At my book launch for Magic in the Shadows this weekend, I had a lot of great questions. I thought one of the questions asked by Dawn, would be great to discuss here:
Should a writer have a web page even if they’re unpublished?
I don’t think you have to have a web page right off the bat. But I do think it is smart to build a web presence. Agents and editors and readers are online a lot. If you’re online, people can “see” you, “hear” what you have to say, and get to know you in some manner. When you go on submission, editors and agents will search the web to see if you show up anywhere. It’s good to show up. 
But a web page doesn’t have to be the first step. I wholeheartedly suggest you try other social networking sites to see which one you enjoy the most, and which one you will update regularly. By regularly, I mean daily. If you can’t do daily, then weekly works. Monthly is okay, but with the speed of information being exchanged on the internet, updating more than once a month is preferred.
So what should you try? My top three social network suggestions are Facebook, Twitter, and LiveJournal/Blogger.
Facebook is strong and popular right now. You can find a lot of authors, agents, editors and industry professional there. It’s a great way to “put your ear to the ground” and listen in on what’s going on in publishing. It’s a great way to “meet” people and let people in the industry “meet” you.
Twitter is another great place to hook up with people, to hear about contests, prizes, and signings. Authors, editors, agents, and plenty of other interesting folk “tweet.” Twitter is possibly the busiest networking site, but in many ways it is also the easiest. I recommend signing up, then downloading the free TweetDeck program which will sort your messages so they are easy to glance at, reply to, or ignore.
LiveJournal and Blogger are both still active, though many bloggers are leaning toward Twitter for the brevity and ease of updating.
The idea behind putting yourself “out there” on the web isn’t for you to spend hours and hours updating and checking in on these sites. The idea is for you to take a step into the world of publishing and join in the conversations, happenings, and community–much of which is on line. The web makes it so easy to participate in and become a member of the writing community. So don’t be shy! Get out there and join in on the fun!
And yes, you will eventually need a web page. When? Certainly as soon as you make a sale. But remember, writing always comes first. Webpages, social networks and all that jazz, are important, and a lot of fun, but should always come second to putting butt in chair and words on page.
So tell me, what are some of the other great places for writers and readers on the web?
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Tags: Devon Monk, Questions, The Web
Great post, thanks! On a related tangent, I’ve been thinking lately about online presence quality and what is the minimum for making the effort worthwhile. I think if you do something online, it shouldn’t be a minimal effort — your updates should be something that people want to read. It’s not just enough to set up a twitter account and post “Cereal this morning,” or have a blog with lackluster details about your day. In that case, I’m thinking it might be better just to dedicate that time to writing. What do you think?
Friends, Google, and reading lists! Believe it or not, many of the authors I now read are because I have a friend who loaned me one of their first books and I had to have the rest. Or because another friend has a Current Reading List feature on their Blog/Livejournal page. I’ve also found new authors by Googling a specific topic only to find that it wasn’t what I was looking for… but oh hey! That book looks neat. Sometimes, though, it’s as simple as the Amazon.com recommended reads page (based on my searches and purchases).
The main supply of my ever growing list of authors and TBR pile? The authors themselves! Contests–though I have yet to win–are a big way to introduce me to authors I’ve not yet read. I’ll often run out and buy the books based on the write up in a contest. Links to other Authors’ blogs as well.
Hi Devon
Thank you for the succinct and informative post. You hit the major web presence sites. I’d add Book Bloggers blogs are great to become a Follower of and learn about writers their novels.
Thank you again,
Love & Best Wishes,
RKCharron
xoxo
Livia–es, absolutely what you post should be at least entertaining, even if it’s not pertinent to writing. I tweeted about tripping down a stair and said something like, “funny how we never forget how to fall” because I’d managed not to hurt myself in the tumble. I had a flurry of people who responded to that. So it doesn’t have to be deep meaningful musings about writing, but it needs to be something you think is interesting, entertaining, or useful/thoughtful for others to read.
Most of all, it needs to be “you.”
Samantha–I love reading Current Reading lists! And I get a lot of my new reads from friend recommendation too!
RKCharron–Thanks for the suggestion of Book Bloggers! Glad you stopped in today.
p.s. Another great way to establish web presence is to comment on posts.
Devon,
Thank-you for readdressing the question I asked at your release party. I didn’t know it was possible to post in one place, and have the post automatically picked up in other places. How convenient, and what a timesaver. I agree, posting at least once a week would be better than once a month.
I like to visit other author’s websites and drop them a quick line when I finish reading one of their books. Even if they have a disclaimer, stating they don’t answer fan mail, I still like to let them know what I like about their writing. I figure they work so hard to put out an excellent product, they deserve the positive comments.
By the way, the party was great! Really excited and happy for you. Can’t wait to read book four in the spring.
*happy dancin*
I’m curious about having a “web presence” as I have all my internet accounts pointing to “Axisor” but that’s definitely not my legal name.
Would I put my Live Journal page and twitter handle on any submission as part of the signature, as one may do with emails?
On submission, you’ll want to list an email address, but I don’t think you need or should list your Live Journal or Twitter, etc.
If you’re going to publish under your name, that name should be a presence on the web in some way so people can find you.
Maybe other Dames have feedback on this question too.
I’m not an author but I think that as soon as you have anything available on amazon – provide pictures, reviews, a summary of the story as soon as you can. I’m not the only reader who will buy a book on a whim even if I never heard of the author before – but not something without a description or cover.
oh, and there are services like dandyid that will link your different social media presences together even if you use different handles.
Thanks for the useful tips. I am about to launch a website listing my books. Thanks for the encouragement to also start blogging. I hope to make my blog as useful and informative as yours . . . I don’t have the patience of time for small talk or empty chatter.
I actually got my website long before I wrote anything and years before my blog. I think that personally it was the right step, because it made me take myself seriously- when you’re shelling out 12.95 a month you feel that you have to use the service. It also made me, then 16, think about myself professionally. Which, at 16, is sometimes hard to do. Even at 20, I still fail sometimes. =) But the website and blog definitely helps.
Any professional, no matter what the profession, should also consider a “LinkedIn” profile. It’s great for making connections, and if you happen to submit a proposal to somebody and it just doesn’t “fit” with them, then they may be able to introduce you via the LinkedIn.com network to somebody else that might like your proposal.