, many themes include ‘page builders’ – drag-and-drop editors that help you design more complex content. At the same time, you can also get a page builder in plugin form, such as Elementor or Beaver Builder, and use it with any theme you like:This is also an issue you’ll encounter when looking to build a very specific type of website. For instance, let’s say you want to create an online knowledge base. You could use a theme like KnowAll or a plugin such as Knowledge Base for Documents and FAQs, and either would provide you with the features you’ll need.How to decide whether you need a theme or a pluginIn most cases, it’s easy to figure out whether you should go looking for a theme or a plugin. If you want to change your site’s look and layout, a new theme is what you want. On the other hand, if you’re in need of a specific feature, plugins are typically your best bet.However, what should you do when you find yourself in a situation like those we described above? If what you need could conceivably be provided by either a theme or a plugin, you have a choice to make.Fortunately, i n most cases this choice is also pretty simple. Themes have a larger overall effect on your site, and changing your site’s theme can be a hassle you won’t want to go through very often. Therefore, it’s best to select your theme primarily based on the look and layout you want, rather than the features it includes. Then, you can add whatever additional functionality you require using plugins.The exception would be if you need to transform your site into something a little more out of the ordinary. For example, if you want to create a wiki, forum, or knowledge base, your job may be easier if you can find a theme providing both the overall look you want and the elements needed to make your site function correctly.The best way to determine what kind of tools you need is to spend some time exploring what’s available. As such, we’ll wrap up by pointing you towards the WordPress Plugin Directory and the WordPress Theme Directory:Both contain thousands of d iverse and vetted add-ons for your site. If you’re looking for something special, you may also want to take a look at the premium options on ThemeForest and CodeCanyon, and those in our own directory.ConclusionIn most cases, the difference between WordPress plugins vs themes is pretty clear. Themes alter your site’s layout and visual style, while plugins add all kinds of features and functionality. While there’s some overlap in those definitions, it’s best to choose a theme based on how you want your site to look, and then add on features via plugins as needed.Do you have any questions about WordPress plugins vs themes we havent answered here? Ask us anything in the comments section below! What's the difference between #WordPress #plugins vs #themes? Here's your answer!

Suspense 101 Definition and Tips for Building Heart-Stopping Narratives

Suspense 101 Definition and Tips for Building Heart-Stopping Narratives What Is Suspense in Literature? They say curiosity killed the cat - but satisfaction brought it back. Suspenseful stories depend on these very same traits in a reader. But just what is suspense in literature, and how can you weave that gripping tension into your own stories?This thorough guide will give you all the information you need†¦ and more. (See, we’re creating suspense already!)Check out the 50 best suspense books of all time over at Reedsy Discovery!What is literary suspense?Suspense is the tension a reader feels when they're not sure what will happen in a story - either during a single scene/chapter or throughout its overall arc. You might create suspense around anything that stokes readers’ curiosity, whether it’s a love triangle or a killer on the loose.You can use suspense in a story to:Heighten tension during a dramatic sceneConceal answers you don’t want to give awayBuild up to a twist and make it more powerfulKeep your reader turning the pages!While suspense is mos t frequently employed in mysteries and thrillers, it should be present in every work of fiction - curiosity is what compels readers to finish your book! However, the amount and type of suspense you use depends on exactly what you want your reader to experience. Learn all about literary suspense and how to create it in your novel! The 5 types of suspense (with examples)First of all, there are two types of suspense to know in terms of story structure: narrative suspense and short-term suspense. The first engages the reader with the central issue of the narrative, while the second keeps them intrigued minute to minute. A good novel has both.1. Narrative (long-term) suspenseWhile technically any literary suspense might be described as â€Å"narrative,† this refers to tension that builds throughout the entire story. In narrative suspense, you pose a question, problem, or mystery at the book’s beginning, divulge more about it as the plot progresses, and wrap it up near the climax or ending.Well-written narrative suspense makes it nearly impossible for readers to put down your book. However, that means the payoff has to be huge - if you’re going to tease readers for 300 pages, you need an incredible ending! This is part of why suspenseful stories often culminate in a plot twist or big reveal (o r both, as in the arc of Amy’s disappearance in Gone  Girl).When constructing this kind of suspense, you want to continuously hint at its resolution. But you also don’t want to overwhelm your reader; the constant pressure of an impending reveal can make them feel overly anxious as well as impatient. With that in mind, temper this pressure with character development, non-suspenseful plot progression, or even a different suspense arc, as in the example below.Example of narrative/long-term suspenseIn To Kill A Mockingbird, there are two arcs of narrative suspense: 1) the question of what will happen to Tom Robinson, and 2) the suspense surrounding the mysterious Boo Radley. Both issues are introduced near the beginning, gain traction throughout the story, and eventually collide at the end, when Boo Radley saves the kids from Bob Ewell after the Robinson trial.Having more than one arc of narrative suspense keeps the reader invested and gives the story added layers of dep th. You can also accomplish these goals by using short-term suspense, which we’ll discuss in our next section.What's the best suspense you've ever read (or written)? What are your tips for recreating it? Let us know in the comments below!