Wide's World

Who is Widearea and Why Does He Keep Following Me Around?

by

Widearea

Porno-Graphix

Newbies teaching newbies

What the hell are we all doing here? Being new at something sucks, doesn't it? You know nothing and you have to learn everything from the beginning. The sheer humiliation of situations like that can be most opressive. On the other hand, being an authority on something can also be quite unpleasant, open to many of the same weirdness that knowing nothing can cause. At Voltar's Newbie Webmaster Resources, the notion that we are all newbies is often brought forth, and tendering some humility and willingness to learn with your own sense of achievement and accomplishment is what is required in order that we may each teach and learn respectively and simultaneously. As I always wish to impart to the readers of Wide's World -- thank you for for coming by!

This week the air in Wide's World was contaminated by bad vibes, and what we artsy people call a "creative block." Everyone has slumps, from writers to baseball players to stock brokers. It is a natural cycle. But when your life depends on producing, there's often no room for such annoying interruptions. I decided to take the time and discuss some of the things one can do to get past the blocks to open up the floodgates and let that good stuff back in. Besides, it's what Pastaboy demands of us all.

Inspiration

I am not the self help author, nor do I wish to be one. My topic this week, however, is a little on the freaky side though, and understandably what I am going to say will vex or annoy some readers undoubtedly. My lesson this week is one I am still learning, and still trying to perfect and master. But the premise is this: A happy webmaster is a profitable webmaster. I know this from being on both sides. Every webmaster has good days and bad days. Most people do. I guess it comes with life. Let's see if we can apply some useful techniques to improve ourselves and our sites without going too far on the road less traveled.

As webmasters we rely on the creative impulse to manufacture our sites. The more creative and original you can be with your webmastering, the chances of making sales and enjoying success is almost a guarantee. That's why it's important to remain inspired and creative. Sometimes that just won't happen. Often it is simply a matter of time to get beyond the phase, but often one can act to conquer the blocks we endure. Simple stretching exercises can be invaluable in replenishing vital energy.

From Homeric times, the spark of creativity came from the muse... How will you invoke her? Taking a break, walking outside, listening to music, meditation, breathing, and generally a good balance of work and play can keep the monsters of Slump away... Some of the links below offer good suggestions on how to deal with a creative block, as well as some specific methods and exercises to bust out of the box. Often your shear will to end the stagnancy can be enough, other times the source of creativity will come from outside. Whatever the case, if you want to change you will.

What Then?

OK, so you went through a horrible time when you didn't think you would ever be inspired again, and somehow you managed to get back into your job -- what then? The idea is to make sites that sell, right? Finding inspiration for a website can come from anywhere. Perhaps you caught an upskirt peek of a housewife in the supermarket parking lot as she loads her bags in the car. Use that experience in your next site. How about that hotty you have an encounter with in the produce section as she squeezes a ripe melon and smiles mysteriously at you as she does... There's a site in there somewhere, man, and that's just at the grocery store. The point is that ideas will come to you when you may least expect it, and the driving point is that you open yourself up to these revelations and get ready to enjoy the site building process that follows. Sure you can slap some links and pictures up on a page, but your success will come from your ability to use your mundane life's events to harvest that killer site that's dying to come out of you.

On the other side of the coin, what if your dog died, your lover left you, and your friends all hate you and there's seemingly no point in living -- what then? Take a walk, turn on the tunes and dance and then channel those energies into your next site. Even the dark side of our lives is rich with useful inspiration and innovation. Are you ready to let it work for you?

Creative people will always have blocks. It is part of the creative process. Developing your own personal methods of dealing with your own creative process will surely be invaluable to you as your own creativity comes and goes. The cycle begets the cycle. Profits and success can make you happy, and being happy will feed your success. That's just the way it is, huh? On which end of the spectrum do you want to be? Enjoy life and enjoy webmastering! Until next time, Happy Webmastering!

Some Useful Links