How to start a blog

TsuMuch · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 16:02

If I believed in New Year's resolutions, mine for 2009 would probably be 'write more'. So despite not knowing much at all about blogging, I've started a blog. I realise that another amateurish blog is surely the last thing the world needs, but I'm hoping some of you successful writer types will be able to advise me on how to make it not rubbish. I'm assuming the most important principles are:

a) Update regularly
b) Link lots and widely
c) Don't waffle on too self-indulgently

But beyond that, I really don't know what I'm doing, and so would appreciate any and all advice, or even feedback.

And I apologise for starting a new thread like this- I thought I remembered seeing a Beex blog roll a while ago and would have posted this there, but I wasn't able to find it using the search. If a mod wants to move/delete this as appropriate I promise not to get too up-in-arms about it.

Cheers

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 16:51

You go to wordpress and make an account. :bulb:

This, and more problems solved, in "Ask Aunty Ace".

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 16:52

AceAceBaby wrote:

This, and more problems solved, in "Ask Aunty Ace".

Can this be in blog form?

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 16:54

I wouldn't want to steal Dudley's thunder. :hug:

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 16:55

Where can I buy this Dudleythunder?

Malc · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 16:57

I too am going to do this, but in my case it will be to restart after a 4 year haitus. But my, how the internet has changed in those 4 years that it will be like starting from scratch. My plans involve evolving the site too.

I'm going to start with static html, and then relearn css and javascript, and then learn php and mysql too. Possibly ending with wordpress or keeping my own system (although I'm confident I can do the front end, I'm not so sure about the back end and have been told to just use wordpress as it's so powerful)

Malc

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Spinglo All The Way! wrote:

I'm going to start with static html, and then relearn css and javascript, and then learn php and mysql too. Possibly ending with wordpress or keeping my own system (although I'm confident I can do the front end, I'm not so sure about the back end and have been told to just use wordpress as it's so powerful)

Oh god, definitely don't write your own blogging software unless you really, really want to write something from scratch for some reason. You'll get plenty of practice doing CSS/HTML from a Wordpress theme, and plenty of PHP practice if you write some Wordpress plugins, and meanwhile you won't be struggling to reinvent the wheel.

Malc · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 17:02

Doctor GlyNadolig wrote:

Spinglo All The Way! wrote:

I'm going to start with static html, and then relearn css and javascript, and then learn php and mysql too. Possibly ending with wordpress or keeping my own system (although I'm confident I can do the front end, I'm not so sure about the back end and have been told to just use wordpress as it's so powerful)

Oh god, definitely don't write your own blogging software unless you really, really want to write something from scratch for some reason. You'll get plenty of practice doing CSS/HTML from a Wordpress theme, and plenty of PHP practice if you write some Wordpress plugins, and meanwhile you won't be struggling to reinvent the wheel.

That's exactly what my mate said. But I've had a mambo site before, (and used nevile and phpnuke) and sort of felt that it wasn't mine. Part of me wants to learn how to do it from scratch, and then switch to wordpress or if somehow I've managed to get something brilliant just stick with that.

Malc

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

I've tried prototyping a replacement mrdictionary.net in Wordpress. Something as simple as reordering the links in a side menu IS STILL BEYOND ITS POWER. NNNG.

Wordpress is good at being Wordpress. If you want to do something a bit more than what Wordpress does, do not use Wordpress.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

I just read the first post. If you'd simply like somewhere to put your reviews where people will read them, and you don't have bastards running the show, I'd be more than happy to let you review for SavyGamer. I can probably hook you up with the odd review copy of games for your trouble too.

I can't pay you, but if you are interested, let me know via PM.

Other than that, I would recommend looking into Feedburner for RSS, google Analytics for Analytics, Digg for traffic, and Technorati for networking.

Also, to make it looks a little prettier, think about checking out these:
Remove Navbar
Custom Favicon

Shin · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 23:24

I'm just on Blogspot.com

http://katsramblesthroughlife.blogspot.com

You can do various things on there and change the background and most things are compatible with Blogspot.com so you can do add-ons and stuff so that may be a good thing to look at

EDIT: Just realised you ARE on blogspot-ignore this message

TsuMuch · **Posted:** Wed Dec 31, 2008 0:02

Thank you very much Mr P for the useful links and suggestions, and I very much welcome your offer to let me have a go reviewing for you. A PM has been sent.

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:37

OK, so I'm messing around with WordPress and I'm following some tutorial on the web on how to create templates (it's a very ABC tutorial, but I've been away so long that I feel I need this a bit) and I've come across a bit of a snag very early on.

The tutorial has told me to type this:

Code:

obviously this should generate a link where I click on my blogname and it takes me to my blog url.

What I actually get in the url part is this:

Code:

http://website.com/%EF%BF%BDhttp://website.com%EF%BF%BD

however when I do a:

Code:

<?php bloginfo('url'); ?>

on it's own it just gives me

Code:

http://www.website.com

where is it picking up the funny squiggles from?

Anyone have any ideas?

Malc

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:39

Malc wrote:

%EF%BF%BD

those appear as question marks in a diamond

Malc

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:41

Oh and just to add they are appearing on all links ie when I do this:

Code:

the url is:

Code:

http://www.website.com/%EF%BF%BDhttp://www.website.com/?p=4%EF%BF%BD

Malc

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Bit of a shot in the dark but try putting this in the <head> bit:

Code:

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:03

tossrStu wrote:

Bit of a shot in the dark but try putting this in the <head> bit:

Code:

atm I'm using:

Code:

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="<?php bloginfo('html_type'); ?>; charset=<?php bloginfo('charset'); ?>" />   

Malc

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Actually, I think I was barking up the wrong tree. Leave it as it is for the moment!

Looking at this code:

Code:

You've got funny-looking speech marks. Replace them with regular ones (") and see what happens.

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:05

Just had a look at a different theme (the calssic one that comes with it) and for the same thing they are using

Code:

and

Code:

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="<?php bloginfo('html_type'); ?>; charset=<?php bloginfo('charset'); ?>" />

Malc

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:06

tossrStu wrote:

Actually, I think I was barking up the wrong tree. Leave it as it is for the moment!

Looking at this code:

Code:

You've got funny-looking speech marks. Replace them with regular ones (") and see what happens.

ah so I have, that's what I get for copy/pasting (I had the same issue with the single quotes too, which I spotted and fixed) Thanks a lot.

Malc

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:08

Yeah Baby, that's done it. Thanks so much tossrStu

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

Malc, this guide was invaluable for me when designing a Wordpress theme from the ground up:

http://www.wpdesigner.com/2007/02/19/so ... hemes-huh/

It basically tells you what all of those Wordpress codes do and why they do it. Gives you a bit more understanding of the way it works i you fancy it.

Malc · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 17:02

Thanks Mr Russell, Only just noticed this now. That was indeed the tutorial I was using...

I have another question, about nested div tags and how to nest them. Please see attached image.

Now, imagine the black bit is the whole page, the red bit is a <div> with a fixed width, centered on the black bit. Then imagine the blue, grey, green and yellow bits are <divs> that I want to position inside the first <div> All of them specific heights and widths, except the green one which will be a minimum height, but depending on what's inside it will grow as needed, but still a fixed width.

In the past I would have done this with tables, but I understand this is a bit of a no no these days?

So what do I need to put in the CSS to make this work? I could do it all if I wanted them in a fixed place on the full screen, but am struggling to see how I can do it relative to a larger <div>

God I wish that I could remember all this stuff, it's been so long...

Malc

GazChap · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 17:18

The HTML:

Code:

<body>
   <div id="red">
      <div id="blue">
         &nbsp;
      </div>
      <div id="grey">
         &nbsp;
      </div>
      <div id="green">
         &nbsp;
      </div>
      <div id="yellow">
         &nbsp;
      </div>
   </div>
</body>

The CSS:

Code:

#red { background: red; margin: 10px auto; width: 900px; }
#blue { background: blue; }
#grey { float: left; width: 200px; background: gray; }
#green { float: right; width: 700px; background: green; }
#yellow { clear: both; background: yellow; }

The problem you'll have here is that the green and grey backgrounds won't stretch down to where the yellow is, it'll stop where the content in each div stops. The only solution to that is to create a background image that is the grey and green on a 900x1 pixel image (200px of gray and 700px of green) and then apply that as a background-image to the #red div, with a repeat-y setting, like so:

Code:

#red { background: red; margin: 10px auto; width: 900px; background-image: url(background.gif); background-repeat: repeat-y; }

//edit: Added non-breaking spaces to the divs so that the browser actually renders them.

Malc · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 17:22

That's pretty much what I've tried, apart from the float., I don't need to worry too much about the height of the middle two divs.

I'll give that a try, thanks.

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

Floats are your friend.

I'm actually doing a site at the minute that has so many columns and rows that I've given up on the CSS, and gone back to tables with rowspan and colspan.

Malc · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 16:36

That's what I'm used to using. managed to get it all working in the end. I'm getting their slowly and surely at the moment. If I thought people were interested and wouldn't laugh, I'd share the url.

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

Do it. Because then we can also help you cross browser test your site. Plus, when I wanted a critique about my site, advice about padding and stuff was invaluable because I had site blindness by that point.

CraigGrannell · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1639

Mr Russell wrote:

I'm actually doing a site at the minute that has so many columns and rows that I've given up on the CSS, and gone back to tables with rowspan and colspan.

*smacks Mr Russell around the head with a copy of my book*

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

CraigGrannell wrote:

*smacks Mr Russell around the head with a copy of my book*

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

CraigGrannell wrote:

Mr Russell wrote:

I'm actually doing a site at the minute that has so many columns and rows that I've given up on the CSS, and gone back to tables with rowspan and colspan.

*smacks Mr Russell around the head with a copy of my book*

Be a dear and code the following pic up into divs then would you?

It's baffled me.

To be fair, the only web book I own is HTML For The World Wide Web 4.

I can do a three column layout, but doing that three column layout inside a two column layout has killed me, so it's a table in the middle of it all.

Malc · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 23:44

OK, as you asked for it, please bare in mind it's no where no finished and it's barely even started really.

http://wp.strangeuniverse.org/

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

You are obviously still working on it, but a good way to tell if you're making mistakes as you go along is to continually send it to the W3C validator http://validator.w3.org/check

Code:

</div        <div id="footer">
this is the footer
</div>

It picks up stuff like this.

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 0:03

That's not in my php files anywhere...

Malc

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 0:04

hmmm

I think my sites down.

BEEX flood has killed my host!

Hmm, FTP works, and the main site works (and really oddly http://www.strangeuniverse.org works fine!)

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

Unles maybe your latest change hasn't propagated to my ISP yet. It is a shit ISP.

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 0:14

viewing the source shows me the same thing.

I think it's the tag cloud widget causing the problem.

Malc

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 0:17

Ah, my mistake, the problem was with my code, hidden away in one of my included files.

Malc

NervousPete · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 0:33

Blog... ehhh?

I'm tempted to make one myself, using Wordpress, with lots of wibble. Hmm.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

Post up again when you've finished going through that tutorial Malc, I'll be happy to assist if I can.

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:20

Mr Russell wrote:

Post up again when you've finished going through that tutorial Malc, I'll be happy to assist if I can.

Oh, I've done the tutorial already. This is me taking what I did there, and changing it to more what I want. (but starting from scratch)

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

Malc wrote:

Mr Russell wrote:

Post up again when you've finished going through that tutorial Malc, I'll be happy to assist if I can.

Oh, I've done the tutorial already. This is me taking what I did there, and changing it to more what I want. (but starting from scratch)

Malc

I see it has improved already since this afternoon! Very nice layout so far.

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:38

I'm basing it on the memory of a site I created about 6 years ago, that I can't find any traces off online or on this PC (I'm pretty sure I have a copy of it on one of my old HD's lying around somewhere but it's not easy to get to at the moment)

which used a .js with a load of defines and arrays as a database. But I had different colour schemes for different sections, and unless I don't use the widgets, I can't see how I can do that this time with WP.

Oh and thanks for the compliments,

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

You could wrap various bits of your code in different divs and define different colour schemes for each div?

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:46

Nah, it's not that, the links (including the links in the navigation bar) were different colours depending on what category they were pointing too.

Now, obviously if I manually create the navbar then I can do that quite easily, but if I'm using the widgets I can't see how I can.

Malc

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12334

If you check the source for your live page, you'll see that Wordpress will create a few unique ids for you for various links, so it's still possible to an extent.

Malc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:59

I'll see what I can achieve with it (when I'm closer to setting it up how I want it)

Thanks for the tips

Malc

Be Excellent To Each Other

How to start a blog
or 'shameless self-promotion'

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Be Excellent To Each Other

How to start a blog or 'shameless self-promotion'

Who is online

How to start a blog
or 'shameless self-promotion'