Started on 09/15/99 Updated: 03/27/2001

As I learn to html and build my web site, I pick up on some helpful techniques on making writing html much easier. Here are some:

1. Find a server that offers free space for your webpage. Yahoo!Geocities is just one that does, but you don't have to go with them. Go with whoever you feel comfortable with.
2. See if that server has an easy site-building page for beginners. For Yahoo!Geocities, it's either PageBuilder or GeoBuilder. I started on GeoBuilder.
3. If the server you have doesn't offer such pages, or you want to do the html, yourself, find a webpage, book, video, etc. that will teach you the basics. Some good sourses to start you off are:
   • Hotwired--Webmonkey: A web site for begining web site builders. Great information on web page building.
   • Webmonkey for Kids: If you are really desprate (or really hopeless), check out this site. It's a great step-by-step guide for web page making, designed for kids, but very useable by adults. Don't be ashamed to use the kids' site, if you need the help.
   • Book: HTML for Dummies: This series of books are great for the beginner. Even the Quick Refrence books are a lot of help. I got the Quick Refernce version of HTML for Dummies. www.dummies.com is their website.
4. If you have word processing software on your computer (and what computer doesn't) --like Microsoft's WordPad, for example-- then plan and write out the html on the software, then copy and paste the html from the computer to the page editor of the server you are using. Just highlight the page by left-clicking and dragging your mouse over the infromation that you want to copy. It should be in reverse colors (usually, white typing on a black background). Then, go to Edit (or click the copy icon: For WordPad, it's a little button with two pieces of paper on it), and select "Copy". This will copy the highlighted information. Then, go to the page editor and click once on the page area. This will put the letter cursor (the line that shows you where the next letter goes when you are typing) in the page area. Then, go back up to Edit, and select "Paste". You may not have an icon for Copy and Paste in the page editor you have. (In WordPad, it's a little clipboard and sheet of paper). The information you highlighted in your word processing software is now in the page editor. Save it. Best to choose, "Save and Continue Editing". You will remain on the editing page and you can click "Preveiw" so you can check your work for mistakes and make corrections.
5. Save a copy of the page. If possible, put the copy on a floppy disk. That way, you'll have back-ups, in case something happens to the orginal. (Please note: Some pictures may not be possible to put on floppy disk, due to their size.)
6. If you have an idea for a web page, but you aren't near a computer, use a notebook and a pen or pencil, and write it down. If you have notes for page building (or the book you are using for page building), then write it in html. It's not hard, once you get used to doing it. (And it will impress your teachers if they see you working on html. They'll think you're a computer wizard! ;-P)
7. Added 03/27/2001: Back up EVERYTHING! You never know when you will need to re-upload the site, due to unforseen accidents (such as evil hackers...)

That's all I can think of, right now. As I learn new tricks, I'll add more tips to the page.

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