Guest Article: Virtually Famous – Websites For Authors and Writers, by Simon Rose
If your New Years resolution is to set up a website to promot eyour writing, then today’s guest article will interest you.
Maybe you’re just starting out as a writer. Perhaps you’re self-published, or an established author with three or four books to your name. You could be with a small publisher or a big one. Today, websites play crucial role in the way the world does business. Companies lacking an online presence might as well be invisible. Authors are no different. You may have written the world’s greatest book, but if no one knows about it, then it might as well not exist. You need to get yourself on line if you want to get noticed.
Your readers are generally interested in you and your work, so you can include all kinds of things on a website. However, search engines look for keywords, so the most appropriate ones need to be carefully incorporated into the text on the top twenty five per cent of your home page. If author, books, writer, story, literature, Canada, United States of America, England or indeed anything related to what you do are part of the copy, your site will be ranked higher in directory queries.
Biographical details are a must, but don’t be tempted to go overboard. Your website may be your home in cyberspace, but it’s a marketing tool too. Pictures of you with your family or pets present a good image, but don’t overdo it. Photographs from your professional life are more beneficial. If you have a picture of yourself shaking hands with an important public figure at a black tie function, put it on the site. If you have photographs taken at your presentations and workshops in schools or libraries, use those as well. Try to display the cover art of all your books and show people where they are available and the price. This applies not just to Canada or the US or wherever you are based in the world, but other countries too, if your books are distributed elsewhere. My own site connects directly to each novel’s pages at the Indigo website and to Amazon worldwide. I also post links to the professional organizations I belong to, plus the major online bookstores, my publisher, Canada Council for the Arts and so on. There are pages devoted to the historical background behind three of my books, each page containing links to websites with a wealth of information for my readers.
It is of course important to check any links on an ongoing basis to ensure they are in working order and still lead to the appropriate destination. Your links don’t all have to be business related. I also connect to my favourite soccer team’s website, pages related to the area of the UK where I grew up and so on. Your readers always want to know more about you, so give them something interesting to read. This also applies to any additional pages you may want to include. Tell the world what you are doing and what’s going on in your professional life, such as a schedule of signings, your latest book launch, upcoming festivals or other events. If you update it regularly, people will keep coming back when you release details of new books, appearances, awards and so on.
Companies often use testimonials related to their products to draw in prospective customers. You can do the same, by reproducing the reviews you have received for your work. If you’ve received favorable comments from teachers and librarians, be sure to add those too. You may also have interviews you have done with the media or a decent video of a presentation. Some authors include excerpts from their books, others selections from upcoming, unpublished work. Children’s authors sometimes have study guides for teachers to use when working with their books in the classroom. Even if you aren’t self-published, you may wish to sell your books online. E commerce is still growing at an explosive rate and many author’s websites have a separate page containing order forms in order for you to purchase books directly. Also many companies offering website hosting also offer free easy tools to create your own e commerce site. And don’t forget any writing related services you may offer. I have separate web pages for manuscript evaluation and other services for writers, as well as for business writing.
A good way to attract repeat visitors is to add interactive elements to your web site. You can include children’s games, whether they’re arcade type activities or simple puzzles. My own website has a page with puzzles related to the plots and characters of all my novels. If you’ve published a cookery book, you could publish a recipe of the month. If your site has something cool to do, rather than simply reading your text, no matter how interesting it is, people will visit more often. They will also invariably stay longer, increasing the chances that they will buy your books.
You’ll know which areas of your site are getting the most visitors if you have access to good statistics, which are usually provided as part of your web hosting package. These are much more useful that the traditional visitor counter, which indicates how many people have been to your site since a particular date. This can sometimes be detrimental, especially if you are declaring to the person that they are only the forty seventh visitor since January 2001. Good statistics are invaluable, because they tell you not only how much traffic your site is getting, but also precisely where the visitors are coming from. This can help you to target your marketing to specific areas of the country or around the world. It can also help you to determine which of your professional memberships is the most worthwhile when it comes time to renew. If a particular group is the source of traffic, it’s a good one to retain. If another has few referrals, it may be advisable to spend your money elsewhere.
Your home on the Internet can be as simple or as complicated as you desire. Websites aren’t for everyone, but today if you want to get noticed, it’s advisable to have one.
I offer writing services which examine what works best when creating websites for authors and writers and create editorial content designed to get you noticed. Together we explore what’s right for you and the most effective means to promote you as a writer around the world. Full details of my website editorial services are available at http://www.simon-rose.com/websites.htm
Full details of my website editorial services are available at http://www.simon-rose.com/websites.htm
Simon Rose is the author of science fiction and fantasy novels for children, including The Alchemist’s Portrait, The Sorcerer’s Letterbox, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse and The Heretic’s Tomb. He offers a wide variety of workshops, presentations and Author in Residence programs for schools and libraries around the world, covering such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, history and research and more. He is also available for presentations, workshops and public speaking engagements with a wide range of adult audiences, offers creative services designed for writers, including editing, critiquing and manuscript evaluation and also freelance writing services, including website content and copywriting, for the business community. Details of school and library programs, plus online readings, excerpts from his books, reviews, and reader, student and teacher comments may be found at http://www.simon-rose.com/ You may also visit his blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Rose
Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Lindsay Cripps
So far, my only publication is a junior fiction novel, The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses. However, I’ve recently completed an adult novel which I’m hoping will be published. It’s a Speculative murder mystery (if that makes sense)and involves a disgruntled detective and his teenage nephew who get caught up in a virtual reality computer game searching for a serial killer.
A mysterious gypsy youth from the 1700’s leads them on a quest to solve the ongoing murders. I’m also trying to start a new junior fiction novel but my Uni teaching commitments keep me very busy so it’s been very frustrating not being able to get some words on paper. I love the Fantasy Quest genre and Mystery Adventure. My interest lies more in the junior fiction and Youth Adult area.
2. How long have you been writing for children?
I’ve loved writing children’s stories since I was quite young (yes, even I was young once). This was developed when I started my Arts Degree at USC. I wrote The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses as my Honours thesis and luckily, it was picked up by Lothian Books shortly after. Since then, I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a sequel but may begin something totally new.
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
I don’t spend anything like the time I’d wish writing but do spend a lot of time thinking of plots. I also research what is currently popular in Children’s and Y/A fiction and teaching creative writing at Uni means that I need to do this anyway. I enjoy attending writing festivals such as Voices on the Coast and will probably be at the Ipswich Writer’s Festival this year. Checking what is on the shelves in bookshops helps to give a broad idea of what children and youth are reading and checking publisher’s websites is also time well spent. My own website is another way of staying in touch with my readers though I must admit, I don’t update it as often as I’d like.
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
I spend as much time as I can reading both children’s and Y/A books. I also love reading non-fiction mysteries which give me ideas for plots. I lecture in Children’s and Y/A fiction at Uni, so I’ve done a lot of reading of both classic and contemporary children’s stories. I also lecture on the Children’s illustrated book which I find incredibly interesting. At the moment I’m reading a Y/A novel, Taronga by Victor Kelleher.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
Try to find something really unique to write about. Make it breathtakingly interesting and start the action right up front. Don’t be too preachy and follow the rule, ‘show don’t tell’. Let the reader do some of the work and don’t fill in all the dots. I think it’s important that writers tackle issues that are not always pleasant to digest but may be what some children experience every day of their lives. Also, remember that we have all been children so think about what it was like for you. Draw on life experience; it’s far more credible to your plot. A course in creative writing can help to hone your skills but in the end, it’s your imagination and attention to detail that will carry you through.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
To be honest, I don’t use any one site but surf everywhere. I go to Publishers’ sites and other authors’ sites and anywhere that looks interesting. I read stories on-line and save ‘handy hints’ from those who’ve had interesting experiences. Be careful not to be influenced by sites that preach rigid structure in fiction writing; after all, it’s writing about what you love or interests you that makes a good story for others to read.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
I do have a website that is still in its infancy: http://www.lindsaycripps.com/ I promise to add things often but I must admit, I can be slack. I’ve put some info on it about The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses and I love getting comments or questions on the site. I reply to all those I receive. I’m using The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses as a novel in a writing course at USC this year so I hope it will be interesting for students to get a first-hand account of how it came to be written and some of the pitfalls of publishing.
Finally, the best of luck with your creations. I hope to be reading them soon.
If YOU are a children’s writer, of any level of experience, and would like to be interviewed here, feel free to drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net (remove the spaces) and I will send you the questions.
Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Margot Finke
At the moment I have 8 picture books published – all in rhyme.
My 7 book series of fun, educational picture books, about animals from the US and Australia, are with WritersExchange e-Publishing of Australia. You gave me very nice reviews for a couple of them – remember?
They are:
Kangaroo Clues, Never Say BOO to a Frilly (3 stories), Don’t Eat Platyus Stew (3 stories), Mama Grizzly Bear, Prairie Dog’s Play Day (3 stories), Humdinger Hummers and Squirrels Can’t Help Being Nuts (3 stories). Details about all 7 illustrators can be found on my website’s Books page.
All are available as autographed CDs through my website, or as downloads from Reader’s Eden, Fictionwise, and many other places.
I do school visits for these books with a hoboe hat, complete with corks, my swag on a pole over my shoulder, and a billy for tea. I arrive singing Waltzing Matilda – that sure gets their attention. I also use a PowerPoint presentation for class fun and lessons for the older grades.
“Rattlesnake Jam” – illustrated by award winner Kevin Scott Collier, Guardian Angel Publishing (G.A.P). Reluctant reader friendly! Autographed soft cover copies from my website, or from Amazon, and many other places. Downloads from Fictionwise, G.A.P, and other sites.
I also have a PowerPoint presentation for Rattlesnake Jam, + my green stripy 4ft toy rattlesnake, and a jar of yucky green rattler jam – straight from Gran’s Kitchen. NOTE: Check this out on my website!
And in the first half of 2009, .I have 2 new PBs being published by G.A.P. Both in rhyme. “Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind – Ruthie’s parents moving their family far from familiar places and friends, and the bad effect this has on Ruthie.
Horatio Humble Beats the Big D” – A smart young boy, is unable to read well, and when he hears the word Dyslexia, he just knows that special classes will make him look dumb.
I also have several midgrade manuscripts out trying to earn their keep. Two Aussie outback adventures for boys, a ghost mystery, and a family saga, with letters back and forth between a grandma and a grandson.
Website: http://www.margotfinke.com/ This has links to my 2 BOOK pages
2. How long have you been writing for children?
I have always scribbled stories, but didn’t get really serious until my youngest went to college, about 12 years ago. I bought a computer, joined the online Children’s Writers List (CW) and the SCBWI. I went to lots of writing conferences, and networked online so as to absorb the wonderful writing wisdom that flowed there.
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
I find that promotion and writing vie for my time every day. If you are not careful, the promoting of your books can take over your life. Publishers are not much help – even the large ones have time and money only for the famous on their lists. Once a blook is published, all your time is taken up with writing and polishing various Press Releases, and then trying to tee up, or follow up, on School visits, library readings, and book store signings. All this involves differently worded letters, Press Releases, e-mails or phone calls. Promote or Perish has real meaning!!
Then, there’s the endless research to find new places that might buy or sell your book. I suggest begining some of these chores as soon as you know the publication date. Then put aside at least 6 months after the book is launched for serious promotional work – forget
writing, mate!
You mention revising. I can’t stress the importance of doing this. It adds that tight polished feel that editors love. Nothing beats a good crit group for this. One that has some advanced or published members who will help you revise and fine tune your writing.
I spend every afternoon ( and sometimes sneak mornings as well) either writing, researching publishers, or in some form of promotional activity. Break for dinner, and quit at around 8 pm at night: to spend time with my husband, or he might forget he had a wife!
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
Not as much as I should. But I am no chicken, and all the books I have read and absorbed in past years stand me in good stead. At the moment I am reading The Magic Violin by Mayra Calvani. A great story with delightful illustrations.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
That writing for kids is one of the hardest things a writer can tackle. And like anything else, you need to learn the craft before you are going to be any good at it. So many new writers think thay can rattle off a PB in a few days, and be published in a few months – I wish! Take a writing class. If necessary, these days you can do this online at midnight, in your jammies.
Read piles of children’s books. This will give you a feel for sentence structure, tight plots, and great characters.
Here are the tools everyone needs to write wonderful children’s books:
A basic knowledge of grammar and punctuation – some talent – a pile of patience – hard work – an ability to stick with it through flurries of rejection letters – and LUCK. Having the right story, in the right place, at the right time, is a huge plus.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
One of the best resources is Jacket Flap http://www.jacketflap.com/index.asp >
Part social network, part great publisher, book and author finding resource, it is simple and easy to use, the information is great, and no silly stuff that wastes time.
Another is The Purple Crayon http://underdown.org/index.html> Designed and run by well known editor Harold Underdown, it covers most things a newcomer or an old hand at writing needs to know: great articles, advice, writing wisdom, + updates about publishing.
My “Musings”column is hosted on this site.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
In today’s world, a writer without a blog and a website is without a way to promote themselves and their books – dead! My website, Margot Finke’s World of Writing for Children, is the repository for all my books, my basic writing help for beginners and others, and my Manuscript Critique Service.
My Blog is a kind of StopPress way of getting out FAST new information about my books, my writing services, and even the odd rant from me. Blogs are no good unless you learn how to send them out to earn their keep. This means learning about Feedburner, RSS feeds, and how to PING. And keep the new posts coming – something new to fuel reader interest at least once a week. COOL or HOT headers will hook reader interest. Bland doesn’t do it, mates.
WEB: http://www.margotfinke.com/ – BLOG: http://margotfinke.blogspot.com/
Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Dotti Enderle
Today we are joined by the delightful Dotti Enderle, who has dropped in to share her seven answers to my seven questions. Thanks for joing us, Dotti.
Right now I have nineteen books in print, but I have eight more books coming out next fall – two picture books and a six-book chapter book series. I’m currently revising a YA novel for a major publisher.
2. How long have you been writing for children?
Since 1995. Back then I wrote for children’s magazines. I’ve had over 100 stories, poems, and articles published. But once my books were published I sort of abandoned the magazine field.
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
I spend about only about three or four hours a day on all of the above. Sadly, I do more promoting than writing. Not that I don’t write a lot. But I’m not one of those people who has a rigid schedule and writes a certain amount each day regardless. That’s just not me.
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
I spend far more time reading children’s books than actually writing them. I rarely read adult novels anymore. At present I’m reading the National Book Award winner, What I Saw and How I Lied.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
Read! Read! Read! Both how-to books and the genre in which you wish to write. I once heard that you have to read 1000 books before you can write just one. That’s so true. My biggest lesson came when I took one of my favorite books, When Zachary Beaver Came To Town by Kimberly Willis Holt, and dissected it. I made note of when she used description within dialogue. What strong verbs she used. How she painted a scene so we could visualize it. This was when I began to see my own writing weaknesses. I don’t think a million how-to books could have taught me that.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
Nothing beats Verla Kay’s blue board for networking and learning about new publishing possibilities. I also love Cynthia Leitich Smith’s website as well as Anastasia Suen’s. They both have excellent resources for writers. The links are:
http://www.verlakay.com
http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/
http://www.asuen.com/
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
Yes! You can find out more about me at www.dottienderle,com. Most of my promoting is done through appearances at schools, libraries, and book events.
Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Simon Rose
The Doomsday Mask 2009, The Heretic’s Tomb 2007, The Emerald Curse 2006, The Clone Conspiracy 2005, The Sorcerer’s Letterbox 2004, The Alchemist’s Portrait 2003, The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction Volume One 2007 (Contributing author)
2. How long have you been writing for children?
Around ten years, I think.
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?
I am a full time author and writer, and also run school programs and conduct workshops for both children and adults throughout the year, plus summer camps in July and August. I would estimate that over 70% of my time is currently devoted to activities other than writing.
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
I usually read a lot, especially if I have chosen as a juror for a children’s book award, which has occurred in the last couple of years. In 2007, I read over 200 books as a juror for the Governor General’s Award for Children’s literature in Canada and was a juror for the Saskatchewan Book Awards in 2008. I am currently a juror for the Sunburst Awards for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic and am reading lots of books for adults in the sf/fantasy genre.
Writing is in some ways the easy part. It can be a very long process not only to write a book, but also to get it published. A book is a marathon measured in years rather than weeks or months. Don’t be afraid to revise and revise over and over again. Most authors go through many revisions before their work reaches its final format. Remember too that your book will never be to everyone’s taste, so don’t be discouraged. A firm belief in your own success is often what’s necessary. After all, if you don’t believe in your book, how can you expect other people to? Read as much as you can and write as often as you can. Keep an ideas file, even if it’s only a name, title, sentence or an entire outline for a novel. You never know when you might get another piece of the puzzle, perhaps years later. You also mustn’t forget the marketing. You may produce the greatest book ever written. However, no one else is going to see it if your book doesn’t become known to potential readers. Be visible as an author. Do as many readings, signings and personal appearances as you can. Get your name out there and hopefully the rest will follow. Especially for newly published authors, books don’t sell themselves and need a lot of help.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
I’m not sure I have a favourite, but would recommend the National Writing for Children Centre at http://writingforchildrencenter.com/cwcc/, the forums at SCBWI, if you are a member, and a couple of the yahoo writers groups I belong to.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
My website has a wealth of information on my books, school programs, author in residence program, how to obtain autographed copies of my books, awards, events, festivals and book signings, informs readers about my services for writers such as manuscript critiques, coaching, editing, copywriting for websites, online and in person workshops for children and adults, plus much more.
Website: http://www.simon-rose.com/
Blog: http://simon-rose.blogspot.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TipYYEIgOtE
Ezines: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert_bio=Simon_Rose
Online bookstore: http://www.simon-rose.com/orderform.php
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/thesorcerersletterbox
I’m also on Facebook, Goodreads, Jackflap, Booktour and a host of other sites, a member of professional writing organizations such as CANSCAIP, Writers Union of Canada, SCBWI, SF Canada and a few others, plus a number of online listservs and forums and run a column each week on tips for writers at the National Writing for Children Centre at http://writingforchildrencenter.com/cwcc/, where I also run teleclasses on a monthly basis.
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