***I have a number of writing
deadlines coming up over the next couple of months so I have decided
instead of stepping away from my blog completely to concentrate solely
on my writing, I will bring back an encore performance of my WRITERLY
WISDOM series from three years ago. WW is 52 glorious posts by authors,
agents, and editors from around the country providing writerly wisdom in
categories from why even become a writer all the way to how to publish
and market your books.
There
will be two posts loaded per week...Mondays & Wednesdays...so be
sure to stop by and check out all the encouraging information given by
my lovely writerly friends! I hope you enjoy the encore presentation of
my WRITERLY WISDOM series and I will return with shiny, new posts in the
fall!***
Building
A Writer’s Website
By Rena J Traxel
So
why have a website or blog if you aren’t even published yet?
At a
recent conference I attended, an editor suggested that all writers should at
the very least have a website. This shows commitment to your career. It doesn’t
have to be fancy. It can be as simple as one page.
Plus
a website or a blog serves as a permanent hub to connect you with others. And it can
later be used as a place to sell your books, share news, etc.
What
should you have on your website or blog?
-Professional
Photo
I
paid under $100 to get a professional photo done.
If
you can’t hire a professional photographer that’s okay just make sure to use a
photo that’s appropriate (no nude photos). If you can believe it, I recently
read a tweet by agent that said she was put off by a potential client’s nude
avatar. Don’t do it.
Plus
a professional photo can also be used on business cards and for guest blog
posts.
-Contact
info
I
wouldn’t suggest putting your home address. An email address is a must. But make
sure your address is professional. Why not reinforce your brand by using your
name. I was once contacted via my website from a reputable agent interested in
a pitch she had seen. It happens so make sure you can be contacted!
-Social
Media buttons
Link
your social media buttons to your Facebook, Twitter or whatever sites you use. Put your buttons on every page in a
visible spot (if possible above the fold). Above the fold is what you can see
upon entering your website without scrolling down.
-Biography/About
You Page
This
is a place to tell readers about you. Keep it professional but don’t be afraid
to let your personality shine through.
-Published
Works
This
can include publications, blog guest posts etc. If you have them great! If not
don’t worry about it.
-Professional
Organizations
Being
part of a reputable organization such as Society of Children Book Writers &
Illustrators looks good to agents and editors. It shows commitment to your
craft. So make sure to mention any memberships. This can be put on your
biography page or can be displayed using a badge in a sidebar.
-Personnel
URL
For
around $10/year you can have personalized address. Since your name is your
brand it’s a good idea to use your name as the address (i.e. www.renajtraxel.com).
If your domain name has already been purchased don’t worry. You can try using a
middle initial.
-Some
other things to consider
As
your career unfolds look into adding additional pages such as a media page, a
book page and an events page.
A media page should include a photo, bio
and any press releases.
A book
page should include a pitch for your book, book cover if available and links to
where it can be purchased. I’m always surprised when I come across an author’s
website that doesn’t tell me what their book is about. This is a easy way to
promote yourself so why not to do it. Also make sure to include a link to where
they can buy your books. Sure a potential reader can look up your book but why
not make it easy for them by including a link.
Finally
create an author events page. On this page you can include places you will be (book
signings, conferences, school visits etc.) You may also wish to include your
availability to do school visits. Lots of authors make good money doing school
visits so why not do them. Or look into doing online visits via Skype. You may
wish to create a separate page for school visits.
On a
final note, I have a background in web design and writing for the web. If you
have any questions about websites that I haven’t answered in this post please
comment below. Thanks Donna for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful series!
Rena
J. Traxel can be found tapping away on her glowing scheming machine. She writes
for kids and teens and occasionally for adults. She loves math and solving
problems about as much as she loves her pets!
You
can connect with her on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/renajtraxel or on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/renajtraxel
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