I tossed around the idea of a website for some time before I started this. Two objections kept circling my head:
The second was trickier. The thing about writers is that we're pretty much all readers. However, the inverse is not true. Some of the most avid book lovers I know have no interest in trying to create their own stories. Even the editor I commissioned for my manuscript review said she got in to professional reading because she loves books, but she is an editor, not a writer. So if I have a website that talks a lot about writing, the writing process, writing resources etc, am I boring or alienating a good percentage of potential readers?
Of course, the natural place to start is with other author websites. And I found a mix. Some post frequently about the writing, editing and publishing life, seeking to help out other writers who want a place in the game. Some post almost exclusively about their own books, what the stories are about and where you can buy them. Some post reviews of other people's books.
Ultimately it came down to one question: what is my vision for this site?
The answer was fairly straightforward. I want it to be the natural go-to place for people who want to know more about me. That sounds narcissistic, but I think a certain degree of ego is necessary for success. You have to believe in your work, of course, but you also have to believe in yourself. I have to believe that the next book I'm writing will be as good (better) than Forgetting Charlie. I have to believe that I've got something interesting to say, that there's a reason to read my stuff, whether fiction or blogs.
So, readers. I apologise if you are not writers, but you're going to hear a bit about what helps me write. Why? Because it's part of who I am. You're going to hear a little about the books I love, because they're part of what inspires me. And you might even hear a little bit of shameless bragging. Sorry about that. I'm not, really.
- Who is going to want to read a website of an author not-yet-published?
- But what on earth will I put on it?
The second was trickier. The thing about writers is that we're pretty much all readers. However, the inverse is not true. Some of the most avid book lovers I know have no interest in trying to create their own stories. Even the editor I commissioned for my manuscript review said she got in to professional reading because she loves books, but she is an editor, not a writer. So if I have a website that talks a lot about writing, the writing process, writing resources etc, am I boring or alienating a good percentage of potential readers?
Of course, the natural place to start is with other author websites. And I found a mix. Some post frequently about the writing, editing and publishing life, seeking to help out other writers who want a place in the game. Some post almost exclusively about their own books, what the stories are about and where you can buy them. Some post reviews of other people's books.
Ultimately it came down to one question: what is my vision for this site?
The answer was fairly straightforward. I want it to be the natural go-to place for people who want to know more about me. That sounds narcissistic, but I think a certain degree of ego is necessary for success. You have to believe in your work, of course, but you also have to believe in yourself. I have to believe that the next book I'm writing will be as good (better) than Forgetting Charlie. I have to believe that I've got something interesting to say, that there's a reason to read my stuff, whether fiction or blogs.
So, readers. I apologise if you are not writers, but you're going to hear a bit about what helps me write. Why? Because it's part of who I am. You're going to hear a little about the books I love, because they're part of what inspires me. And you might even hear a little bit of shameless bragging. Sorry about that. I'm not, really.
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