What is webmastery?
I'm pretty sure it's just website making. It's using html and css and simple code to make things like this. It's also not hard. I am by no means a coder or programmer or well-versed in these things. But I saw websites like this and I wanted to make one, so I looked up guides and tutorials and I learned the basics. Enough to do this, at least. You can do that too. It only seems like magic because you don't understand it yet.
This page is basically just going to be a bunch of links to resources that I found helpful or that I think contribute to the making of a website.
I'm an idiot. Where do I start?
Yesterweb
This is great site if you want to learn the why of it all. Read their manifesto and their explanation of etiquette if you want to know more about why you should make your own website. I mean, if my kickass wizardry page wasn't enough to convince you, then that definitely should.
Neocities
This is a free site hosting service where you code the site all by yourself. It's where I host my site and I love it. They even have a little tutorial to teach the most basic parts of html. Not to mention, you have lots of lovely neighbors that you can go check out too.
Sadgrl
Honestly, if you found my site before this one, like what are you even doing? Really great resource, they have helped me so much when I was just starting out and I still go there for tiles sometimes. Just check out their entire site, please.
Beginner's Guide to Neocities
This is found on Sadgrl's site, but this is for the idiots, so I'm spoonfeeding it to you. It's exactly what it says on the tin.
HTML Help
HTML is one of the coding languages you'll need to know if you wanna make a site. It tells the browser what it's supposed to do. Think of it as the structural part of your site. It's the walls of your house.
MDN Web Docs
Everytime I see some HTML I don't understand I come crying to this place. I'm so serious right now. All that shit you don't know? Go type it in the search bar and it'll show up and explain it to you like you're a child. My favorite thing ever.
Sadgrl HTML & CSS documentation
When MDN fails, I typically go here. It's more of a laymen explanation of things, so if you're having a hard time understanding other documentations you've found, I'd recommend trying this. Check out the code snippets as well, if you're trying to do something specific.
W3Schools HTML Documentation
I don't typically find this one as helpful as the other two so it's usually a last resort, but not everyone is me, so maybe you'll find it useful. They also have an HTML tutorial that starts you off from the very beginning, if you feel you need that.
HTML Cheat Sheet
I'll be honest, I found this one a bit overwhelming in the beginning because I had no clue what I was looking at, but I do actually use it as a reference sometimes. It especially helps when you know what you want to do, but aren't sure how to code it. Like I needed it when I wanted to do iframes and had no idea what I was doing. They also do links, tables, images, etc. They list the attributes for those things as well, so that you know what can actually go in those tags. I'd say it's a late-stage beginner resource.
CSS Help
CSS is the other coding language you'll need to know. It's what determines how everything looks. If HTML is the structure, thenn CSS is the paint and furniture. It makes the house unique.
MDN Web Docs
MDN, my beloved, is back. I was so afraid of CSS when I started, but this right here got me through it. Particularly, it helped me learn what everything did or what I needed if I wanted to do a specific thing. Like just search up that thing you keep seeing or click on things that look like they might be what you want until you find it.
Sadgrl HTML & CSS documentation
When MDN fails, I typically go here. It's more of a laymen explanation of things, so if you're having a hard time understanding other documentations you've found, I'd recommend trying this.
CSS Cheat Sheet
Just like the other one, this can be kind of overwhelming, but it helps for figuring out how to do things with CSS, specifically with text.
W3Schools CSS Documentation
An alternative to MDN. They also have a tutorial that teaches you from the very beginning, if you think you need that.
CSS Templates
Honestly, best way to learn CSS is to pick apart the code of other people and templates are a great way to do that. They also help if you're just lazy and don't want to make something from scratch for a new page.
Free Templates on Melonland
So perhaps this is cheating, but this is a list of sites that offer free templates on Melonland, which is just a wonderful place that you should check out anyway.
CSS Layout Generator
I have no clue how this thing works, but perhaps someone else will be smarter than me and figure it out.
Free Pixel Art
Free to use pixel art that I've found. Mostly from deviantart
Deviant Art
Other Useful Stuff
Blinkie Cafe
Site for making blinkies which are little decorative images for your site.
Blinkie Maker by Suppi
Another blinkie maker but this time a drag-and-drop. I was never able to use it effectively because I don't have the patience, but perhaps you will.
GifCities
An archive for old internet gifs. I go here first when I'm looking for something to add a bit of flair to my site.
Largest 88x31 Button Collection
If you're looking for buttons, go here first. Buttons are another common site decoration and they're usually used to link to other sites.
The Gif Gallery
Fun way to find new gifs for your site.
Eggnored Background Tiles
Lots and lots of repeatable tiles to use for your site. There's sure to be something you like out of all of these.
