I like to think of myself as pretty creative, and not just with words. I reckon I’ve got quite a good visual eye and because I've created a lot of books for younger children I often write my projects as layouts rather than scrolling Word text. I sketch things out (though freelance illustrators need not worry!), move around the elements on the page, or place my text on dummy layouts to see how each spread holds together. I like playing around on InDesign (ditto for freelance designers) and can apply its principles to most design programmes; creating an online photobook holds no fear for me, though I might lose days and weeks selecting and shuffling the images whilst endlessly shifting around the layouts.
When I asked my younger son (who is about to take a GCSE in Computer Science and so seemed the perfect candidate) to help me build my website he was keen to get started. But when it became clear to me that he had neither the commitment nor inclination to meet my (albeit arbitrary) timescale, I realised I’d have to take on the task myself – I mean, how hard could it be? Turns out that websites are not just page layouts that scroll up and down a bit. They contain technical building blocks I’d never even considered: pages, strips, sections, columns, headers, footers… all of them having to sit in the right place, in the right order, to scroll in the right direction and connect to the right links.
“It doesn’t work like a book page you know, Mum,” the 16-year-old muttered helpfully, as he caught me swearing at my laptop screen for the hundredth time when another part of the website wouldn’t do what I wanted it to.
But eventually I got there and the website has finally gone live. I’m not convinced it’s structured exactly right and I’m sure a professional web designer could improve it immeasurably, but it does what I need it to, which is… well, the jury’s still out on whether freelancers like me really need a website to sell their wares at all. With social media, LinkedIn and online and in-person networking opportunities all around me, I hope it will be just another tool in making those connections that could lead to a commission, which at the end of the day, is surely what every freelancer most needs – and hopefully more than a super sophisticated state-of-the-art website...
Note: It was during some very helpful coaching sessions with Bridget Adams that I set my goal of creating a website and I highly recommend talking to her if you need a kickstart or reset in your work life, personal life, or both.
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