Creating Your Own Digital Shoebox for Creative Overflow
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Chapter 1: The Concept of a Digital Shoebox
Not long ago, I came across a page on the website of writer and editor Giles Turnbull. This particular page featured links to archived pieces, unfinished photography projects, art compilations, drafts, and other assorted items. Giles referred to this collection as his "digital shoebox," a small section of his website dedicated to keeping all sorts of miscellaneous content. The idea stemmed from how people tend to stash away random items in old shoeboxes.
I found this concept delightful, as it evoked the charm of visiting quirky second-hand shops along the English coast. While much of what you find in those stores might not be particularly captivating, the collective experience certainly has its appeal. I took note of this idea but soon let it slip from my mind—until I encountered a similar project by Henrique Dias. That’s when I began contemplating the creation of my own digital shoebox.
Section 1.1: Why I Decided to Build a Digital Shoebox
I've gathered a plethora of items online that dwell in a sort of limbo: posts I prefer not to highlight for visitors, articles I’ve published elsewhere, contributions from others, images I've compiled, drafts, and photographs.
Having a "shoebox" allows me to stash this collection without cluttering my main feeds or subjecting it to any quality standards I might impose on my core content. In a sense, it resembles the extras menu on an old DVD—while nothing there may rival the feature presentation (my writing), it could still hold a bit of charm for enthusiasts, explorers, and casual browsers.
Section 1.2: What's Inside My Digital Shoebox?
As this post goes live, my digital shoebox should be operational (a rather curious statement). As I write, it comprises:
- A selection of .txt files containing drafts and previously published articles, along with lists and various content. I've long sought a reason to engage in a .txt blog, and this shoebox provides the perfect opportunity.
- A collection labeled ".html scraps," which mainly consists of items from my blog that I no longer wish to showcase on my main feed.
- Some bash scripts and coding snippets.
- Links to my published articles scattered across the web.
- A few image edits and lighthearted attempts at humor.
I plan on adding more items soon, but you can check out what’s currently available here.
Chapter 2: Other Updates on My Website
In addition to the shoebox, I’ve been busy making other enhancements to my site. I now have a simple "About" page and a "Notes/Microblog" section. Currently, the latter mirrors my posts from Mastodon, automated through some scripting I’ve set up.
My motivation for hosting my own microblog stems from the desire to keep all my content under one roof (refer to: You Need to Start Backing Up Your Writing and Why Personal Blogging Still Rules). This also provides a way to offer brief updates to visitors who may prefer not to engage with social media platforms, no matter how ‘decentralized’ they may be.
Lastly, I intend to share some of my amateur photography soon. It’s all ready to go, but I thought it best not to overwhelm the site with too much content at once. So, I’ll hold off for now.
While my writing remains the focal point of my site, I hope these new features will encourage visitors to explore more deeply rather than just viewing it as a standard blog.
The first video, "Camp in a Shoebox: How To Make a Digital Shoe #BSMKids," illustrates how to creatively utilize your own digital shoebox for personal projects.
The second video, "The Shoebox Method," delves into the various ways you can organize and curate your digital space for better productivity.