I get a lot of compliments on the Writer Tamago site. What’s not to like? It’s an attractive, clean blog that uses the easy interface of Word Press to keep you updated with information. Light on images, it loads readily onto your computer. It cross posts to LJ, and I’m working on Dream Width configuration.
Did I say me? I should more correctly say Mark McKibben, my web guy. I’m one lucky writer. I have this great friend, Mark, and he likes helping people with web sites. This is a real boon for me. I’m savvy enough to do user friendly interfaces, and I could learn most of the easy computer stuff, but frankly, you’d rather have me writing books. (I know I’d rather be writing them.)
So, I have Mark. Mark hooks me up, cleans up my site, gives me spam filters, and generally makes my authorly life easier. He does this a couple of SF organizations I’m involved with as well, and he even does it for his own site.
Mark could even be convinced to do it for you, for I think a nominal fee, if you’re one of those authors struggling with a web presence. Whatever that means. Really, though, if you’d like to bring your website into the 21st century, Mark’s your man.
In the spirit of the Tamago, then, here’s an interview with Mark McKibben, Web Guy.
1. How did you become interested in designing websites?
Personally, I blame the closing of my Cub Scouts troop when I was a little kid. I liked earning those merit badges but without a troop, there wasn’t a way to do it. As I got older, I became a computer geek. Then back in ’97 or so, I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled. For a week afterwards, I was doped up on pain-pills just enough that I couldn’t go anywhere but not enough that I slept around the clock. And when I was awake, I was in enough discomfort that I needed something more active than watching TV or reading a book to distract me. Being a computer geek and in the earlier days of the Internet’s popularity, having your own website was kind of like earning a merit badge. So building a site was what I did to get keep busy.
2. A lot of writers need websites, but are not web savvy. What are some simple products that they can use to have a website? Why do you recommend them?
My recommendation depends on what the client needs and their level of technical expertise. Generally I would recommend most people look into using some sort of blogging software, as it’s the simplest way to get their content online. For some one with minimal technical expertise and who has no or limited need to customize the look of their site, I would recommend going with a hosted blog on a service
like WordPress.com or LiveJournal. These services are the simplest and quickest way to start getting their content online. For some one with minimal technical expertise and who wants more control over their site’s design or content, then they should be looking into hiring somebody to help them setup a website of their own. I would still recommend they use a form of blogging software, if only to make it
easier for them to update the site with new content. I personally use WordPress (http://wordpress.org/) for my site and for those sites I’ve setup for my clients. WordPress is open-source and has a rich community of developers creating new themes and plugins for it.
3. Most of your websites use a blog concept as the front page. Why do you find this an attractive plan?
People come to a website for the content, not drawn out
introductions or fancy, splash pages. So I like to get the content in front of my visitors as quickly as I can and the blog concept does that.
4. If you had to offer up advice to someone designing a website, what would you recommend?
Start with paper and pencil. Sketch out a rough idea of both what you want to display on your site as well as where on the site you want it to show up. All your heavy duty thinking about the website’s design should be done without ever touching your computer. This may seem like odd advice, but it’s mostly to keep you from coding up a wonderful website… That doesn’t look like or do what you wanted.
5. What is the most common mistake you see on a website?
Using Javascript or Adobe Flash for the site’s main navigation and not providing a back-up method for visitor’s who either do not or cannot use them. E.g. screen reader software used by the blind is not always able to parse complicated menu systems which use Javascript and/or Adobe Flash.
6. Are you available for helping writers who might need to get set up on the web?
Certainly!
Thanks for all the kind words Cath! If any of your readers are interested in contacting me, they can reach me via my website CoffeeBear.net.