One of the delightful things about reading other peoples’ blogs is discovering the blogs that they’re reading. The very idea that WordPress, my home sweet home, is supporting millions of blogs and blogposts daily* by people from all over the world would be daunting if it weren’t for the fact that bloggers have a knack for seeking out like-minded friends. I feel like a bee flying from flower to flower, sipping a bouquet of nectars.
Jan’s Sushi Bar is the latest midlifer site to kindly include my humble offering in a list of her new-found favorites, and I have happily reciprocated. (Thanks!) Blogs are as individual as their creators’ fingerprints, and I enjoy the visual and literary feast that is always available out there, day and night.
But I am tired of being at the mercy of the available blog designs. HTML for Dummies, anyone? If you have any experience on breaking out of the box design-wise, or could direct me to some instructional sites, I’d love to hear from you. Right now, I only know enough HTML to make me dangerous!
Keep on bloggin’!
*Is is just me, or do the most popular blogsites on the WordPress list always seem to be about soccer?
June 9, 2008 at 11:21 am
Ms. Meta – are you self hosted? If you are, I will be more than happy to help you with a custom design, since that is what I do (web design). Let me know!
June 9, 2008 at 2:46 pm
It’s called WordPress for Dummies, and it’s what I use for MidLifeBloggers.com. Or Jan–I’m just a do it myselfer.
June 9, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I find your new design, with it’s dark background, almost impossible for my middle aged eyes to read. I am struggling with the gray stuff and the black stuff is completely impossible unless I put my nose about one inch from the screen and cross my eyes.
And I am really worried someone might walk in and see me.
June 10, 2008 at 1:50 am
Yep, I hear you Meta – it’s all a big learning curve for us middlers. My advice is Just Jump In! If you are willing to invest some time reading, searching online, and experimenting it will all pay off. I’m not an expert, but I have become very empowered creating my blogs (yes, plural) and I am no longer intimidated by HTML. It may frustrate me sometimes, but it’s sort of like math. Once you get the formula down, it’s a breeze. A good place to start with questions is the WordPress help forum. Then you can google html tutorials, and there is html.help.blog where they answer your specific questions for free. If you want to get really fancy, and have a lot more design freedom you can switch over to wordpress.org. I may do it sometime in the future. For now, I create word documents with my own formatting when I want a different look from my CSS, and then paste into my posts. I then usually have to go into the HTML to fix things a bit. This may not be the most efficient option, but it works. Most important, keep having fun connecting with all your new virtual friends and sharing your voice. The Blogosphere is really COOL!
June 11, 2008 at 5:17 am
Thanks, all of you. You’re inspiring. Jan, I think I’ll follow Jane’s lead and try the WordPress for Dummies route first, but I’m certain there will be some parts of it that I will want hire your expertise for.
June 18, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks Meta for your kind, kind comment on my blog. I am so envious of your trip to London. I was there this time last year and wish I were going again! Also, Jan is doing my new website design (switching from blogger) and we’re having loads of fun! Safe trip back.