I have created a monster, it’s yet another site for writers. Don’t groan and click away! I’ve had really nice (and sincere) compliments on my babbles for writers. The articles, writing prompts and inspiring quotations come from three years working for other writing sites and newsletters. Now I’m doing it for myself. Which is why I’m making some really dumb mistakes and still here at 4:00 in the morning.

Each time I make myself a new site the one thing I always forget is the copyright information for my work. It never fails and it’s a really dumb mistake for someone who claims to be a writer for writers. Tonight I’m adding server side includes (with FrontPage) to each of my endless pages of articles. If only I had remembered to include them in my template in the first place. At least FrontPage has includes. I wouldn’t want to be doing all of this more than once. I really wouldn’t want to be hand coding it all either, I’m way too tired not to make more mistakes and really bungle up the whole thing.

Using includes gives Web builders and Web maintenance people (virtual janitors?) a break. You can use them to duplicate sections of your site, which you will use on several (or every) page. In my case I have it for the copyright information. Now, when the year changes for 2006 I will NOT need to go through every page of my site and adjust the year. Instead I just change one itsy bitsy HTML page and that will automatically change them all.

I also used an include for my ‘back to’ section. That way I can very easily change the graphic for all those pages.

If you want to have a look (shameless self promotion and Webby pride), my site is ThatGrrl.ca.

Feedback is welcome, but don’t tell me I made some glaring error. Right now it’s 4:12 in the morning and all good grrls should be in bed.