Time for a revamp
I want to give Sharp Words a good overhaul by the end of June, in time for its second-and-a-birthday. Hopefully I’ll be putting together a custom theme (maybe even a custom logo) - although Cordobo has served me well since I moved from Blogger to WordPress, I’d like to have something unique.
First step is to redo my list of links (aka blog roll, a term that seems to be going out of fashion (and thankfully so, IMO)), as prompted by the people who’ve lately added me to theirs!
Secondly, I wanted to get the opinions of you, my readers, as to which bits of my sidebars are useful, which I can drop, and what’s missing. I recently dumped my ‘Recent Comments’ widget because I didn’t think it really added anything; most of the recent comments are on the recent posts, after all - does anyone miss it? 
Input is good anyway - well, it might just be that I’m being lazy and getting all of you to do the work, but (work) experience has taught me that getting the users’ and/or readers’ perspective is very important.
So all comments and suggestions are welcome! Cheers.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
on June 14th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Keep using images to break up the monotony.
feefifoto’s last post: Ducks with Ducktails! Who Knew?
on June 14th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
What’s wrong with “blog roll”? Anyway, whatever it’s called, you’re on mine. I like your sidebars in general; it might be nice to see the Categories one a little higher up, although maybe that’s just me. I love the Top Commenters bit for some reason.
Best of luck with the re-vamp.
Fiendish’s last post: Fiction: "In Sickness"
on June 15th, 2008 at 3:30 am
feefiifoto makes a good point re. images. For instance the random books section is pretty, and could be shifted to a different location to break up large texty chunks.
i can’t comment much on appearance though, as my blog is overdue for a dollop or two of make-up. I just ain’t got the skillz.
Tam’s last post: Passing through Leningrad
on June 15th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Perhaps find a way to squish the categories together more and move them higher up the page.
Gary R. Hess’s last post: The Defiling of Haiku: Morae
on June 15th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I like your ‘Categories’ section - it’s something I want to try and do myself.
If somebody reads a good review on your blog (and God knows they can!) then they may naturally migrate towards your other reviews. Ditto for Technical Writing articles or Writing Stuff.
I’d make it a fairly prominent feature of your new layout
k
Ken Armstrong’s last post: The Accordion Teacher
on June 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I started adding adverts in between some posts to break up the text. Like yours, my blog without images is a lot of text!
I had the blog catalog, but I got rid of it as I found it unnecessary to be honest. It slowed down my blog and didn’t really serve any purpose.
I would also have your categories at the top of the site rather than at the bottom. This makes the site easier to navigate and to find related posts!
on June 15th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I like the appearance of this site, it is just that the header is way too narrow, it gets lost. You can make it larger so it will be noticeable. Happy blogging.
Jena Isle’s last post: CHAPTER IV - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)
on June 15th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I rarely ever click on links on a sidebar as so many bloggers never update their sidebars and I hate arriving at a site that hasn’t been updated for years or no longer exists.
I like your layout here, couldn’t fault it at all
d@\/e’s last post: In the skies above Kircubbin
on June 16th, 2008 at 3:56 am
I’m of the firm belief of trying to keep the sidebars clutter free. Already mine is getting slightly out of control and I’ll probably cut down some of the widgets. Personally, I try to concentrate on the content. But again, to each their own. I say do what you feel is best for your content. I’ll still come around and read the articles. Well, so long as it doesn’t become a Flash nightmare or Java hell :).