Let’s get a few things straight right from the start. I shot Bambi. Yes, that cute little sucker in the photo above was shot by yours truly using a highly refined Nikon. Did it while eating breakfast and entertaining five kids. Aren’t I special. Grouchy would be a better word and far more accurate.
This is going to be another hit and run post in which I dispense some hard earned wisdom. It is probably not wise for me to try and design a blog in the same fashion as I write.
I rarely use an outline to write. It is not because I have reached Gladwell’s magic number of 10,000 although I expect to one day exceed that. It is because I see the story inside my head. The words are all assembled there waiting impatiently for me to call upon them. Thousands of them mill around in circles shouting my name- desperately trying to get my attention.
I don’t have to look, think or consider which ones I am going to choose because I just know. Writing is easy for me. I may not always like the content that I produce or be thrilled with the final product, but those words always come.
Design is Different
Design is different for me. I don’t have a final plan in mind for how I want this blog to look. I have a bunch of ideas that I am mulling over and while that works inside my head it is not as easily translated. I am not a coder or developer. I am not a designer either.
So what I really should have done is mapped this out. I should have spent some time developing a basic outline that I could follow. Instead I decided to say screw it and just jumped in head first.
I am dancing in the fire and I kind of like it.
Part of what I love about writing is creating and this definitely touches upon that. It is rewarding to work with your hands and see the fruits of your labors. It is good to learn how to do things.
My children know that sometimes I don’t want to tell them what time it is, I want to teach them how to build a clock. Knowledge is power and the more you know the more powerful you can become. Cue evil laugh.
What Comes Next
What comes next is relatively simple. I am going to spend some more time fighting with the blog trying to figure this stuff out. I am going to watch some video tutorials and read some posts/forums. I am going to tinker and tweak and exhaust myself and see what happens.
Somewhere in the midst of that or after I will probably follow up with those who have offered to help (Thank you Danny Brown and Robert Dempsey who have both offered to walk me through via Skype). By then I should have a much better idea of what I am trying to do and will be able to ask better and more insightful questions.
In the interim I am going to ask for your continued indulgence. If you have advice or suggestions you are welcome to leave it in the comments or contact me. Half the fun is in the journey or so they say.
Side note: A few people have written in and asked for more thoughts about my writing process. I’ll put together a separate post about that later, but if you are interested in some of the pieces that I pulled out you can find a section below. Those two video clips are part of the many movies inside my head.
Some of you might picture it as being similar to the docks like in On The Waterfront. You remember that movie, don’t you? I never get tired of this scene:
It is probably fair to say that sometimes I picture myself being a bit like Brando- one man taking on the system and beating it:
That stubborn man lives inside me and is a big part of why I haven’t taken up any of the offers for help…yet.
I’ve done the same thing a few times and as great as WordPress is I feel like the next step is for design to be much easier for us mortals. I’ve stopped short of hiring a designer, but fear that’s the inevitable next step. Good luck.
@Playstead My guess is that we will see more emphasis on tools that help us “mortals” build a blog like a professional designer. It is a natural evolution. In the interim we have to decide where we draw the lines and between doing the work ourselves and hiring outside help.
I’ll help…………..oh wait, you might not want that since I still hang around with a free site.
So are you saying this is a not a final product? This doesn’t look bad, nice and simple.
Good luck and maybe you can figure out your commenting system too……………:)
@bdorman264 Nope, haven’t made a final decision on the commenting. Keep going back and forth about Livefyre and WP. Nor have I finished here but I am ok with that…at least I think I am.
It’s looking good so far. Hang in there, and I know this is going to sound really awful (and you are certainly allowed to want to smack me for saying it) but your writing is always great to read and I’m kind of enjoying the saga of the blogg-a right now. If you were a crappy writer I wouldn’t care. You make tech trauma entertaining.
@mizzmeggs Well, I am glad that you enjoy my suffering. 😉 Have no fear I have lots o’fodder to keep sharing with you all.
I don’t want a tutorial or a forum, I want a system that does not require an Act of Congress ( or code) that requires individual aggravation each time to this degree. I also want someone to create a way to film what I see in my head. Placing great reliance in the next generation. Stay simple and clean, my 2 cents.
@Julie | A Clear Sign Julie, if I had something that could translate what I see inside onto the page I would do a little dance, make a little love and get down tonight. Damn, I need that software now.
@Julie | A Clear Sign Julie, if I had something that could translate what I see inside onto the page I would do a little dance, make a little love and get down tonight. Damn, I need that software now.
I like this better. I need to work on getting my blog in shape. Seeing you do it may be the push I need. I like the design. Its clean and simple, two things i like.
@NancyD68 I feel the same way as Nancy. I need to do something with my blahg, but I don’t have the energy to do it. I’m hoping for a spark of inspiration. This just might be it. Thanks Jack…and Nancy.
@ExtremelyAvg@NancyD68 All I can say is that sometimes jumping in head first like I did is what needs to happen. Keep fighing.
@NancyD68 Hi Nancy. I feel like I am a long way off, but I can see some daylight. Going to keep pushing and tweaking- see what happens. There are a lot of resources and people who are willing to help. Just have to ask.
This is a clean page design that you have going on. I recommend increasing the font size to 16 pt.
@Faryna Hi Stan. Thanks, I’ll look into it.