Mega case of writer’s block
I’m just a wee bit obsessed with clarity in writing, especially on my own website.
Which inevitably leads to writer’s block and I’ve got a gi-normous case right now. Do not pass “Go,” do not collect reassuring comments from fans. Writer’s block feels like jogging a mile in concrete boots, or shaking and squeezing the goopy remains of catsup from the bottom of the crusty Heinz bottle, or hauling a toddler on each hip while pushing a stroller with a crying baby in the hot sun uphill… and the hill turns out to be a sand dune. Yeah, it’s a lot like that.
Did I mention I’m in the middle of a site redesign? Not dissimilar to: Doing plastic surgery to my own face with a mirror and a manual written in code using a dull butter knife to make the incisions.
In addition to having to learn an entirely new platform for website creation (and all the headaches of CSS, templates, CMS, web trees, site navigation etc.), I’m rewriting the content of the old site to make the new site user friendly. Ha! It’s more like owner-hostile currently. For instance, tonight I worked on the home page. You know, “When I think of home, I think of a place where there is…. love overflowing.” Not so fast Charley.
As I clicked ‘save’ after making my meager entry, the page morphed into something utterly different than I had last seen it – with borders and color changes and fonts in sizes I had in no way intended! I back tracked, and trekked through the muck of the inner guts of the web page becoming more and more astounded that every time I checked the home page, it looked different again.
By now, I was not writing, nor was I editing. I was pulling out my grey hairs in fistfuls. And then Bing! A little bell rang to let me know my email had received a delightful note from the designer. “Don’t mind me. I’m messing with the home page format right now.”
Oh NOW you tell me!
So yeah, no wonder words aren’t exactly oozing from the word place within. They’re being hi-jacked by perspiration and panic attacks… and my webmaster, apparently.
In addition to the undertaking of a newly designed website, I thought I’d test my heart, adrenal glands and sanity by adding an entirely new platform for our online classes. I tell you, this new education software rocks! It’s just so much more (what’s that favorite geek-speak term?) “robust” than the forums we’ve been working to death for the last six years. But yes, you got it. More design questions. Another walloping learning curve. And did I mention… we’re right down to the wire on when it has to be installed, skinned, uploaded and integrated? (Can you believe what a load of uninspired vocabulary we have to use in the web world?)
All that to say… I’m plumb tuckered out and all out of words. If you’ve emailed me in the last three weeks and I haven’t responded, please send your question again. My email inbox is overflowing and I might not find it amid all the “check this” and “check that” emails by the web guys I rely on to save me from myself.
Oh, and I think you’ll love the new site. 🙂 Can’t wait to unveil it. Should be about ten days away.
Wow! I thought I was a glutton for punishment (said with the best of intentions). Julie? you just finished school a doctorate no less, launched another child to college, and you are redoing a already wonderful website??? I really appreciate the time and energy, but I assumed you would take some time for yourself and ‘rest on your laurels” at least for like a month or something??
anyway, appreciating ALL you give to us and hoping you will slow down and not make yourself “plumb tuckered out”… (thinking I should follow my own advice.. though I am a pretty avid napper when I can..)
take care,
mary g.
Yes, I’m regretting the not “resting” on my “laurels.” Those laurels wondered what I was doing!
Things are a bit stymied in the development department, but I have faith that we’ll get through it. Might have to do a bit of gerry-rigging during the interim but eventually, all shall be well. (And I’ll be asleep!)
Thanks for caring.