If you’re a regular follower of mine (thank you), you might have noticed that my website was down from Thurs. Jan. 14, approx. 9:30 p.m. EST to Tues. Jan. 19th, approx. 2 a.m. EST. In the world of websites, that’s an eternity, and trying to get it back up and running took numerous live chats and phone calls, not to mention hours of my life I’ll never get back. According to my web host, there was a server issue, followed by a malware issue, followed by a theme issue…and on it went. The bottom line is it’s back up, I’m still sane (barely), still using the web host (for now…they have offered a free year of hosting, though we’re negotiating), and I’m still the eternal optimist required to be an author.
Now, if you have a website already, you know that it requires constant attention. Okay, maybe not constant, but considerable. If someone pops by and the last relevant content was posted two years ago, they’re not as likely to purchase one of your (Insert product here). And let’s be honest here, folks. The point behind a website, if you’re an author, is the faint hope that someone will buy your books. Or to tell their local library to buy your books. Even a single book.
But what if you’re an aspiring author? Do you need a website? The short answer is “yes,” and the sooner you start building it, and followers, the better. Â Do you need a ton of content? Â A professional designer? The short answer is “no.” You will, however, need to research your options, and you’ll have to create SOME content.
When I started this website back in 2013, I was “aspiring,” and that’s putting on gloss on things. At best, I had a very rough first draft of my debut novel (The Hanged Man’s Noose, was contracted in 2014 and released in 2015). But I’d won a Best Short Story contest in a Beginnings Magazine a few years before. I’d had three short stories published in THEMA (also years before). Finally, as a freelance journalist and the Senior Editor of the now defunct New England Antiques Journal, I’d also had a handful of honorable mentions for awards in writing articles for NEAJ and other magazines. I added that, because I didn’t have anything else.
But what if you don’t have any awards or honorable mentions? Don’t despair. Back in the day when I tutored Creative Writing online for Winghill Writing School, I had a promising student named Julie who wasn’t quite ready to put her fiction out into the world. Instead, she built a website filled with personal essays and recipes. I still make her Black Bean, Corn & Tomato Soup. I’m not sure what Julie’s doing now, but she accomplished what she set out to do: create a web platform. And almost 10 years later, I still make her soup.
The point is, aspiring (and published) authors, one size, one website content, doesn’t fit all, and daunting as it might seem, you’ll still need to build a presence. Does that mean if you build it, they will come? Beyond friends and family, probably not, at least in the beginning. Now here’s where the optimist comes in: if you give folks a place to come to, your very own Field of Dreams, maybe they will, if only to get your Black Bean, Corn & Tomato Soup recipe. And remember, every website starts as a basic placeholder and evolves from there, including this one.
Will there be website woes along the way? Frustration at the process? Almost certainly. But like everything else in life, for every low, there’s an eventual high, and usually more than one. Or at least that’s the way this eternal optimist chooses to look at life.
I’m glad your site is back up now! It’s always frustrating when stuff like that happens.
Thanks Lydia, yup, frustrating!
Excellent advice for all writers! 🙂
Thanks Joanne!
Yay, you’re back, Judy.
I’ll add one more reason for aspiring authors to get a website: domain name. Selecting a domain name that isn’t already taken can be a daunting task and not something you want to worry about when you’re preparing to launch a book. My name is SO taken by that unrelated Claire Murray (she even spells it the same way) who designs and creates such beautiful rugs. And she’s also from New England, even Massachusetts! (although I’ve just moved this summer to Arizona)
You want to create a domain name that coincides with your social media presence. Putting these together within the same time frame can make the task more successful.
Very good point, Claire. There aren’t a lot of Penz Sheluks, but a domaine name is very important. Thanks for pointing that out.
Oh my, Judy. I would have been pulling out my hair over this.
Vicki, trust me, I was, and I shed more than a few frustrated tears. It came at the same time I’d had a fall and suffered a minor brain trauma. I was not too impressed, let me tell you.
Glad your website is up and you survived to write about it. Best wishes, Mary.
Thanks Mary, me to!
Glad your website is up again Judy. I always enjoy reading your posts. Can you please share the black bean tomato soup recipe?
Hi Doris, so great to hear from you. I will get that recipe ready and add it to my Food & Drink page when I get a minute but I will need permission from Julie as her website is no longer running. If I an, I’ll include in the next newsletter too.
Hi Judy,
Glad your website is up again!
I’ve signed with a small publisher for the first 3 books in my mystery series and one of the first things they asked for was a website… I’m in the process of building it and am learning a lot from the process.
I took a course from our local library and it was good – gave the basics that I needed.
I hope to have it up soon.
Super news, Rose, congratulations!
I hope your “presence” stays functional. Computers can be frustrating creatures but these days a necessity.
Thanks Carolanne, In 8 years of having a website, this is the first time I’ve had this issue. So, let’s hope it’s another 8!
Glad you are up and running (in all ways) better. Keeping it current is a challenge.
Thanks Debra. Yes, and in our “spare” time we bake cookies!
Sorry to hear about your problems with your website. While I’ve had issues over the years, I’ve never had mine shut down completely. It doesn’t mean it’s been frustration free. The learning curve can be steep and with every ‘upgrade to make it user friendly’ there’s a chance a wrench is thrown into the works.
My first website was at Geocities in 1998. Back then, I created r updated the page off line, then uploaded it with a specific program to the Geocities site. It’s a good thing I don’t pull my hair when frustrated because I’d be bald from those days.
WordPress is a breeze comparing it to making a website 20 years ago.
I whole-heartedly agree that even aspiring writers need real estate on the web, a home to call their own. And it’s easier now than ever before to claim it.
Thanks Diane, This was my first really horrid experience in 8 years…here’s hoping it’s another 8. But yes, no reason anyone who wants one can’t set up a simple website.