Anyone have an e-zine? - Writers Forum

Stacy · 03-14-2005, 08:05 PM

My writing group and I are going to start our own literary e-zine, but we're having some difficulties (meaning we're all computer illiterate). Does anyone have any advice on how to create the site? Is it best to start off with free Web hosting service like GeoCities or should you start with your own domain?

Tyson · 03-14-2005, 08:08 PM

If you are using a domain, I have done some searching, and have found that topcities.com has the best, I think like a hundred or 150 mb, an ftp uploader, and much more that I can't rember. As for designing it, what specific problems? I might or might not be able to help.
Tyson

Selorian · 03-16-2005, 01:04 AM

Stacy, pull up my profile and you will find a link to my e-zine. Right now, I'm not getting to work on it like I need to, and there won't be any new issues for awhile. If you like what you see, PM me and I will be glad to give you advice about what I learned while I was setting mine up. I may even be able to help with the hosting.

Cliff

Stacy · 03-16-2005, 07:04 PM

Thanks, guys. And I'll definitely have a look at that 'zine.

We're actually in the very beginning of the planning stages. We just know we're going to create one. We don't have a name yet, or any completed pieces to post. I still have to learn html, which considering my computer skills, might take an eternity.

Selorian · 03-16-2005, 08:03 PM

There are plenty of WYSIWYG programs out there that does a pretty good job. With them, you don't need to know any HTML. If you want to do more specialized stuff, then learning HTML is beneficial. It really isn't hard to learn, at the least the less advanced stuff isn't. If there is anything I could do to help you out, just let me know. I'll be more than happy to.

Cliff

Tyson · 03-16-2005, 10:26 PM

I know html, but you don't have to know it if you use that site I gave you, it has plenty of simple making ones.
Tyson

Stacy · 03-23-2005, 09:45 AM

Cliff, I just checked out Sacred Twilight. It is absolutely amazing. A ton of work must have gone into that.

Selorian · 03-23-2005, 12:00 PM

Thank you Stacy.

There was about a month went into the design and layout. It really wasn't that bad, just a few hours a day here and there. I'm happy with how it turned out.

If you do need any help when you get started, I will be happy to share what I've learned.

Cliff

Stacy · 03-23-2005, 03:24 PM

Thanks. I need all the help I can get. Right now, my group is voting on a 'zine name, and we're working on the first drafts of our first stories, so it will be a really long time before we're ready to make a site. July 1 is the date we're aiming for our first issue to be out.

But, um, yeah, I'm rather sad when it comes to computer stuff. I've never made a web site so I know nothing about web design or graphics. I'm kind of at the point where I don't even know what questions to ask about the whole process.

Did anyone help you make Sacred Twilight, or was it all your own hard work?

Selorian · 03-23-2005, 05:14 PM

I did all of it by myself. I learned HTML a few years back and dabbled with making a few web pages for fun. What I did with Sacred Twilight was mostly basic stuff. There is some things I used a web page design program to do, but very little.

Basic HTML is simple and easy to learn. I have fallen behind on the more advanced stuff, so that's when a good program comes in handy. There are plenty of free ones out there for download and some really awesome ones for sale. Most are easy to use and even a person who has no experience can set up a page in a short amount of time.

I can get the name of a few programs available and also find some links to sites that teach basic HTML for you, if you want. Just let me know if so and when.

Cliff

Stacy · 03-24-2005, 07:52 PM

That would be great. I'll definitely need to do practice sites first. I do want to learn HTML, but I don't think I'll become a computer whiz in four months.

Are you going to put your own writing in future issues of Sacred Twilight?

Tyson · 03-24-2005, 07:53 PM

Html is simple, I taught myself too. I had a tutorial site, and just removed it a while ago like last Monday.
Tyson

Stacy · 03-24-2005, 08:08 PM

It seems simple from what I've read, but I'm worried that once I have to put it into practice, it won't be. You'll probably find me IMing you if I get confused.

Tyson · 03-24-2005, 08:17 PM

Yeah, I think you will do fine. You could also find a WYSIWYG and then you only need a little skill.
Tyson

Stacy · 03-24-2005, 08:23 PM

Um, what is a WYSIWYG? Aside from being a really long acronym. I'm assuming it's some sort of program.