The little writer that could....

My history in web-design:

My very first website was created at the tender age of fourteen. I had always been a writer, and I knew based on many of the websites I frequented that if I ever wanted anyone to read what I would write, I needed to get it out there on the internet.

My first website was a simple one, created on what was known at the time as geocities. It was primitive at best. I hadn’t yet learned to create links or use images. I could only use the simple web design tools that geocities provided. Which were essentially backgrounds in primary colors and the option to change the colors of the words.

I started the website as a means of networking. I wanted to get my writing out there and interact with other young writers and share my thoughts and experiences.

I began visiting other websites and began teaching myself to create links and basic html commands such as posting images and creating frames. I visited websites and tried every tutorial I could find on webpage design and creation. I bought books, and borrowed books from the library. I purchased photo editing software and essentially taught myself.

I remained with GeoCities until its closure in the spring of 2009. I knew that the site was closing, and saw this as an opportunity to purchase my own domain name and dot-com address. I saw this as an opportunity to inspire other young writers and perhaps host a few other writers.

A friend and fellow writer offered me an incredible deal on a website, and took care of everything from domain registration to helping me transfer files and novels over to the new site. She was reselling data she had purchased on her own and I jumped at the chance.

Upon the recommendation of other web-designers and writers, as well as based on my needs for the website, I began using the blogging program WordPress. It allowed me to create designs which were not only personalized but also professional looking. I loved the fact that I could take a template, access the code and customize absolutely everything. And updating and posting was as simple as copying and pasting.

In early 2012, my site went down and I could no longer contact the friend who had helped me out so dearly. I waited patiently, but my readers were getting frustrated and aside from emailing out the chapters written, I could do nothing to fix the site. I couldn’t contact the host and I didn’t know where she was hosting to get my files and documents.

In spring of 2012, I made the decision to move to another server on my own and start from scratch. I spoke to the same group of online friends and searched for a reasonably priced host that came well-recommended. I decided on Hosting Zoom, a server out of Texas. The problem became that all of my documents were on the old site, and none of them were backed up. I had to start from scratch.

I had to choose a new domain name. I had purchased my old domain name outright, but because I didn’t know where it was hosted, there was no way I could get it back. I had to choose a new one. I decided on a name similar to the last and began the long and arduous task of creating subdomains, uploading themes, customizing them, and posting chapters. I had no idea how much thirteen years of writing would entail, as some of my novels are hundreds of chapters long and many have more than one part of at least fifty chapters or more.

I uploaded the most popular works first, but still the process took weeks of trying to find templates I had used and recreate the domains exactly as they had been. In some cases I lost header images and had to re-design them.

During this time, my former host finally responded to my emails. She was able to send me a partial back-up which was months old. I was easily able to upload entire subdomains through the SLQ database wizard. I only had to make a few minor changes and updates to bring the site back to its former glory.

I used Facebook and Twitter as well as my personal blogs on LiveJournal to inform my readers of the change in address.  I now have many of my original readers returned and thrilled with the changes. I get constant compliments from other writers in my circles about how great the site is looking.

I am so pleased with my new host I plan to remain with them as long as I can. Even though they’re out of Texas, if I have questions or problems, they respond promptly and are more than willing to help.

I’ve attached a few screen shots of my current subdomains.