This is the third in my series about comparing the new and old WordPress.com layouts. Previously I have compared the Dashboard sidebars and blog post listings pages.

Today I’m looking at the blog post writing or editing page, where you write your blog post and add the publishing features to enhance its performance.

Below is the new version Blog Posts tag in the Dashboard sidebar. It is accompanied by an easy to use Add button to direct you to the blog post writing page.

There is an additional plussed pencil icon at the top of the page for easy and immediate access to this page:

However, the old version needs the secondary menu to be activated, usually by mousing over or clicking the Posts tab in the Dashboard sidebar. Note it says Posts, and not Blog Posts.

The command is Add New, which is more intuitive. Another similar command button is placed at the top of the blog posts listings page, and in the extreme top right you’ll find the plussed pencil icon as well:

Here’s the new blog post writing page:

And the old version:

The first thing I noticed is that the new version has its editing sidebar on the left:

Whereas the old version has its editing sidebar on the right, thus retaining the availability of its Dashboard sidebar at all times:

Whilst you’re writing your blog post, the new version seems to have lost access with the rest of the blog.

I shall fully explore the blog post writing sidebars in the next post.

Let’s look at the main body where the actual blog post is written. First, the new version simply guides where the headline goes with the word Title:

Whereas the old version gives a bit more information:

The new version only allows the blogger to add images and other media:

Whereas the old version provides a selection of editorial features. Apart from the ability to add images, the add contact form is also valuable:

In the new version, there is a new item in the editing icons area, which allows undisturbed blog post writing:

But the old version isn’t neglected – this icon is placed underneath the Visual and Text tabs found at the top right of the editing field:

A feature of the new version shows the current editorial status of the post in the top right corner of the title field:

And the ability to save your post as a draft (before publishing it) is placed at the bottom right underneath the editing field:

Whereas the old version contains this facility in its Publish menu, where everything happens in one small area:

However, in the new version, the ability to change your published status is available in the Change Status widget without the need of a drop down menu:

And in the new version, the preview button is left out in the cold, way over to the bottom left underneath the editing area:

And in the old version, it nestles near the other publishing buttons in a much more findable position:

My next post will explore the very interesting developments in the blog post writing sidebars, some of which I thoroughly approve of.