Writing a Clean WordPress Shortcode

Shortcodes are old, but they are still the simplest way to give writers a reusable block in the classic editor.

Most of the improvement in a draft comes from cutting. We aim to remove a fifth of every piece on the second pass, and the reader never misses it.

function quill_note_shortcode( $atts, $content = '' ) {
	$atts = shortcode_atts( array( 'type' => 'info' ), $atts, 'note' );

	ob_start();
	?>
	<aside class="note note--<?php echo esc_attr( $atts['type'] ); ?>">
		<?php echo wp_kses_post( $content ); ?>
	</aside>
	<?php
	return ob_get_clean();
}
add_shortcode( 'note', 'quill_note_shortcode' );

Taking notes by hand is slower, and that is the point. The friction forces you to decide what matters before you write it down.

Reading work aloud is the cheapest editing tool there is. Your ear catches rhythm problems that your eye skips over, especially in long sentences.