About the Site

technically

I really like the idea of making a site using HTML and CSS. I’m not very good at it, so I use cool stuff others make, such as the Simple.css Framework by Kev Quirk. He also makes Pure Blog, which is a drop dead simple way to make your own blog, if you want.
If my custom CSS is working, the fonts should be ones I purchased, and highly recommend, from Matthew Butterick at MB Type. Equity for the body, and Concourse for the headings.
I use tally for my Contact Form. I recommend them for their wonderful “Fair Use” attitude, making forms available basically for free to small sites.
I pay neocities $5 a month for hosting this site, and while I’ll probably be moving elsewhere eventually (as I learn to be a better site-mangler), it’s not a reflection on neocities. They are a good place for beginners and I will continue to support them financially even after I leave.

other details …

Everything is free, nothing for sale.
No covert collection of data.
This site (and its companion) will never be done, which is a good thing.
I tinker. I try new things; things break (thankfully only mine so far). My apologies in advance. (I’ll try not to take down the Internet. Promise.)
Minimal graphics, because the site is mainly about the written word, and not because I’m bad at making graphics. (Really. I promise you I can draw, and sometimes the line is straight.)
If you contact me and give me an email, then I obviously have collected some data about you. But if you ask, I will delete everything I have recorded about you, and remove all your data as much as is possible.
Not going to bug you about signing up for a newsletter.
No popups when you start to leave the site asking you to do anything.
You never have to join my Patreon (don’t have one), buy me cup of coffee, send me a donation, etc.
I’m making no effort to drive traffic, or doing any SEO. In fact, I’d rather not be noticed by Google.
I want to stay small to keep from spending too much time working the site, so word of mouth is all I’ll ever need or want.
I’m always open to corrections or criticisms or opinions on what you find. I do make mistakes of many types, so when they are pointed out to me, I consider it to be learning experience.
Always feel free to drop me a note. About anything.

You. Are. Invited.

Ask me anything. Including help of any kind.
For example …

A site I make allows me to provide links to commonly repeated responses, ideas, and information. When writing an email, posting in an online forum, etc.
- which means if you would like to have the same convenience, but don’t have a site or blog, drop me a line and we’ll see if I can post it for you. We can keep it private, or make it freely available. Your choice.
Advice on how to make a personal site, which will consist of me telling you what NOT to do, to avoid repeating my many mistakes, and then pointing you to resources and other people who know what they’re doing.
So you like the idea of having an online forum for you and a few friends, but you don't want to interact with others. No worries. I can help (get you started) on making your own forum. Or you can join this one and we'll make you a private group that no one will ever know about, except me. And the members of your group.
A honest evaluation of anything you’ve written, preferably fiction. I won’t promise to read whatever you send me completely, but I’ll read enough. My opinion is worth next to nothing, of course, but so is everyone else’s. You’re the writer; your opinion is the only one that matters.^*

Miscellany

(and in no particular order)

It has taken me far too long to get this website up. I tend towards perfectionism (all the mistakes and errors notwithstanding) even though I know perfection is unattainable. I can’t get rid of the little voices insisting I make everything perfect. So, don’t be like me. Get it finished, whatever “it” happens to be. Maybe it’s good enough, maybe it’s better than you think, or maybe the comments elicited will help you improve it; or improve the next iteration.
If you’ve spent any amount of time reading books about How To Write Good, then you've probably heard all the writing advice before. There’s really not that much, and most of it is commonsense. I will not be able to avoid discussing a lot that will seem familiar. My plan is to present something, then tell you how I approach it. Not saying my approach is good or one that anyone else should follow, but maybe it will spur something for someone. Or some other strange one such as myself will feel a little less alone.
Any advice or opinions I give on writing can safely be ignored, unless they help you. One never knows where help will come from, but sometimes the tenth time you read/hear something, perhaps presented in a different way, makes it click for you.
People often tell me my writing is good, but I need to write more normal. I know what they mean, and I can even accomplish it sometimes, but the urge to go back and warp and twist is always there, and I usually give in. (Like Oscar Wilde, I can resist everything except temptation.)
When I write non-fiction and try to remain serious I just can't keep it serious. This failure manifests itself in unusual punctuation and playing with forms; and some really bad humor. I'll try to keep these to a minimum here, and get it out of my system on my companion site, where I remove my shackles (whilst keeping an eye out for Diana Moon Glampers, of course.)
I’ll also be dropping references to items of culture, both high and low, and I cannot promise to effectively annotate all of them. If something sticks in your craw, and a quick search inline avails you not (more and more common these days), drop me a line. With any luck, I'll even remember where the reference came from.

^*Unless you are thinking about publishing, which, according to some, is either the only reason to write (it isn’t), or the bit that ruins writing. Nowadays, one can write as they please and self-publish; just don’t expect loads of money. Or any money. But you might get a few readers, and some of them may love your words. Worth a shot, in my opinion. ↩