As part of my research for the next installment in The Fine Art of Self-Promotion, I'd appreciate your input/opinions about what you would expect to find on a writer's website.
From an interested reader's point of view, which of the following would you expect to find on a writer's website?
'About the author' page (including a press kit)
0(0.0%)
'About the books' page (with link to relevant amazon-type page and/or 'buy it here' option)
0(0.0%)
'Contact the author' option
0(0.0%)
Publisher/Publicist/Agent info
0(0.0%)
Links to the writer's online publications (short stories, sample chapters, interviews etc.)
1(2.1%)
General links page
0(0.0%)
Articles (and/or links to articles) about writing
0(0.0%)
Podcasts
0(0.0%)
Book Trailers
0(0.0%)
'Latest News' section
0(0.0%)
From an interested reader's point of view, which of the following would you expect to find on a writer's website?
Twitter updates (together with RSS feeds etc)
0(0.0%)
Blog (or mirror of one)
21(65.6%)
Google site translator
0(0.0%)
Something not mentioned here (please elaborate in a comment)
0(0.0%)
If you're a writer, do you have a website?
Yes
28(63.6%)
No
16(36.4%)
Thanks in advance for taking part.
- Current Mood:
creative
Profile
jongibbs- Jon Gibbs
- My writing website
Things What I Wrote and Other Stuff
No longer in print but there are still some copies floating around out there
No longer in print but there are still some copies floating around out there
THE MEAGER PUDDLE OF LIMELIGHT AWARDS
No longer in print but there are still some copies floating around out there
THE MEAGER PUDDLE OF LIMELIGHT AWARDS
Page Summary
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- mguibord : (no subject) [+1]
Comments
I have a feeling that many writers (myself included) don't utilize their website to its full potential.
thanks for sharing, Aliette :)
As an interested reader, I'm looking for a bio, a bibliography, and maybe a picture. That's it. I don't even expect contact information because I respect their right to privacy. Thus not voting for all the other extras.
That doesn't mean I'm not happy to find more, but without a bio and a biblio, what's the point of a website?
I answered the writer part even though I'm a pretty poorly published writer. I don't think someone at my level needs a website... I don't know how successful I'd have to be to feel inclined to create a website.
i also like stuff about the books, more info and so on, but not many writers do that. not stuff you can find in the books, but extra stuff, and most wrtiers don't bother to do anything more than a blurb and a cover for their info. i have pictures of characters, blurb, reviews, and i also put up a, things you don't know, type section. where i write down removed plot ideas and changes and things, like you'd get on a dvd, the cut out scenes, i guess :) and random facts about it, things that happened when i was writing, where points of inspiration came from and so on.
i also have short stories up there, and blurbs about others and where they are published. an faq. and, under my bio, i have about books that i've enjoyed reading. i guess things that make you more personal to people who may be interested in your stuff.
Personally, when it comes to presentation, I prefer to be more on the fun side than the formal one (though you have to be professional), but I guess that's down to the individual.
OH! And I thought of another thing (actually went to a web site that had it) that you should NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER... did I mention NEVER? do. Please, don't even make it so I can't back out of your web page. That's just rude. If I was Googling and it wasn't what I wanted, you can be damn sure you'll be on my List if I can't get back to my search page.
Edited at 2010-01-03 09:41 pm (UTC)
As for making it impossible to back out of a site, I didn't even know that was possible, but I'll be sure to remember :)
Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for sharing :)
I guess podcasts you interviewed on would end up in the links section, however.
I wonder if most ppl answering this poll are published or unpublished. Maybe I should go ahead and build a new site...
That would include everyone from Stephen King to the newest, as yet unpublished, member of a writing group. Both are writers - of course, Mr/ King gets to insert the word 'Successful' too ;)