This is art, leave the breaststrokes if you wish. It’s YOUR art.

As my most recent protagonist says:

“Elegance. Well written code contains no flourishes. Concise. Direct. Succinct. As Bureaucracy Age transitioned into Netcohort Age, Cluetrain Manifesto proclaimed: ‘Hyperlinks Subvert Hierarchy.’ Hyperlinks are part of my art.” – Billy Goodman, Complicit Simplicity

Esp. Dicewars, which is a teared down Risk version, and le chat noir are cool, very simple but addicting flash games..

Or else we look at it and go “That sentence is brilliant. Clear and sharp and just good writing. Oh God, I used to have it, but I don’t have it anymore, I am going to go become a serial killer or become a Belgian Super-Hero, or something sensible.”

You can’t win. Honest. You’re doomed. ;)

@Pete: your comment – last sentence in particular – made my day. I was laughing my head off at it: so bloody true! Though in this case I was reading my past archives and wondering how I used to write like that, short sentences and clear ideas and all.

Mostly, I read very interesting articles that leave me thinking — or grumbling — for the remainder of the day…and then I get sucked into a fascinating and intelligent conversation in the comments, which goes on at length. And I sincerely doubt it would that if the posts were rubbish. So don’t worry too much. (although I can understand why you do; certainly, I’ll see something of mine someone’s run online and go “Ugh, what the hell was that sentence and how did it not die? Agh, now everyone’s read it…”

Anyway, I was totally looking at the sidebar, and panicking that it didn’t show up… Until I finally saw the header navigation. I can be blind…

New side note, I like your footer. It expresses everything in a clear, chatty manner. Also, about the casual games, have you tried dicewars?? Those japanese game designers should be sued for serious procrastination!!

PS: I didn’t know you were Dutch!

Anyways about the Bookmarked / Novelr community thing… You really should find a way for the community to suggest links, because I think ‘This is something for Novelr’ at least once a week, and your contact thing doesn’t allow links…

Good luck with your new style, but frankly I’m mostly glad you’re back.

@Clare: This post was supposed to be funny! (nods to Michael from here)

@Sonja: I think all of do that, really. But I was looking through Novelr’s archives and I realize that my past articles, before taking the study break, were snappier and easier to understand. I’m trying to work my way back to that.

@Greg: Yessuh. Duly noted. =)

Well, sometimes.

I look forward to your new and improved writing. Can’t say I noticed any problems specifically at the time, but I’m sure shorter sentences will make the articles easier to read.

On the subject of trying to be funny…please no. Just be natural, conversational and informative and if that happens to be funny more power to you. Nothing takes me out of an article more than someone TRYING to be funny.

But what do I know? Do what makes writing enjoyable for you. Just wanted to drop my two cents in the bucket.