Hi,
sorry for posting about this again but
I’m still struggling to find a layout and like site projects to do that are like “mine” and that i can like actually do ive been in a rut with programming for the site for the entire year so far and i cant come up with anything interetsintg and i cant focus on coding anymore help
1 Like
I’m not sure I understand your question. Are you looking for other websites that have the same vibe as yours?
like working on the website and finding projects and stuff that like feels like it expresses my personality and stuff
I don’t have an easy answer for you there. All I can suggest is that you use the Neocities site directory and explore. Likewise stuff like Wiby Surprise, Marginalia Search and maybe even Kagi Small Web. When you see something that you vibe with, bookmark it. Also, use “view source” to peek under the hood and see how they did it.
1 Like
I struggle with this too; my own not-ready-yet site has also been on hiatus for a year (though not for much longer, I’m sure of it).
If it helps you any, you can just start with the bones of a website which will slowly express more and more of who you are as you update it. You don’t even have to start with pages which are about you: you could start with shrine pages dedicated to things you enjoy and want others to be able discover.
1 Like
My opinion is that site navigation and layout is there to help visitors find your pages.
If you have a small number of pages, a list on the homepage and a link back home on each other page is all you need for navigation.
If you have a large number of pages, it starts to make sense to try to categorize and subcategorize.
A layout with lots of items “under construction” might make it harder for visitors to navigate.
If you find a layout you like but you’re not ready to make use of everything in it, you can use the hidden attribute to easily hide the parts you don’t yet need.
1 Like
I more feel like I’m stuck in my current layout, like im worried its too boring but i dont know what to do and like i cant just “waitfor inspiration” because its clearly not working its been 4 months…
Gentle question: Too boring for whom?
If you get bored looking at it, what would help? Better background, some images, a different color scheme? Pick one thing and change it, then see if you feel less bored. Then change another. And so on.
This is where looking at other sites can really help. When you see something you like, look at it for a while. Why do you like it? Is it the color, the images, the shape, how it makes something easy to find?
If you’re okay with the site but worry “other people” are bored: Let that be "other people"s business.
First, if you’re okay with it, other people’s opinions don’t matter. It’s called a “personal site” for a reason!
Also, you are also a people. It’s okay to trust your judgment here. If you are not bored, at least one other human is also not bored.
Finally, sites are easy to change. If you want a change, just change something. Randomly, if you have to. Then see how you feel about it. You can always go back.
3 Likes
Any idea how to actually start? I tried sitting down and just couldnt
2 Likes
Maybe you’re just not ready yet? Maybe you need to step away from the computer and do something else for a while. Read a book, look at some art, or pet some kitties.
2 Likes
A layout probably won’t feel like ‘you’ just because you saw it and liked it; that’s probably where you’re struggling. If you start with something you like enough, and go through the process of slowly tweaking it over time, then it will definitely feel like ‘you’ eventually.
If you’re struggling, I’d say just pick the ‘default’ layout to start with (header with a logo / title, main content under it, sidebar to the side for navigation links).
Once you have that sorted, you’ll be able to look at it, you’ll remember building it (it will be feeling more like ‘you’ already), and you can then say “I don’t like X, Y, and Z, and I could like A, B, and C a little more too!”, you’ll be in a better position to inspire yourself.
2 Likes
I agree with @starbreaker, maybe stepping away from it for a while is what you need. In my own experience, that has helped more times than one.
Some questions. Ignore them, or use them, or reply, whatever you like.
Did you make your current design yourself? Or do you use pre-made ones?
How about starting with a blank page and add/ change one thing at a time, and see where it takes you?
How about starting with pen and paper? Make a list of what you like and want, or doodle layouts.
In any case, I hope you’ll get out of this soon so that you can enjoy working on your site again!
1 Like
I want to echo what @Nanoroar said especially, because I know sometimes it can be frustrating when you want to work on your site but the best advice is “stop working on your site”. It does make it easier, I promise! But it’s not always useful in the moment lmao.
Nothing you do will feel like “you” immediately. It’s the time spent with it, and the tweaks and edits you make to make it exactly how you like, that makes it feel more like “you”. You gotta start with stuff you like, even if it doesn’t feel interesting or authentic or useful or what have you. It will get there, you just have to tend to it first.
I found a background I really liked and based everything off of that- at first it felt like a very basic site, not particularly inspired. But as I went on building it up, I became more attached to the things I was making, and that background and color scheme and layout (even though I’ve since switched it!!) felt more like “mine”. Lots of other people use those colors, or background, or layout style; but this one is mine, and I’m attached now.
I think of webweaving like any other kind of art in the sense that you gotta be patient with yourself and you won’t become any more satisfied with your work unless you really practice and get in the weeds with it. Throw something lame as hell onto a page and then think about what you can do to make it less lame. And you can always ask for help if there’s a particular vibe you’re looking for that you don’t know how to express!
5 Likes