(This started out as a comment to the post below on a review by Weblog Review of Spinning, but it ran so long that I decided to post it instead.)
Thanks everyone, and Ben, I think you caught my covered-in-gracious-formality general dissatisfaction with my own writing after reading the reviews. The upbeat tempo of the post was after many hours of feeling inadequate and sorry for myself–I certainly wasn’t proud of a 3.5 from even one person. We want to be “loved” by all in our writing, because it’s such a personal thing. And seeing the honesty in the reviews, I immediately took it personally. I’m also anal about scores! But reading is just as personal, and even my own preference is very different than my writing style. I remind myself sometimes of Victorian to Post Modernism, and Poe along with the poets of his time weigh heavily in my words. I love reading your stuff, Ben, and really encourage you to maneuver it into short story form. What I like to read are the writings of those on my VERRRY INTERESTING typelist–all excellent writers who wouldn’t be linked if they weren’t, and who are all very different. In my opinion, they’re good reading, and I value their critique and comments on reading mine.
We learn much from critique, and in checking out the reviewers’ sites, I found exactly where they were coming from and why they struck on design–beautifully, skillfully done. And, the Weblog Review looks at all aspects of a blog, so design is a large part of it. It’s also where I’m finding a new fascination with blogging–the graphics, the organization, and the navigation.
Yes, writing is the purpose of Spinning, and I’m guessing that the majority of my readers are beyond the “Golden Book” stage of needing pictures, but the points made by the review were good ones. We’re not talking about books here, we’re talking about weblogs and readers who cannot (in most cases) curl up cozily on the couch and read, but are more likely sitting uncomfortably upright in an office chair staring at a monitor. Weblogs must consider the visual to keep the reader’s attention and distract him from his aching back. It’s easy to stick a slip of paper in a book and take a break to come back and pick up where one left off. Not so with weblogs–you must gain internet access, and go through your home page, satisfy the impulse to check your e-mail, click on Favorites and scroll down to a site, and finally get back to where you left off. It’s a different ballgame. Many probably end up doing as I do on the longer pieces—print them out and head straight for that cozy spot on the couch.
Though there won’t be a host of changes made very quickly on Spinning, there will be ongoing tweaking here and there as I learn. I learned from blogging that I like to spend hours on coding and graphics as well as writing. I’ve learned from blogging that a degree is not as important to me at my age and considering my future, as doing what I love doing and seeking out education in the areas that I love and want to know more about. I’ve dropped a History course this semester because I want to continue with this field of study right now, and time is no longer a factor in my formal education (Professors, you can take your hands off your chests and recommence to breath now).
I’ve spent my whole life putting things off, backing away out of areas where I couldn’t be outstanding, afraid to reveal my flaws. But writing and art were always with me. Always. It’s late in my life, and it will be truly embarrassing if I drop dead before The Ending, but I’ve changed drastically in the last few months, and I’m willing to even look foolish in pursuing my love. Thick skin will develop to shield a broken heart. And hey, these days hearts are repairable. Knowledge and practice are power, and dedication is a part of the recipe, and I need to replenish my supply of ingredients to produce a constant source of food. I want to impress people with my writing. I want them to say that I’m good at it.
And, though I doubt it will happen in this life, I’d like them to say that I’m tall.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
I suspect, with respect to my writing (and other things), that I’m more neurotic than you. I wouldn’t worry about revealing insecurity.
As for design, I personally think the image that matters most is the one the writer inserts in the reader’s mind. They don’t come back to a web site because it’s pretty. They don’t read it because it’s pretty. They read it because of how the writing makes them feel or think (or they’re just friends with the author.) The writing, above all, should be what compels people.
That’s one of the beautiful things about writing. It can be spared the base superficialities of so many other things. It should be transcendant.
Of course, it isn’t to say design is entirely absent. One’s page must be easy to navigate through and shouldn’t distract from the words. Mostly though, design only matters to those first time visitors who haven’t yet read anything, and perhaps never will. They’re the only ones you’re ever trying to draw in with the superficial. Maybe that’s important to you. I worry about readership, but I wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking too much of it.