| janfields |
JULY 25 AFTERNOON OPEN
FORUM will begin in 5 minutes. Today's topic is "Websites for
Writers." Why have a website? What should be on it? What should be
avoided? Come join us in five minutes.
|
| janfields |
JULY 25TH AFTERNOON
OPEN FORUM begins in 2 minutes. Today's topic: Websites for Writers.
Bring your questions about Writer's Websites and be prepared to be
inspired...in two minutes.
|
| janfields |
Welcome to AFTERNOON
OPEN FORUM: "Websites for Writers."
|
| janfields |
If you want to ask a
question and be sure it has a chance to be posted, you'll need to
use either the "ask a question" button on the bar across the middle
of your screen. OR type /ask...then space once and type your
question. That passes the question to me and I can post it for
answer. If you type the question in the bar at the bottom of you
screen, I may not see it.
|
| janfields |
I see we have quite a
few folks interested in websites today...so I'll get right on
it...
|
| janfields |
as soon as I
do.....GOOD NEWS!!
|
| janfields |
Mine
first!!
|
| janfields |
Because it's sort of
funny.
|
| janfields |
Last year, August...I
wrote a talking animal story and submitted it to Ladybug...probably
submitted in September because I never send
anything
|
| janfields |
quickly.
|
| janfields |
Anyway, last week I got
an acceptance letter.
|
| janfields |
Now, this is a TALKING
ANIMAL story
|
| janfields |
And some of the animals
in real life would...well...eat each other.
|
| janfields |
So the editor asks me
to verify an "animal fact" in the story.
|
| janfields |
Which was fine...I
could do that...but it struck me funny that in a story so clearly
NOT like real life, they wanted me to verify something about spider
webs
|
| janfields |
So...good
news...Ladybug is buying. Bad news...um...seems to take a WHILE to
get a response.
|
| janfields |
;-)
|
| janfields |
GOOD NEWS: DAWN: I am a
former ICL student and just sold my first article The Last TV on the
Block, to Good Old Days! It will appear in the January 2007 issue.
|
| janfields |
Good Old Days is a
wonderful magazine and veyr nice to work with...so YAY,
Dawn.
|
| janfields |
GOOD NEWS: RONI: On
July 20, I received word from Montessori Life magazine that they’ll
be printing my article “Montessori Marathoners” in late fall.
|
| janfields |
Another wonderful bit
of news....yay!
|
| janfields |
I love good
news.
|
| janfields |
Y'all be sure to keep
sending in your happy news.
|
| janfields |
Now...websites...let me
hit a question...
|
| cris |
Is a website really
needed if our writing stands on its own?
|
| janfields |
Websites aren't really
about selling a specific bit of writing.
|
| janfields |
Websites are about
something publishers get increasing pressure about --
platform.
|
| janfields |
Having a website means
people can find out more about you quickly.
|
| janfields |
And it means you
ALREADY have the ability to communicate with readers if they seek
you out.
|
| janfields |
And it can allow
publishers to find out more about you in a non-pressure
way.
|
| janfields |
For example, if a
publisher asks you directly more about you -- you're going to get
all excited, expecting the publisher intends to buy something from
you.
|
| janfields |
That's just
natural.
|
| janfields |
Editors know
this.
|
| janfields |
SO they sometimes don't
ask questions when they might like a teeny bit more information to
make the push one way or another.
|
| janfields |
Like information on
your background (for example).
|
| janfields |
So, a website doesn't
SELL the project but overall it can help sell YOU.
|
| janfields |
I know some very strong
writers who do not have websites.
|
| janfields |
Many of them feel
vaguely guilty about it.
|
| janfields |
But it's not an
automatic MUST-HAVE-OR-ELSE thing.
|
| janfields |
It's more of a
"help"
|
| cris |
Should personal or just
business info be on a website?
|
| janfields |
It's better not to get
TOO personal.
|
| janfields |
But a biography is an
EXCELLENT part of a website.
|
| janfields |
And biographies focus
on those personal things about you that make you seem friendly,
open, engaging, interesting...stuff like that.
|
| janfields |
Your biography should
make a reader smile.
|
| janfields |
Quirky is fun...but
take care not to slip too far into ... well weird
|
| janfields |
Unless you're writing
very edgy, sort of weird stuff.
|
| janfields |
Then editors will love
a weird bio.
|
| janfields |
But you don't want to
get into things that make you seem too ordinary.
|
| janfields |
Or too far removed from
your audience.
|
| janfields |
If you focus on being a
gramma, for example, a young adult audience might find that less
"accessible"
|
| janfields |
than if you focus on
your love for travel or the fact that you once kissed a
camel...stuff like that.
|
| janfields |
So...think of it as
personal with purpose.
|
| janfields |
Generally, you don't
want it siimply as a tool to communicate with your
family.
|
| rainchain |
So a website is something
like an online resume?
|
| janfields |
A resume of sorts can
work very well on a website.
|
| janfields |
But that's a bit formal
so make it a link off your main page.
|
| janfields |
Don't hit them with
"RESUME" the first time they visit.
|
| janfields |
Folks who want to know
your writing credits, education, stuff like that can find the
resume.
|
| janfields |
Folks who want to know
you kissed a camel are likely to outnumber the resume
seekers.
|
| janfields |
One key is to think
about WHO YOU WANT TO HAVE VISIT.
|
| janfields |
If you're an
educational writer -- your resume will likely be more "professional"
in tone
|
| janfields |
Than if you write trade
books -- fiction and nonfiction
|
| janfields |
Because trade books are
more likely to cause readers to want to look you
up.
|
| janfields |
While educational
nonfiction is more likely to be looked up by librarians, teachers,
and educational publishers.
|
| coloradokate |
So if we're really kind
of boring, a website might not be such a good idea?
|
| janfields |
I'm very
boring
|
| janfields |
But weird things
sometimes happen to me
|
| janfields |
So if I needed a "kid"
oriented website, I would focus on the weird
things.
|
| janfields |
And I would make the
site reflect my...um...unusual sense of humor.
|
| janfields |
But I couldn't tell
folks I've been to Moroco...or pretty much to anywhere off the East
Coast of the US
|
| janfields |
I couldn't tell folks
about my cool meeting with some hot celeb...
|
| janfields |
I couldn't tell folks
about my cool "ins" with any cool crowds...cause my real life is
kind of ...well, anti-cool
|
| janfields |
But if my target is
teens, I try to think like a teen and look for cool connections with
teens -- which for me would be humor
|
| janfields |
Right now, my target
audience is strictly professional
|
| janfields |
So my website has
resume, some writer stuff, and a moderately dully
bio.
|
| janfields |
It needs
revamping.
|
| cris |
Do MG readers really look
up authors?
|
| janfields |
Oh
yeah
|
| janfields |
If you write something
readers connect with, they look you up.
|
| janfields |
There was a recent poll
done among kids.
|
| janfields |
And a vast number are
incredibly comfortable on the web
|
| janfields |
They go online every
day
|
| janfields |
They look up anything
that interest them
|
| janfields |
That includes
authors.
|
| janfields |
Plus, authors are an
increasing topic for school reports.
|
| janfields |
So kids look you up for
a couple reasons -- report fodder (so they want your bio and your
FAQ)
|
| janfields |
Curiosity -- so they
want funny cool stuff about you.
|
| janfields |
And often...really
amazingly often...tips on becoming a writer.
|
| janfields |
So MANY middle grade
authors put pages up about their process for creating characters or
plot or whatever.
|
| zebrakitchen |
Would you suggest a
website for a non-published writer?
|
| janfields |
As a non-published
writer, the main benefit of a website would be
practice.
|
| janfields |
I've seen authors who
work and work on their craft and never bother THINKING about a
website.
|
| janfields |
Then BOOM sometimes
they write a great book, it sells, and kids like it
|
| janfields |
Lots of reviews start
popping up.
|
| janfields |
And these authors try
to build their first site.
|
| janfields |
And
its...um...interesting.
|
| janfields |
Hard to
navigate
|
| janfields |
Slow
loading.
|
| janfields |
Difficult to
read
|
| janfields |
Because they feel the
pressure to have one at the EXACT time in their career when they
have ZERO time to learn how to build one.
|
| janfields |
Or what one should
include.
|
| janfields |
I created my first
website about ten years ago...I didn't need one (though I had a lot
of adult magazine credits and a handful of children's magazine
credits)
|
| janfields |
But I INTENDED to need
one.
|
| janfields |
I INTENDED to have a
flourishing career and I intended the web to help with
that.
|
| janfields |
So I made my first site
with WORD (ick ick ick) and put it on space my internet provider
GAVE me
|
| janfields |
It was
HIDEOUS
|
| janfields |
But I learned from
it.
|
| rainchain |
Would a split page
website-kids/adults be a good idea?
|
| janfields |
Most writers have a
front page that is basically their picture...
|
| janfields |
a kind of pleasant
greeting
|
| janfields |
A brief blurb of any
"breaking news"
|
| janfields |
and links...and the
links usually point to sections
|
| janfields |
"for teachers and
librarians"
|
| janfields |
"for
parents
|
| janfields |
"for
kids"
|
| janfields |
Now they may not be
worded that way, but it's pretty clear that is how it
is
|
| janfields |
Then when you follow
the "type" of information you want...you may find more
links
|
| cris |
Can you give us some good
examples to see?
|
| janfields |
Sure, let's talk about
a couple...
|
| janfields |
Dell's site
http://www.dellarossferreri.com/
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|
| janfields |
Now, dell's site and
dotti enderle's site are both based on "templates"
|
| janfields |
A template is basically
a pre-created layout
|
| janfields |
offered by your
internet provider
|
| janfields |
And you "plug in" your
preferences...but the basic overall work is done for
you.
|
| janfields |
You still have plenty
to do...but you can be fairly confident that you'll have a good
overall look.
|
| janfields |
One service provider
that offers such templates is 1and1.com
|
| janfields |
That's the one I use
and I love it.
|
| janfields |
Now, meg cabot, I
include to show you basically the sort of thing we CANNOT
do.
|
| janfields |
Her site isn't created
by her. It's made by her publisher.
|
| janfields |
And someone paid a
bundle for it.
|
| janfields |
When you're looking for
sites to emulate..it's better not to choose something too
complicated.
|
| janfields |
Both Vivian Vande Velde
and Jane Yolen have very nice basic PUBLISHED book writer
sites.
|
| janfields |
And both have
navigation to direct the many different kinds of readers to the
stuff they want.
|
| janfields |
My site...is pretty
stagnant right now.
|
| janfields |
As a magazine writer,
I'm assuming READERS aren't checking out my site.
|
| janfields |
So it's geared toward
my professional credits (since I've had editors contact me through
the site)
|
| janfields |
And it used to be
geared toward information for writer...
|
| janfields |
since a LOT of writers
look for me...
|
| janfields |
but now it mostly
re-sends folks along to KidMagWriters.
|
| janfields |
The design for
JanFields was done from scratch using FrontPage
|
| janfields |
Lisa Mullarkey's site
is anther "from scratch" Front Page site.
|
| janfields |
I include it mostly
because she just made it recently...so you can see a "first
site"
|
| janfields |
And because she is
mostly published in educational markets and I think it reflects that
a bit.
|
| janfields |
And Dotti Enderle and
Lisa Mullarkey are speaking in chat next month ;-)
|
| zebrakitchen |
Could a website be used
as a tool to get writing published?
|
| janfields |
I've gotten ASSIGNMENT
offers through my site.
|
| janfields |
BUT it is NOT NOT NOT a
good way to get something published that you have already
written.
|
| janfields |
You should not put your
unpublished work on your website
|
| janfields |
unless you don't intend
to publish it.
|
| janfields |
It's not a bad idea to
put a sample on your site...but understand that once you do, you're
really not likely to ever sell it.
|
| janfields |
EXCEPT
possibly...maybe...to a test company.
|
| janfields |
If the text on your
site is very well written.
|
| janfields |
And you have a good
sample.
|
| janfields |
It's not impossible to
get offers of assignments through your site -- as I said, I
have.
|
| janfields |
But they have ALL been
educational publishers.
|
| janfields |
All
work-for-hire.
|
| janfields |
Or ghost
writing.
|
| eggamy |
How much does it cost to
start a site?
|
| janfields |
My first website was
free.
|
| janfields |
I used WORD (ugh) and
the free space my internet provider gave me.
|
| janfields |
That's the base
cost.
|
| janfields |
Now, if you want a
domain name...one matching your name...
|
| janfields |
You can usually get
that for around ... I'm thinking - a year (it's been a while since I
bought one) through namecheap.com
|
| janfields |
And you can get that
domain redirected to your free space.
|
| janfields |
And build the site
using WORD (ugh) or maybe the free webeditor that comes with
Netscape...which I think you can still download.
|
| janfields |
These days I do all my
web editing with CoffeeCup, the free version...which I
downloaded.
|
| janfields |
But that program has a
steep learning curve (like learning html) so I don't recommend it
for your first site.
|
| janfields |
Personally...I try to
get the most I can for the least I can.
|
| janfields |
If you HAVE books
out...meaning you have a chance for larger numbers of
visitors.
|
| janfields |
It will pay to get
"real" server space because the free stuff on your internet provider
tends to be slow especially if you're popular.
|
| cris |
Can we working on
creating a site w/o making it
|
| cris |
available until we're
ready?
|
| janfields |
Technically, not unless
you do it all on your home computer and don't put it online until
you're ready.
|
| janfields |
Search engines crawl
all over the Internet and will find your content
|
| janfields |
Unless it's password
protected (and even then sometimes)
|
| janfields |
But you're not likely
to get very high search engine placement
|
| janfields |
So most folks won't
know about it until you TELL them.
|
| janfields |
So...mostly unless
you're putting really really really embarassing stuff
online...
|
| janfields |
I wouldn't worry about
it staying secret.
|
| gonewest |
Knowing zero about making
websites where do you start?
|
| janfields |
I would start by vising
a lot of writer websites.
|
| janfields |
You can find links to
HUNDREDS of writer websites at http://www.scbwi.org
|
| janfields |
You don't have to be a
member to use those links.
|
| janfields |
You can visit lots of
sites and note which ones you like
|
| janfields |
and
why.
|
| janfields |
Note what they have in
common.
|
| janfields |
And ask yourself -- who
are they trying to reach.
|
| janfields |
That will help you
decide what you most want.
|
| janfields |
Then, once you do
that...all you need is a web editor program.
|
| janfields |
And you can get the
Netscape webeditor free
|
| janfields |
And my hubby says you
can get Front Page lite free...though it may have a different
name.
|
| janfields |
Try searching google
for "free web editor" and see what programs pop up.
|
| janfields |
If you download one and
it looks like you could NEVER figure it out...delete it and look at
another.
|
| janfields |
I like the netscape
editor...it's really very friendly.
|
| janfields |
Then...just
dabble.
|
| janfields |
Once you have a site
created ON your computer that you like...then you can worry about
where to put it.
|
| janfields |
Because the really hard
part will be done.
|
| janfields |
By the way...once you
have a site created on your computer.
|
| janfields |
My husband has written
a lengthy (getting it online) series and it's available free on
janfields.com
|
| cris |
Do we need to register a
domain name before dabbling?
|
| janfields |
Naw...since you'll be
dabbling on your computer.
|
| janfields |
I didn't buy
janfields.com until after I got married in 1998 so I was domain-less
for several years.
|
| janfields |
Featherpen: If you only
have ten publishing credits for magazines and no books, should I
have a website?
|
| janfields |
My first website (and
my present website for that matter) was/is based on my magazine
credits.
|
| janfields |
I've done some ghosted
stuff...but it was done with a nondisclosure agreement so I'm not
even allowed to count it as a credit.
|
| janfields |
I've done some work for
hire books for a toy company
|
| janfields |
But the credits that
matter to me tend to be the magazine credits.
|
| janfields |
But my website started
right off with a very specific focus...I wanted to write to help
writers along.
|
| janfields |
So...my focus was a bit
different.
|
| janfields |
But despite it not
being really very "hey, buy my stuff" oriented, I have gotten work
through it.
|
| janfields |
The key is to write
whatever you put on the site very clearly.
|
| janfields |
Show the skills you
have -- clarity, good organization, light tone,
energy,
|
| janfields |
Those things impress
editors.
|
| janfields |
As a magazine writer,
you don't NEED a website...
|
| janfields |
but I know several
magazine writers who do a LOT of school visits..and they NEED
websites for that.
|
| janfields |
So...it
depends.
|
| momx2 |
why write ghosted stuff
if you can't count it?
|
| janfields |
You can TOTALLY count
most ghost-written material.
|
| janfields |
But on RARE
incident...the publisher doesn't want anyone to know a piece was
ghost written.
|
| janfields |
And they will ask you
to sign a nondisclosure agreeement.
|
| janfields |
If that happens, you're
signing away your right to talk about the work and claim
it
|
| janfields |
But honestly, that
doesn't happen very often.
|
| janfields |
MOST ghost writers
claim their material.
|
| eggamy |
How much work Does a site
take once you have it started?
|
| janfields |
It depend upon how
often you update.
|
| janfields |
If you want frequent
visitors.
|
| janfields |
Good search engine
placement.
|
| janfields |
And folks to come back
again and agian.
|
| janfields |
You need a LOT of
content...
|
| janfields |
and it's good to have
content that changes.
|
| janfields |
So, with Janfields.com,
I updated montly until I got KMW...then I just didn't have
time.
|
| janfields |
But because
janfields.com was a long-ish established site.
|
| janfields |
It gets really good
google hits...even being stagnant.
|
| janfields |
But if you want lots of
visitors, plan a few hours every month for
updating.
|
| janfields |
Okay...that runs us to
the end of the hour.
|
| janfields |
I hope y'all found
SOMETHING useful in that...sometimes I feel like I just
blabber
|
| janfields |
or
blather.
|
| janfields |
Depending on whether I
can spell
|
| janfields |
At the
moment.
|