Well! I’m pleased to say that if you’re reading this, I’ve finally succeeded.
It hasn’t been without its tears and headaches, it’s true, but the creation of this website, daunting though I’ve found it, has turned out to be something of a triumph.
Now, I don’t mean that it’s necessarily a triumphantly good website specimen (though I do quite like it); rather, that I feel enormously triumphant to have come through the process without too many emotional scars, and with a few new neural pathways forged. That’s got to be good!
I could wow you with my new lingo (or bore you to a stupor) but I won’t. Not yet. Instead, I’ll tell you what I found difficult and what I enjoyed about the process.
The hardest thing for me was getting started. I have this belief that I’m no good with technology, and that everything I touch goes wrong. I have, as my husband often says, ‘a special relationship with technology.’ (Perhaps that could more accurately be described as a lack of inherent interest – I’d rather be creating stories than websites – and therefore application, and therefore ability. The result? Intense frustration with all things technical. It’s been this way for years.)
But starting, it seems, makes all the difference, and surprisingly, I discovered a few positives along the way.
I re-connected with an old school friend who offered her advice and technical support when she saw my ‘Why am I such a luddite?’ post on Facebook. (Thanks Trudy.)
I discovered that fellow writer, Tom, (who we’ve not seen at writers’ group for some time), has set up his own website creation business. (Go Tom!) He recommended excellent articles specifically for non-technical writing folk like me wanting to build their own websites.
And I received all sorts of encouraging words of support from friends and relatives telling me I could do it. Thanks guys. (Some suggested I shouldn’t bother, that I should call in the experts, or that I should enlist my Gen Z children. I would say that these particular people are no longer my friends, seeming non-believers that they were, but it wouldn’t be true because I’ve considered all those suggestions seriously, as you’ll see. Perhaps, as it turns out, it’s these friends I need to thank the most.)
First, however, I wanted to try doing it myself. I made a resolution at the start of the year to increase my general knowledge. Here was my opportunity. I’m pleased to report I now consider myself generally more knowledgeable… on the topic of website building. Tick! (That’s two ticks in one article. You can almost smell my success.)
I learned all about hosts and domains, website builders and the Gutenberg editor…
And I got totally overwhelmed by ‘themes’. Why were there so many? How was I meant to go about choosing one? Which was the right one for me? Did I even need one? (The answer to that is ‘yes’, by the way.)
I am not a person who makes decisions easily. In fact, when the choice is large, I find decisions agonising. Agony isn’t comfortable. I very nearly chucked in the towel.
After a week of paralysis, I decided to ‘practise’ building my website on a free theme. And I learned stacks.
It isn’t that hard really.
But free themes have their limitations and are clunky, so I wasn’t overly happy with how my website was turning out. And, to be honest, I don’t have an eye for graphic design.
So, I finally took the excellent advice of my nay-saying friends (luckily I’d still kept them as friends) and called in the experts.
Yes.
That’s right.
I bribed my Gen Z son for technical help…
I sweet-talked my husband with a eye for visual design into casting his eye over things…
And I chose (with the help of both) a flexible premium ‘theme’ which, although costly, was nowhere near the price I’d have had to pay if I’d hired a real, in-the-flesh, website guru.
With the job now shared between the bribed, the sweet-talked and me, I was able to find a little more time to get on with editing my current work in progress – the second Marlow book – and I now understand the reasoning behind the advice of my nay-saying friends. (What wise ones they were!) Of course, they didn’t mention that sharing the job might cause its own headaches, but then, they probably expected me to hand it over completely, and I haven’t quite managed to do that!
Still, I’m glad I’ve kept my finger in the pie to the end. It means I’ve not only grown my brain (I could actually feel it pushing on the inside of my skull at times) but I also feel equipped to make layout changes myself if necessary, and can add new content to my site with relative ease.
I actually thought I’d produced enough content already, but it turns out if you have a spot on your home page for three blog posts (as I do), you have to write them all up front.
That means I’m busy writing this article not expecting it to be read. Why would anyone sit there reading three pre-prepared posts in a row?
Still, if you have, if you’ve stuck with me to the end, thank you! I appreciate your persistence and loyalty. And again, if you are still here, I’d love it if you could post a comment to let me know you made it.
PS If you’ve enjoyed my musings, you could always join my mailing list. That would be lovely, in fact.
I made it, and all the way to the end! Well done Kesta – I admire your persistence. And when my time comes (it’s already calling but I’m doing a fine job of ignoring it!) I will NOT ask you for too much advice, because I can see that trying to mostly do it yourself is a growth thing.
I’ve enjoyed your post, and will keep checking in at your site for updates.
CONGRATS!
Thanks Kim! And honestly, you’re welcome to ask. (I wouldn’t have made it without having people kindly answer my questions and offer advice.)
Me too Kesta …. and congratulations!
Thank you, Charmaine. 🙂
Made it and loved the journey!!! Congrats Kesta, this is just the beginning and I’m thrilled to have been witness to some of the steps along the way. Exciting indeed.
Thank you, Kate. It’s nice to know there’s a supportive crowd of witnesses on the sidelines cheering me on. Yours is one of the voices that’s consistently there, so thanks!
I made it too. And I’m impressed. What a niece! You really take the biscuit this time. Lots of love, Buncle xxx
Thanks, Buncle! It’s lovely to have such a one as you to consistently make me smile! xxx
Well done Kesta! You know, I’d love to see more links to your published work… You’re such a fine writer, I’m sure there’s many more of your publications to come…;-) Thanks for the mention too!
Thank you Tom. That’s kind of you to say! There are a few links to my writing on the My Work page in the magazine section, but you probably saw those. If not, click on the magazine covers and it’ll take you there. I’ll do my best to add more as I go.
Well done Kesta. I’m very impressed that you took on the battle with technophobia and clearly won it. Your website is fantastic, I love the design.
Thank you Liz! 😊
I made it too with increasing admiration. Keep going Kesta.
Thanks Ros! 🙂
A bit later than some of these others, but I made it too. Well done. It looks great. It does amuse me about you returning to UK by car from an island country. Also like there is a link to Pop, bang Kapow – as you know one close to our hearts here at the Phillips household.
Perhaps I should have had a picture somewhere of our car being hoisted in a net onto the ship that went from Perth to Singapore, Andy. It’s a vivid memory! And I put that reference to ‘Pop Bang Kerpow’ in especially with your family in mind. If it weren’t for Flynn’s brilliant idea, the story would never have happened. And that was my first real success at getting anything published, so Flynn can take some credit while he’s at it. 🙂
Kesta, congratulations! This is a great website. Well done on making it this far. I suspect you are not just a children’s writer as your blog was entertaining and appealing for adults too!
I look forward to seeing what other work you have to offer!
Thank you, Sheriden! Much appreciated.
Lovely comments and huge congratulations on a really lovely website. And the book sounds great!
Thank you, Alys. It’s been so nice to get the feedback from people. Writing is such a solitary thing, as you know, and it’s hard to gauge whether your writing hits the spot without people telling you. Thanks for taking the time to post a comment.
Kesta for as long as I’ve known you, being a children’s author has been your plan. I am in awe of how tenaciously you’ve stuck with it and I know the results will be fabulous. You’ve done brilliantly. Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks, Penny! 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS KESTA !
We are all very impressed and very proud of you. What an achievement.
Very much looking forward to the first in the series of “Marlow Brown” being published too!
Thank you, Rosie! The publication date is getting close now. I noticed last night that it’s now available for pre-order on Book Depository and Booktopia, so it’s starting to feel very real!