By the way, I've noticed that the Next Chapter links are live even when there's no next chapter. That is, I can click the link, and it takes me to a new page, but the page effectively says, "Sorry, there's nothing here." This can be kind of confusing, and in some web design circles I believe it's one of those Things Not to Be Done.
As I recall, you used to be a sysop for a BBS, but I don't know how much you know about HTML. Please forgive me if what follows is old hat to you.
In my understanding, best practice says that you don't put in a visible ("live") link to a page that's not there yet. What you do is to "comment out" the tags when you build the page. That is, in the newest page, the HTML code for the Next Chapter link is there, it's just not visible to the user. So, for example, if you've just posted Chapter Two, you include the HTML that makes the link to Chapter Three, but you mark it as a comment so that it doesn't appear in the browser window. Then once Chapter Three goes live, you go to Chapter Two and take out that comment tag to make the Next Chapter link visible.
If this sounds like Martian, this tutorial may help.
...in some web design circles I believe it's one of those Things Not to Be Done.
Yes, but I'm not a web designer, I'm a writer. The story's the thing for me; the web page is merely a vehicle to deliver the words to the reader. Design purists will either have to cut me some slack as a rank amateur, or simply avert their eyes.
Actually, I've been thinking that the next chapter link should take them (me!) to the kick in another donation page. Of course, that would be even more appropriate if we ever let you catch up to the donations with the writing, but it seems like a natural tease.
I didn't mean to suggest that you should be a designer, nor that you are somehow deficient as a person because your page isn't professionally produced, and I regret very much if my words gave that impression.
What I wanted to convey is that it can be frustrating to follow a link that says "Next chapter" and not find a chapter at the end of it. I only mentioned the comment function as a potential solution because I personally find it really irritating when people comment or complain about something and then don't offer a suggestion to help improve, fix, or otherwise resolve it. For values of It where It = Something you, the page owner, feel like changing.
As for the link, it's included only because the author does a better job than I did explaining what the heck a comment is. Truly, it wasn't intended as a suggestion that You Suck and Should Educate Yourself. Rereading, I can see where my comment could lead you to that conclusion, or to give the impression that I'm demanding you change your page, and I'm dismayed that my words might have caused you distress of any kind.
The story is the most important thing. I'm just grateful we get the chance to see Fledgling as it grows. Please don't take my clumsiness as a sign that I feel in any way entitled to more than you feel able or inclined to give.
I didn't mean to suggest that you should be a designer, nor that you are somehow deficient as a person because your page isn't professionally produced, and I regret very much if my words gave that impression.
Hmm. And I hadn't meant to come across as a bear, only to point out that we all put weight on different things. The grandmother who taught me my needlework, for instance, was horrified if the back side of a piece of embroidery was any less perfect than the front. I, OTOH, felt I was doing well if the front side wasn't all knotted up.
I can perfectly understand that the arrangements on the Fledgling site might be horrifying to someone who Cares Deeply about web design. Certainly, a link that goes nowhere is frustrating just on general principles.
But.
We're stretched pretty thin at the moment, so we're doing a buncha things for our convenience, and as memory aids. Better that it be ugly but right, than Totally Screwed Up because one of us Forgot, or were rushed.
Oh, lord. Now Miri's saying in my head, "Feisty old toot, was she?"
(Egad, what's the encore? Dyk popping through the door shouting "I like ponies!"? Plainly I need a nice long nap.)
As for the site, it's more important that it work for you two than it is that a link goes Noplace in Particular. Sometimes I forget that not everyone's as compulsive as I am. Also, the design is nice and simple and functional. What's not to like with that?
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mmmag
no subject
Date: 2007-02-04 08:13 pm (UTC)By the way, I've noticed that the Next Chapter links are live even when there's no next chapter. That is, I can click the link, and it takes me to a new page, but the page effectively says, "Sorry, there's nothing here." This can be kind of confusing, and in some web design circles I believe it's one of those Things Not to Be Done.
As I recall, you used to be a sysop for a BBS, but I don't know how much you know about HTML. Please forgive me if what follows is old hat to you.
In my understanding, best practice says that you don't put in a visible ("live") link to a page that's not there yet. What you do is to "comment out" the tags when you build the page. That is, in the newest page, the HTML code for the Next Chapter link is there, it's just not visible to the user. So, for example, if you've just posted Chapter Two, you include the HTML that makes the link to Chapter Three, but you mark it as a comment so that it doesn't appear in the browser window. Then once Chapter Three goes live, you go to Chapter Two and take out that comment tag to make the Next Chapter link visible.
If this sounds like Martian, this tutorial may help.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-04 08:37 pm (UTC)Yes, but I'm not a web designer, I'm a writer. The story's the thing for me; the web page is merely a vehicle to deliver the words to the reader. Design purists will either have to cut me some slack as a rank amateur, or simply avert their eyes.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-05 12:02 am (UTC)Oh, dear.
Date: 2007-02-05 01:54 am (UTC)What I wanted to convey is that it can be frustrating to follow a link that says "Next chapter" and not find a chapter at the end of it. I only mentioned the comment function as a potential solution because I personally find it really irritating when people comment or complain about something and then don't offer a suggestion to help improve, fix, or otherwise resolve it. For values of It where It = Something you, the page owner, feel like changing.
As for the link, it's included only because the author does a better job than I did explaining what the heck a comment is. Truly, it wasn't intended as a suggestion that You Suck and Should Educate Yourself. Rereading, I can see where my comment could lead you to that conclusion, or to give the impression that I'm demanding you change your page, and I'm dismayed that my words might have caused you distress of any kind.
The story is the most important thing. I'm just grateful we get the chance to see Fledgling as it grows. Please don't take my clumsiness as a sign that I feel in any way entitled to more than you feel able or inclined to give.
Re: Oh, dear.
Date: 2007-02-05 02:24 am (UTC)Hmm. And I hadn't meant to come across as a bear, only to point out that we all put weight on different things. The grandmother who taught me my needlework, for instance, was horrified if the back side of a piece of embroidery was any less perfect than the front. I, OTOH, felt I was doing well if the front side wasn't all knotted up.
I can perfectly understand that the arrangements on the Fledgling site might be horrifying to someone who Cares Deeply about web design. Certainly, a link that goes nowhere is frustrating just on general principles.
But.
We're stretched pretty thin at the moment, so we're doing a buncha things for our convenience, and as memory aids. Better that it be ugly but right, than Totally Screwed Up because one of us Forgot, or were rushed.
Re: Oh, dear.
Date: 2007-02-05 02:56 am (UTC)Oh, lord. Now Miri's saying in my head, "Feisty old toot, was she?"
(Egad, what's the encore? Dyk popping through the door shouting "I like ponies!"? Plainly I need a nice long nap.)
As for the site, it's more important that it work for you two than it is that a link goes Noplace in Particular. Sometimes I forget that not everyone's as compulsive as I am. Also, the design is nice and simple and functional. What's not to like with that?
no subject
Date: 2007-02-05 02:57 pm (UTC)