Elfstone I am a web-designer by trade. I check out you site and what they are saying about the site using flash is correct. Now that said you did a great job and what you want to use depends on your needs. So, take a deep breath....
I can see that you are a wonderful writer. I really liked the one poem that you have posted. Now, if your goal is to become as great a web-designer as you are a writer that is fine, but this hosting site (the place you made your website) is not the place for that. You need to go a different direction from the one you are on.
Some folks really want the challenge of doing it themselves and that is all right. But, others just want a nice site, with just a little work. That was easy in the beginning of the Internet when we all had sites at geocities ( now taken over by yahoo). And the adverts didn't bothers us because they were not as bad as they are now, but things have changed and putting up as site easily is not so easy anymore.
I am glad you felt that sense of excitement having created something of your own. The set up at this host, where you are now, will make it easy for you to get a site up quick and easy. I just has a downside and for some it is a big one.
Now I am all for hard coding and using the best w3 standards but really if Elfstone just wants a good site this may be the thing for now.
Elfstone you have a few choices:
1> First just continue on as you are going. I checked out your site on my WinXP using IE, Mozilla and Opera and it came up fine on them all. It was a slow load at times and I am on broadband so that may effect you decision but it looked great.
The upside is that it is really hard to steal you poems. Using this Flash method means no one can just right click and swipe. I didn't notice a copyright notice on the poem page. I recommend that you add that. Protect yourself as much as you can when it come to stuff you create.
While you can keep the domain name you purchased if you renew it each year you don't have to stay with this host. The downside is you can do lots of work and not be able to take it with you if you decide to go somewhere else, or if the host you have goes under or to the dark side.
2>Then again you may want to download a trial version of
Adobe® Dreamweaver® CS3. I don't like MS Frontpage so I will not recommend it, others can if they like, but not me.
Now this is a steep learning curve but if you want to know how to build web pages this is the way to go.
Use the free tutorials included and on the website. They will introduce you to the basic and more complex concepts. Remember you didn't get to be a great poet in a day, or did you?
Once you learn the concepts. You can skip the expense by using the Open Source website designers
Nvu (pronounced N-view, for a "new view")
With this method you will be in the drivers seat and any design you create you can take it with you. Who knows you may turn into a web-designer like me.
3>You can use a Blog site as others have recommended but I really don't see that working for you. That doesn't mean you can't have one that you link to and use as a blog. Now if you were just going to have talks or blogs about poetry or your poems than that would work. But, to use that structure the way I see you going with your design, I just wouldn't recommend it.
4> You could hire a web-designer like me or sign up for one of my complete website packages at
IntegrityWebsiteSolutions.com [WARNING self-promotion commercial here]
While we are in your price range, with prices from $99 per year for a complete 1 page website to $299 per year for a complete 5 pages website, we build it for you and I think you want more control than that.
The reason I started my business was because so many folks wanted a website but didn't have the time or money to put into learning how to build one. I love building sites and I think you would love it to, once you get the hang of it.
5> Lastly you can continue to shop for an inexpensive host that will give you building tools other than the ones you have. Finding one that is free in unlikely I have yet to find one. That, and easy of construction, is one reason so many folks use MYSPACE. Personally what you have is much better. You will find deals out there but READ THE CONTRACT.
In summary, breathe... you are doing great and if I started writing poems I would be as stressed about it as you are about site designing. So, give yourself some credit for trying.
Again what you have looks great and it can be temporary, 6 months to a few years. Just remember you will have to do it all over again if you move to another site with the method you have now. But in a few years you may want to do that anyway. Things on the Internet change so quickly.
If you need more info let me know. I look forward to reading more of your poems...
I forgot to add use your new domain name that you got instead of the address they gave you if you decide to stay where you are.
They tell you how in the support section under FAQ's.
____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!
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I have been continually playing contest on the forum since Dec 2004. Having often been addressed as a he my new avatar shows that I am a "
Lady"
. And one with a very sharp sword, too.
I love the monthly contests but it took me a long while before I even placed. 21 contests in fact.
Virtual Burning Man was the first contest I took any place in and I got 1st, wow!. Yes, I have received my prize, a sweatshirt from the DROD store, and I love it.
It took 14 more contest but next I took 1st prize in Media of the Eighth Nov07, followed by a win in the Secret Santa 2007. Check out my entry:
http://www.gailswebplace.com/NightSky/index.html
Suddenly I was a winner but, still the goal of a winning hold based contest eludes me....
I keep trying so come and join me.
http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewboard.php?BoardID=83
[Last edited by techant at 09-14-2007 10:44 AM]