Writing Blog Number 2

20240528 Author Website

Author Website

More questions from the WdC blogosphere!

What should an author include on an Author Website?

Now, this information comes from a short course I did in 2021, the first in-person writing course held by the state’s writer centre post-lockdown in our state.

Here’s the list of things.

To start with, find a free website host. You can pay if you wish, and this can be offset against tax… but you need to earn enough from your writing to pay tax in order for that to be the case.

On page 1, put a photo. Some writers do not like their photos being out there (me!), so have a picture of something to do with your writing. Your latest book is a good second choice, if you have no books or no photo, then make the picture writing related (say, a picture of your dog typing).

Make sure there is a clear navigation area on the first page, and a bit about you, about your writing, the sort of general introductory information to let people know what they have come across.

There are two schools of thought on if you put links to your available books on the front page. First is that it means people can find the works quickly; second is that it makes the front page way too cluttered. I tend to opt for the second, but there is no reason why you cannot list the books on page one with an explanation links are on page 2.

So, yes, page 2 is links. Books, use the cover images as the link portals to where people can buy the books. If you have an external blog, link that. How many books you have or appear in could make this stretch over more pages. Don’t get carried away; older works, make the images smaller. Goodreads author page, Amazon author’s page – link them here as well. Oh, this is not where to link your social media.

If you are self-published and are selling your own writing on your website, then page two should be your shop page, not a page where people link out to get the books. Get the shop as close to the opening page as possible.

The general thought about blogs is that there should be one in your author website, and that comes at the next page. And the blog should be updated at least fortnightly. Let your readers know you’re alive.

Now the next bits are personal. Some authors have a page of photos – pets, where they’ve travelled, from cons they’ve attended, panels, things like that – some authors have a page where they plug the publishers who have published them and their writer friends, some have a Q&A page… and some have more than one of these. But do be careful how large your website is, or else potential readers could be put off.

And the final page is normally a contact page. This is where you link your writing social media. Be careful of linking personal v professional socials. Most webhosts allow you to have a contact portal so you do not have to put your email address online. NEVER put your personal telephone number, address or any bank details on your webpage!

I hope that helps someone!