Blog Questions Challenge#

I’ve been tagged by Gosha to answer the Blog Questions challenge! So here goes!

Why did you start blogging in the first place?#

I started writing on the web in the early 2000, mostly on skyblog and in forums. I started my first blog with a friend in the mid 2000 when Wordpress became a bit more popular. I had several websites since, but most of them are dead now.

I started writing to share my hobbies and what I find interesting. But today I mostly write to remember valuable information I know I will forget, and I happen to do it publicly so others can benefit from it. Writing on a topic helps processing it in my brain, so I also use it as a way to think. And finally, it serves as a timestamp for the writing period. I can go back to it and compare what I remember from a period to how I felt about it in the moment.

What platform are you using to manage your blog and why did you choose it?#

I write in text files which are transformed into webpages by any html printer. Those text files possess a specific syntax that I created to split pages, insert links, images, etc.

I wrote the code that parses the text files, and it return an array of pages. I can chose if I want a page to be private or public, appear in the RSS feed or not, show subpages or not. It's flexible and easy to modify (for me).

From there, I can give this array to any static site generator (currently it's Eleventy) that will do things like write the pages, process images, run a local server to preview, etc.

When I'm done I run the build script. The website is then transferred to a git repo, and I manually update the site on the live server. My hosting provider is Uberspace.

Have you blogged on other platforms before?#

I wrote on way too many things. PHPBB forums, Wordpress, Mediawiki, Kirby, just to name a few. They all served me well in their own way, but for a long time I wasn't a web developer and I did not know how to properly host, update, maintain them. I had to support and keep alive way too many projects, and I'm glad I exported most of them into static exports to get rid of it.

How do you write your posts? For example, in a local editing tool, or in a panel/dashboard that’s part of your blog?#

I write essentially in Sublime Text, a basic code editor, because it has a built-in spell checker, I can use my favorite fonts and themes. I can transfer files inside, edit the code of the website if I find a bug, etc.

When do you feel most inspired to write?#

It comes and go. It's mostly project based. If I have to write something I'll take time in the week to do it, and that's it. I don't overthink it as I have little time constraints.

Do you publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?#

I always let it simmer when the topic is complex or requires nuance. As a former professional writer, I can say the rule that says write, then delete 50% of it is often true.

As I've been writing less in the past years, I tend to forget how to be effective while writing. I should re-read my writing tips more often.

What are you generally interested in writing about?#

I like writing bits of knowledge I find useful or interesting but will forget eventually. I don't have great memory but I still want to pursue different hobbies and ideas.

Who are you writing for?#

Myself. And if it can serve others, the better.

What’s your favorite post on your blog?#

I like the page about the Chemical Love Combo. It's a bit of knowledge that is both nerdy, instructive, and useless. It's also my favorite combo in any fighting game.

Any future plans for your blog? Maybe a redesign, a move to another platform, or adding a new feature?#

I'll probably remove some pages first, among them my portfolio. I'll keep them private so links don't die, but they won't be visible in menus. I feel some of them are outdated and useless now, and only contribute in making noise. Then I'll move platforms.

To put it simply, I currently want to spend as little time as possible in front of my computer but still be able to share things on my website. I want to write a page in a few minutes without going through 4 build and upload steps.

So I'm building a new system that will live on a server, with a database. I want to be able to use on my phone, and be able to extend it with new features, to make it as painless as I can for me to post.

It's still early, but I'm refining ideas and hope to achieve it this year. I'll share it once it's done.

Tag ‘em.#

Nah! I enjoy participating but I don't like asking people to do things.