Words of Leka

I am about to give my website a face lift. Here is my first sketch, made during my lunch time:

In meditation room, still. See it as a raw draft:

I’ve got this thing with spirals, you know…

Another thing to show settled after many versions. A breath of my old school in there:

I was trying to constraint myself from writing all day long. I was expecting someone to come visit, and check out my new logo, but it didn’t happen’. I have a strong urge to blabber further. So I show you one of previous logo’s by me, now:

No comments on this, now. Just show and go.

This morning, for breakfast, I’ve made me a logo:

First draft done in less than ten minutes. Idea was clear, execution was made in two parts: first drawn on paper, than in Illustrator. “Illu” was fun part. Two minutes. Straight lines, mostly.

Playing with gradients and illusion of space in Photoshop. Looks familiar, this effect?

Now, third step is letting go. I like idea too much, it is almost irritating. So I think, let’s leave it for some time. I can see right now how I could redesign my website. And, I should!

After testing BlogDesk I’ve found a couple hiccups, not really acceptable. For example, loading images into blog is almost impossible. Not being able to preview design with content is another thing.

So I try now Live Writer beta. It looks nice and comfortable. It does just what desktop blog publisher should do, to my humble opinion. Look here:

As I write this, I feel just fine. All works, no one crashes or such. Soon enough, I will be sure if this is the right piece of software for me…

• Spell checking looks ok.
• Web Preview allows you to see instantly how does it look like, while writing.
• Inserting images is a snap. It seems it is faster than you would expect it to be.
• Html editor is ok, too. It doesn’t put words or spaces in your mouth. It behaves, knowing it is your helper only. I am, myself, not much of a WYSIWYG type. I do most of my work in Notepad++ and Homesite. So, for me this doesn’t count.
• Now, maybe I am hooked for too long on Windows ( well, buy me Mac and I’ll sing other song! ), but this is just what I was expecting computer should do for me. It lets you write and insert objects, and check mistakes, and publish as draft (only to backstage), so you can still think about it before publishing. It does some other pleasant things as well, but I am not willing to go so deep into that.
• I am going crazy about image options in Live Writer! It is so easy and effective! At least, comparing to BlogDesk, and even to core WordPress image handling. Drop shadows and other effects done with one click (or two at most). Or, you can leave your images alone, by choosing “Use blog’s default”. So whatever you have set in your theme or blog’s options would affect images when published.
• Interface is simple and clear, not too many options and menu’s. It looks like front for admin thing in your blog, and then even simpler. This alone could be a good reason to use it!
• On the other side, there are some little annoyances in writing links, like: editor adds attribute “atomicselection” (where does this comes from? something only Live Writer knows?). And, if you specify that link should be opened in new window (which is not what you should do!), editor writes target="_new". What kind of target is this? Someone trying to write new rules?

All in all, nice piece of (beta) software. It can never replace live editing, but for fast and lazy blogging, straight out of your desktop, it looks just fine. You needn’t know anything about anything to post fine article. But, if you do care about fine details, do go to your blog’s backstage and do it all the way you want it.

Say, your internet connection sucks, or you have much to write and much to think during this process… Than, it can work for you ok. Or, you just don’t trust your browser (if you are not using modern one).
I am talking here much and I have never mentioned I am using WordPress! Well, now you know…

Live Writer works well with other big bunch of packages, but not with Blogger, for example. See for yourself, if it gets you anywhere with your thing. I am sure it would be good to Textpattern and b2evolution. Other well known blogs are probably supported. Ask me and I will test them for you.