Writer-Poet Sanctuary?

miko · Posted: 5/20/2006, 10:51 pm Post subject: Writer-Poet Sanctuary?

I would appreciate any and all possible feedback on my site: http://www.Escape-ism.com

It's a small writing community - that I'm hoping I can entice some more members to join - and participate. The problem is, I'm by no means a knowledgeable web designer or programmer. Everything I've done so far has been pretty much trial and error after error.

My concerns:

1. Is the site aesthetically pleasing? is it off-putting. In terms of the theme and colors used in the design?
2. Are the forums too cluttered?

Basically - what I need to know is, is it passable as a reasonable decently designed site or does it look and function as clumsily as I fear that it does?
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~HG~ · Posted: 5/21/2006, 5:20 am Post subject:

In answer to question 1 ... Yes very aesthetically pleasing

In answer to question 2 ... No

Though in saying that I personally do not like forums that dont take up 100% of the page as it tends to give them an apearance of wasted space on both sides which could be used.

Stick with what you are doing and I am sure in time that the membership will grow and you will have a great little community to make you proud of what you are doing.
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miko · Posted: 5/21/2006, 7:07 am Post subject:

Thank you very much for reviewing HG Smile

- and for the encouragement. At least, now I have an idea that I'm going in the right direction.

As far as the page width - I'm trying to come up with something creative - I really don't like it when it stretches all the way out - but all that dead space is bothersome too.
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Escape-ism

Nick · Posted: 5/21/2006, 7:28 am Post subject:

It looks unique, so positive there, and I like the use of a matching wordpress home page. Good job!
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Apologetics?

miko · Posted: 5/21/2006, 9:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Nick Smile

I had a completely different color scheme for the forum than wordpress - but the transition between pages was always so jarring...it finally occurred to me to use matching colors.
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dealo · Posted: 5/30/2006, 7:22 am Post subject:

well i have signed up and hope to contribute a little

Mercury · Posted: 5/30/2006, 3:45 pm Post subject:

Referring to the site. . .
The calm, relaxed atmosphere provided by the mocha, white, and light brown drew me in and ensured that I wouldn't immediately leave due to repulsion. The text is a decent size and is as transparent as is reasonable. The background at both ends where the white ends sticks out, but it doesn't overwhelm and fits in nicely with the theme, adding to it and impressing upon the visitor quickly what your site is about: writing & literature. I suppose the background provided in the banner was supposed to fit into this "calm, relaxed" atmosphere you seemingly meant to impress upon the visitor. It would work well enough. . . but the color of the text bothered me. I recommend that you change it to a light brown, like that of the background at both ends where the white ends. That way, it'd be easier to read, and it's stick out more, helping to catch the eye of the visitor instead of giving him reason to strain them. The problem of text color is especially troublesome for "Writer poet Sanctuary", which, without bold, is simply not transparent enough to a be justified.

Your posts are layed out in a decent manner. Archives, as usual, easy to find. And a clear link to the next page. Your informations are well-placed. I have no complaint.

Referring to the forum. . .
Your banner is beautiful. The "WRITER-POET SANCTUARY" text seems somewhat blurry. Perhaps clearing up that "haze", unless you meant it to be that way. The layout remains consistent to the site on a decent level and doesn't break away so radically that it shocks the visitor. You have a lot of forums, but much of them have been contained as sub-forums, and I applaud you for making use of that so that the visitor isn't overwhelemed with forums, which would be especially bad since your forum is still small in content. Post content on a regular basis to attract discussions and debate & encourage members to continue posting and give them incentives (as I see you've already worked towards).
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