Last month, I set out to build three websites from scratch: One for Arts Calling, one for the Coalition, and this one for my portfolio. Though I’ve dabbled in website building for over a decade using places like Wix and Squarespace and Weebly and Google sites and WordPress and some precursor fossil website builders from ancient times, I feel like I never took the time to delve deeper into the nuts and bolts of building and designing a website. I learn best by doing, but I could sure use a coding class! In the interim, and because I am impatient, I decided to start from the ground up, stumbling through cpanels and domain transfers and installing SSLs and checking for safe plug-ins. Thank the cosmos for YouTube. I wanted to pull my hair out countless times, I ambled in the dark for days on what some may have considered minor css setbacks. The black forest of jargon nearly swallowed me whole, but I prevailed! For now. A website is a living organism that requires nourishment. I’ll let you know what happens.
In the meantime, here’s what I’m left to ponder in the aftermath:
- Learning is a skill, don’t let it atrophy with age. Take it from me. YouTube University offers the world’s knowledge at our fingertips. Devour knowledge at once!
- I see myself producing my podcast, rambling peacefully here, and collaborating over at the coalition for a long time. It made sense to invest in these projects long-term and to keep refining those site-building skills. If you’re in a financial pinch and can’t do the website thing right now, fear not! In this day and age, all you need to dream big is a strong tiktok presence and an email list to spread your gospel.
- Design is an intoxicating experience. The indescribable search for specific messaging and novelty. It allowed me to ‘stay with the problem longer’ as the internet said Albert Einstein once said. It made the anguish worthwhile. Find your bliss as you suffer for your goals.
Why am I telling you all this? Because I like figuring things out as I go. That curiosity is at the core of the creative pursuit! The creative life, no matter what you do for a living, is a beautiful adventure worth pursuing, and worth sharing.
Anyway, I misplaced my brevity but I’ll try to find it in the next post. Go make a dent. Much love,
j
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