Personal website before I'm published? I need some opinions.

Capes&Corsets · Dec 28, 2009

Yet another silly question from yours truly.

My other half and I, as part of our uni projects, have been revamping our CVs. I'm trying to get it done as one New Year resolution is to try and get more writing opportunities this year, as well as (perhaps) a new job.

I've been thinking about trying to get more freelance writing work (or even unpaid articles on sites, just to build a portfolio). I'm also working on my second novel - my first is currently being submitted to agents.

For a few weeks now I've been considering making a personal website. I already have a blog, but a portfolio-like site seems fun, and I imagine it might help.

Obviously most authors have sites - but I'm not an author, just a student, web editor and wannabe novelist!

I've been playing with Moonfruit.com and have this: www.ellesymonds.moonfruit.com. I like the design as it's sleek yet basic, and I can place all my other links here (Twitter, blog etc).

However, would having my own site be a bit...well, pretentious? It might seem like a silly thing to ask, but does anyone else (who is unpublished) have a website?

What are your views on personal sites?

Toothpaste · Dec 28, 2009

Every agent/publisher these days says a web presence is a must. How you want to do that is up to you. Many find blogs easier, as they don't require much web savvy. Also, the problem with a website is you have to keep them interesting and often they can be rather static - the information never changing. But I do think yes, if you want to have a website, go for it. Just remember that this is your professional face to the world, and take care what information you share and how you share it. Try not to be too presumptuous as an unpublished author (or heck even a published author), like don't write things like, "Soon to be greatest author of all time" or whatever. Not that you would, still, remember, the second you submit to an agent/publisher and they have any interest in you, they will google you. I know my old agent was interested in a submission, googled the guy's name and found a website where he was saying bad things about the agency. Needless to say she didn't offer representation.

If you are curious here's mine: www.adriennekress.com (though I am currently working on changing the author format)

fov · Dec 28, 2009

I think what you're doing is fine. It shows professionalism and gives potential employers and other interested parties (agents, etc.) something to look at to get an idea of your skills. (And even if you're not published yet, that's not something you need to advertise!)

If possible, I would suggest using your own domain - www.ellesymonds.com instead of www.ellesymonds.moonfruit.com.

My website is sort of straddling a hobby site and professional site right now. It started out as a personal site for my dollhouse miniatures, and when I quit my job this summer to write full time, I added the blog and the writing samples. When I'm applying for freelance jobs I generally send people straight to the writing samples page, rather than to the homepage. I'm planning to spruce it up in the near future with stuff like my resume, a bio, a list of freelance services offered, and contact info. I haven't decided exactly how to organize it -- I don't want to bury the hobby stuff but I do want the business information to be prominent and professional -- so I'm still thinking about the best way to lay it out.

job · Dec 28, 2009

Put your webste together before you're published. Afterwards, you won't have any time.

batgirl · Dec 28, 2009

I felt really stupidly pretentious for registering my domain name and putting up a website. But the agent who took me on went and looked at it before signing me. She also advised me to register the domain for my novel title.
So I'd say go ahead and do it, but register your own domain name if at all possible.
-Barbara

Claudia Gray · Dec 28, 2009

I didn't bother until my first book was about six months from launch. Before then, honestly, nobody is looking for you. But definitely do it before the big publication push, because after that your life (and, for a while, you) go utterly insane.

James D. Macdonald · Dec 28, 2009

Only do a website if you'd be doing one anyway, because you think it would be fun.

When it becomes a chore and a bore -- you aren't doing anyone (including yourself) any favors.

The web is filled with abandoned sites.

kaitie · Dec 29, 2009

What do you do when there's someone else out there with your exact same name who has more web presence than you do? My name isn't particularly common (it's Amish, actually), but there just happens to be someone out there with the same name. Friends have googled me before and said, "Oh, I know what school you went to," or "I didn't know you played soccer," or whatever, and the truth is of all the stuff out there on the web, only about two things are actually me--both related to my old university I graduated from years ago.

I don't really want to start a blog (hate them, for one, but I'm so uninteresting right now and I'd feel stupid writing about the boring crap in my life that no one would read anyway) and I know nothing about websites or anything. Any presence I do have in forums and what not is not done under my real name (intentionally because I don't want anyone in the world to be able to google me and find things I write).

I just worry sometimes that people will go looking for me and find this other girl's site and assume it's me. I haven't seen anything really negative before, but I also can't access her Facebook (don't have an account) so I really don't know what sort of stuff she has out there. Any thoughts?

Tate · Dec 29, 2009

kaitie said:
What do you do when there's someone else out there with your exact same name who has more web presence than you do? My name isn't particularly common (it's Amish, actually), but there just happens to be someone out there with the same name. Friends have googled me before and said, "Oh, I know what school you went to," or "I didn't know you played soccer," or whatever, and the truth is of all the stuff out there on the web, only about two things are actually me--both related to my old university I graduated from years ago.

I don't really want to start a blog (hate them, for one, but I'm so uninteresting right now and I'd feel stupid writing about the boring crap in my life that no one would read anyway) and I know nothing about websites or anything. Any presence I do have in forums and what not is not done under my real name (intentionally because I don't want anyone in the world to be able to google me and find things I write).

I just worry sometimes that people will go looking for me and find this other girl's site and assume it's me. I haven't seen anything really negative before, but I also can't access her Facebook (don't have an account) so I really don't know what sort of stuff she has out there. Any thoughts?

Yeah lol don't worry about it. People, well most smart people, search for the clues to make sure they have the right person or not, don't wanna come off as an idiot when they think they're on to something when they're not.

For example, when I'm bored I use to google myself to see if I could get that facebook web search thing and half the time middle aged white women popped up on my screen. I can assure you that I am neither middle aged nor white. Can you think of how that person who would keep swearing up and down that one of those middle aged chicks were me would feel when they learned that it wasn't, like a jackass and the next time they're out interwebs hunting for someone they're going to search for more clues to keep their guess in check

Capes&Corsets · Dec 29, 2009

Thank you so much for all of the helpful replies! I'll keep up with my blog and also finish the site, as yes, it is fun to make - and will save me time later should my book ever get published!

kaitie · Dec 29, 2009

LOL...though I could see that making for some VERY amusing stories.

Capes&Corsets · Dec 29, 2009

Kaitie - I agree with Tate, above. Most people double-check, anyway. When I write for my site and look for book news, you'd be surprised that there are some writers with very similar (or the same) names, so I have to check them out fully. Even if she has more web presence than you, it shouldn't matter. If she was a fellow writer, this *might* cause confusion, but if not? Don't worry about it.

caitysdad · Dec 29, 2009

I don't have a blog...yet, but I did buy my book title's domain name on Go Daddy.

veinglory · Dec 29, 2009

It doesn't hurt to use a variation on your name to make it easier for them, a middle initial or some such.

Capes&Corsets · Dec 29, 2009

Hmm, I think I'll be doing that shortly. I'm surprised nobody's snapped it up yet to be honest.

CheekyWench · Dec 29, 2009

batgirl said:
I felt really stupidly pretentious for registering my domain name and putting up a website. But the agent who took me on went and looked at it before signing me. She also advised me to register the domain for my novel title.
So I'd say go ahead and do it, but register your own domain name if at all possible.
-Barbara

Aren't the titles up to the publisher? Unless you have it written in stone, wouldn't it be risky to buy a domain name for a working title?

Capes&Corsets · Dec 29, 2009

True, but I rather like my title. Might as well purchase the domain, just in case the publisher decides to keep it.

veinglory · Dec 29, 2009

I don't bother buying titles. But then I am with small presses where you need to conserve expenses. A domain may not be a lot, but it is a recurring expense.

Bookewyrme · Dec 29, 2009

I wouldn't have though having your own domain would be that big of a deal. I mean, I see so many major writers/agents/publishers whose blogs are just .wordpress or .blogspot and they don't seem to have an issue. Granted, with an actual website it may be different, they all seem to be on the order of www.author'sname.com or something.

Just my observation from too much web searching.

ETA: please don't click that link it keeps trying to make the author's name thing into. I have no idea where you'd end up.

veinglory · Dec 29, 2009

I think have one central '.com' domain is just a good look--professional. But nothing is compulsary for success.

benbradley · Dec 29, 2009

veinglory said:
I don't bother buying titles. But then I am with small presses where you need to conserve expenses. A domain may not be a lot, but it is a recurring expense.

Well, that's good point, no one ever really BUYS a domain. You actually rent it a year at a time, or in multiples of a year. And if you don't renew your rental of it, you lose it.

Stephanys · Jan 5, 2011

I am an unpublished author and I have a website. I read an article (maybe on an agent's blog. Not sure) shortly after I finished my novel that encouraged having one.

unruley700 · Jan 5, 2011

ClaudiaGray said:
I didn't bother until my first book was about six months from launch. Before then, honestly, nobody is looking for you. But definitely do it before the big publication push, because after that your life (and, for a while, you) go utterly insane.

But what if we were crazy before we ever started writing?

Ink-Pen-Paper · Jan 5, 2011

I suggest using a cheap web host company, there are several out there, and at least own your name as a domain. It is protection of your name first, but it also makes it easy to use it in the future if you want it or need it for any use including promotion of your works. If you do not want to do the website development the web hosts usually have a basic page to put up.

I currently use godaddy as my website host company. I am not recommending them as there are many other web host companies like them out there. For website design I play with my own, but for my professional sites I have professionals do the design and maintenance.

jaksen · Jan 5, 2011

I think I posted this somewhere before, but...

After I had a few short stories published I bought my name.com. Then after a few years I let it lapse. A pornography company then bought my domain. They sent me occasional emails offering to sell it back to me, for $2,000, then $1,000, and finally for $500. I said keep it, though I always wondered how well (porn-wise) it was doing.

They finally gave up; it lapsed and I bought it back for a few dollars. I don't do much with it, but I do get 'fans' who write to me through it, and when I have a new story in print, I advertise it there.

Personal website before I'm published? I need some opinions.

Exceptional ass-kickery...served.

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Rattenmonster

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

Writting broad

Your Genial Uncle

With great power comes

Exceptional ass-kickery...served.

With great power comes

Exceptional ass-kickery...served.

volitare nequeo

Exceptional ass-kickery...served.

O.o

Exceptional ass-kickery...served.

volitare nequeo

Imagined half of it.

volitare nequeo

It's a doggy dog world

save us from sleep and what we are

Life Is Full Of Stories

Caped Codder