Since I cam across this post from Om Malik on whether the “stream” as a design paradigm is over it’s been noodling away at the back of my mind. I think, to some extent, I agree with it whilst at the same time disagreeing. Streams are good for one thing: communicating context via time.
I’ve recently discovered the blog of Manuel Moreale and I love the simplicity of the design.
In his post about Blogging, RSS, and Imposture Syndrome Brandon writes,
Then it clicked… the internet I miss didn’t include my mom. It was a bunch of nerds, creating stuff, showing it off, and most of the time doing it for free for others to enjoy.
And I couldn’t agree more. This is exactly the internet I miss as well. It’s what drew me to create my first blog in 2005 and what keep drawing me back now.
First steps of an updated personal site today. It will likely evolve a lot in the coming weeks especially while I work out how micro.blog, mastodon, and the site work together.
Keeping an eye on CodeEdit. Looks promising.
My code editor of choice (Atom) is no more. Anyone got any recommendations?
I miss blog rolls… the first time the personal web was in full swing everyone had blog rolls on their sites. Now very few people have this and it makes finding sites much harder.
Wandering around Oxford today after a few days in London. An end of January mini holiday is actually really nice and refreshing.
Blank page paralysis
I’ve been feeling the desire to create more since the start of the year. I’m not sure if it’s just because it’s a new year which often brings with it a fresh vigour or whether it’s seeing some people I know have their artwork displayed in a local gallery. It creates a spark in me. A desire to create things.
I’m inspired.
Except.
When I sit down with my notebook and pencil or my iPad and Apple Pencil I don’t know what to draw. I know I want to draw something but I don’t know what. So instead I turn to Ulysses and I write something. That’s fine, I enjoy it, but I want to draw something. I want to create something visual. Maybe I’m out of practice. I’ve spent so many years creating websites and designs for other people that when it comes to creating something for myself I have no idea where to start. I’m paralysed by the blank page. So I’m finding myself trying to research the drawing process. What can I create and how do I work out what I want to create? Maybe it’s a case of picking up my pencil and drawing, letting it wander around the page and seeing what emerges? At the very least it would be a start. Some marks being made. Let’s see…
Blank page paralysis
I’ve been feeling the desire to create more since the start of the year. I’m not sure if it’s just because it’s a new year which often brings with it a fresh vigour or whether it’s seeing some people I know have their artwork displayed in a local gallery. It creates a spark in me. A desire to create things.
I’m inspired.
Except.
When I sit down with my notebook and pencil or my iPad and Apple Pencil I don’t know what to draw. I know I want to draw something but I don’t know what. So instead I turn to Ulysses and I write something. That’s fine, I enjoy it, but I want to draw something. I want to create something visual. Maybe I’m out of practice. I’ve spent so many years creating websites and designs for other people that when it comes to creating something for myself I have no idea where to start. I’m paralysed by the blank page. So I’m finding myself trying to research the drawing process. What can I create and how do I work out what I want to create? Maybe it’s a case of picking up my pencil and drawing, letting it wander around the page and seeing what emerges? At the very least it would be a start. Some marks being made. Let’s see…