How can a technical virgin learn to webdesign?

[MrsFogi]

So, where do I start. I can manage posting on mn, loading i-tunes and email (and a few other basic things). When I think about what I'd like to be able to do in life, I'd like to be able to design my own websites (not really complicated ones) but webpages with a bit of interaction. So, where do I start to lose my virginity?

Depends what you want - if you just want to do them for fun, look at the free hosting sites like geocities, angelfire etc - most of them have templates and wizards you can customise.

If you want to do it professionally it can take a long time - you have to start with learning the very basics, html. Or it might be easier to start off learning CSS as that is used a lot more nowadays!

This is a really good HTML tutorial site. It looks rubbish but is really easy to use, it's how I self-taught!

Also, you will need some kind of software, like microsoft frontpage or adobe dreamweaver.

Just a warning though, I started learning HTML and stuff when I was 13 or 14 and didn't feel able to design websites properly until I was 19 - even now there is stuff I don't know that I should. I also went to college and studied it as part of a graphics course, so look for courses on website design.

What do you want the website to do? There's probably ways you can get a website up and running without having to design it yourself.

First of all you do not need software like dreamweaver or frontpage. You can do websites completely by hand in the text editor that comes with all Windows operating systems.

Personally, I started to learn HTML when I was about 19 and did my first website when I was also 19, so not sure why it took cherry so long.

I would, however start with geocities or the like and take their tutorials and such. Then you can expand from there.

The names are rubbish, but the 'for Dummies' books are also very good for self teaching.

Thanks for the tips. I don't have a particular website in mind at the moment it's just that I sometimes think - ooh I'd like to be able to creat a website for this or that (e.g. as a window for my letter writing service)

I do websites completely by hand. If you want to learn how to create sites from scratch, I feel you need to get a good understanding of HTML and CSS.
Start with HTML. Your local library is bound to have several books which are probably now many years old, but which will take you through the basics of creating a HTML webpage, such as the various tags used - eg. Head, Title, Body, H1, H2, P, A, UL, OL, LI, TR, TD, IMG.
You can use online tutorials, but you may find having a book next to you easier initially.

You don't need a webhost to start creating webpages, you can store the pages locally on your own computer - only your computer can access them of course but that is ideal for starting out. When you are ready to create something you want available to the public, then look at webhosting - you only need something very basic... with FTP access, so you can upload your own files.