Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Author websites

I know I probably don't need to be worrying about this quite yet.  But I just can't help it.  I've been thinking a lot about a website.  I know at some point I'll need to build one and purchase a domain.

There's an application on my Mac that will help me to design my website.  I've taken a class on the program.  There are others still to take.  I've been playing around with it a bit.  It's definitely nowhere near ready.

The problem is, there's not much to a site when you're unpublished.  I mean, there's the welcome page, the about me page, and I can do a blog feed page.

But what else do I put in there?

Jasper Fforde's website has a ton of stuff on there.  It's all related to his books.  It's fabulous.  There is a wealth of information on there.  It sort of makes me scared to ever put up a website.

J.K. Rowling's website is great, too.  There was always so much to discover there, especially leading up to the release of each book.

Tamora Pierce's website is straightforward, but very informative.  I like its simplicity.  Things are easy to find, there's not much by way of extra information.  (Which is neither good nor bad.  Just different.)

Q4U: What's your favorite author website?  Why?

12 comments:

  1. I'm clueless on creating my own website, but I think a great website is important for an author. If I like a book, I almost always go check out the author's site afterwards. Some that I've seen that are done well are Stacia Kane's website (adult urban fantasy author) and Cassandra Clare's (YA). They're both visually interesting and easy to navigate. Stacia also has a great blog to top it off.

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  2. I would probably have my son build my website when the time comes. Although, I think it would be fun to learn how and do it myself.

    I don't have a favourite author site but I prefer the ones that have the book blurbs or descriptions - some don't...

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  3. I have this same problem, yet I find to put all kinds of useless things on my website. Writing links. The first five pages of my novels. Info about my books -- even though they're unpublished. Playlists.

    I like author websites that are easy to navigate.

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  4. Do authors really need a website and a blog. Also, I agree J.K. Rowlings website rocks!

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  5. Maybe I should start looking at a few of my favorite authors' pages. I haven't even gotten that far yet...

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  6. Roni, I wouldn't have any idea how to build it from the ground up with all that html stuff. (Greek to me.) I'll have to go check out their websites. Brandon Mull's is fun, too. But his and J.K. Rowling's sites are the type where you'd have to hire a professional to build and maintain it for you.

    Deb, maybe I'll have to hire your son. Blurbs would be fabulous. Another element to consider in deciding what to put on my website, when the day comes.

    Elana, LOL. I love your site. And your bio is stellar there. Mine...seems rather boring in comparison.

    Julie, having both I think would help make an author's name even more googleable for a potential agent/editor. They can lead to each other, to other places where they can get a hold of you, etc. I've read a lot of agents and editors saying they google an author when considering whether to take on their project. It's just one more thing to think about.

    Nisa, I'm not there yet either. My brain just likes to leap large metaphorical chasms to things that aren't important where I'm at on the journey at present.

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  7. I don't think I have an author website--in fact, I don't visit them often unless I'm searching for information on a book.

    I have a website, though I am not published, but I definitely put information about my completed manuscripts on there and a little about my currents projects. That way if an agent or editor by any chance stops by, then know what I write and a little about my works.

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  8. Wow, we can totally bond on this one. I'm in the same quandry. I've been thinking a lot about it too and ending up with the same question ... er, so, uh, what do I put on a website about myself?

    I like author websites that are a little different. The ones that are easy to navigate, but maybe don't have the seemingly "template" format of so many others.

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  9. Cindy, great game plan on the website. It's interesting to get so many different perspectives on websites.

    Windy, that's my dilemma. I don't want the website to feel like it's just a generic template so I might wait until I know a little bit more about design and design the visual parts of my website. Then it's just a matter of getting that translated to html. (And then the blog can have a similar design, even though it's not integrated fully into the website.)

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  10. I've built websites for over 70 authors -- many of them just starting out. To get some ideas, visit their sites through www.smartauthorsites.com/clientele.html.

    If anyone's interested, I'd be happy to give them ideas about what would work on their website. It's different for each author depending on genre, target audience, etc.., which is why each author website is different and unique.

    --Karin
    www.smartauthorsites.com

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  11. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a website going to. It's one of my goals for this year. But, sheesh! I don't know when I'll have the time.

    I know of an unpubbed romance author that has a site and I enjoy popping over to see what she updates. Anne Barton.com- I believe. (She whupped me in a contest last summer- lol- I'm gonna interview her on 2/10.) I also like how she posts her contests wins on the first page.

    As for a professional author, I love Kimberley Killion's site. She has articles and all kinds of good stuff for writers. Plus, it's a drop dead goregous site!!

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  12. Thanks for the links everyone. I'll be sure to check these out when planning mine.

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