Just stick an index.html in the same direcotory, it will over ride the index.php
But what if you want to still keep some php on that page for links, calendar, log-in, archives, etc.?
Birdie, you’re probably going to have to use several templates. By default, WP uses index.php for all pages. If you use templates for your category, monthly and permanent pages (I think that’s all you’ll need), then you can put whatever you like on the index.php without it duplicating elsewhere.
I think you’d also need a “day” template; though I haven’t gone so far as that, here’s my explanation:
http://developedtraffic.com/resources/wordpress-notes.php
=> You’ll have to wait an hour or two, though; some software is being upgraded on our server so the site isn’t reachable right now.
This is easier to accomplish with the upcoming version 1.5 themes. I am doing just what you describe on a client’s site, which is not a blog at all, but basically a collection of essays.
Diane your site looks like what I’d like with the categories, but I’m just not understanding how to set this up. Are there any sort of step by step tutorials that would help me understand?