Web Site Frustration
October 22, 2012 at 3:06 pm 3 comments
I decided I needed to revise my website to change the focus from The Age of Anxiety (an audio I created) to my new book I Survived A Secret Nazi Extermination Camp. The book is being printed (soon) and so I wanted to be ready with a site to support the book’s launch (if there will be one). But my HTML skills are non-existent, so I’m finding it difficult to work on my WordPress site.
Maybe I need to really commit the time to learning these skills rather than just throw my hands up in despair. But I have always believed that if there is someone who knows how to do something well – whether a plumber, electrician or web designer – that amateurs like me should always pay for them to use their skills rather than do a hash of the job myself. In the past I always had the dosh to pay for this work, but at the moment cash is tight, which is why I am even considering doing this myself.
I’ve always assumed that Photoshop and other design tools were beyond my ability. I haven’t changed that opinion. So here I am needing to make a decision- learn the skills or pay for them. Any suggestions from the virtual world?
I
Entry filed under: I Survived A Secret Nazi Extermination Camp, Thoughts, Uncategorized. Tags: design, photoshop, skills, web designer, web site.
Mark Forstater's Blog 
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Premshay Hermon | October 22, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Hey Mark, don’t outsource – crowdsource!
Let the virtual community help out.
I shared it on my FB and Tweeter accounts, others should do the same. people may volunteer to help out (I will put my name as a volunteer as well, as I’ve done a bit of wordpress websites myself, following the exact contemplations as yourself)
Additionaly, you can start a crowdourcing campaign – Indiegogo and Kickstarter being widespread, but there are also UK-centric websites for this.
Using a crowdsourcing campaign will not only produce the necessary funds and volunteers, but also create bigger outreach for the important book.
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Peter Gee | December 6, 2012 at 9:48 am
LSFT, eh? I remember it well -although not yourself, unfortunately.
As far as your plea for advice about learning Photoshop is concerned, just do it. It really isn’t rocket science you know. Any idiot can learn to use it – and there are a great many that have done so – so don’t confuse yourself with thoughts about how “difficult” it is.
Just do it. Do the basic things first – maybe use a free programme, such as Gimp to get a bit of a feel for it before splashing out your £grand (difficult at the moment I understand) on a full version of Photoshop. I actually have a couple of Mac copies lying around here at the moment – although they are now quite worthless since Apple decided to change the electronics in their computers meaning that the versions I have (4) no longer work at all. Bloody Photoshop! See, you have me going now, so I’d better stop and let you compose yourself – or something.
Bottom line: Download Gimp (free) and start to play.
New bottom line; here.
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Peter Gee | December 6, 2012 at 9:59 am
Just as an aside – don’t let this one accidentally slip through your moderation, there’s a good chap!
How to learn? I know I already banged on about “just do it”, so I won’t repeat myself yet again. Ooops. I did, didn’t I! Anyway, you need to learn with something that gets your interest. Noting too artistic; maybe just sticking some of your friends heads (photos, of course) onto porn stars bodies to get your interest going. This is, admittedly, a bit of a stale technique, but surprisingly refreshing to “see” one of your friends wearing the penis from a dwarf gerbil.
Go forth and … do it!
See, I couldn’t resist. Again.