10 Necessary Elements of an Author Website

Thursday, 2 January 2014

Here's one of my agenting secrets: If a query catches my interest and a website link is included in the signature, I will click on the link. There are certain things I expect to see on an author website and other things that add to the experience. Whether you're building a website from scratch or are planning to update a current one, here is a quick checklist of ten necessary elements for an author website.

Professional Photo

The photo on your website should be a step above an Instagram selfie. A first impression is still a first impression - even if it's online. If you don't want to pay a photographer to take professional head shots, it's easy to emulate the process at home. (Check out this blog post for some tips.)

Two Bios

A bio is a crucial part of an author website. Two bios is even better than one. Write a short bio with only the most important information. Then, write an even longer bio for those of us who are too curious for our own good and need to know everything.

Book Information

As an agent, this is the section of your website that I'm most interested in. Make sure you include brief descriptions of your completed manuscripts (and maybe even your work-in-progress). This is an easy way for agents to know what you're working on (especially if you write different genres and/or categories). Having book information on your website is also a great idea to entice potential readers early on. If you're already published, then you'll want to include links to where your book(s) can be purchased.

Contact Information

This is so important and often overlooked. Always include an email address that you check on a regular basis. A contact page is also a great place to include the name and contact information of your literary agent (if you already have one).

Publicity Page

This is where you can link to interviews, guest blog posts, or any other type of publicity you've taken part in. It's an excellent catch-all page to promote your smaller work.

Events Calendar

If you're a social butterfly, let people know what events you'll be attending. Listing conferences and other writing events shows that you are dedicated, willing to learn, and eager to network with others in the industry.

Social Media Links

I think it's safe to assume that one of the reasons you have an author website in the first place is because you want to promote your work. Having easy links to your social media accounts encourages potential readers to follow you whichever way is easiest for them.

Simple Design

Don't let yourself get too wrapped up in the design of your website. Clean and simple is best. Let the content shine through.

Recent Blog Posts

If you're going to have a blog attached to your website, make sure it is updated on a regular basis. There's nothing worse than clicking on a blog link only to see that it hasn't been updated in fourteen months. It's best not to blog at all than to only write a post once a year.

Something For Your Readers

Remember that it won't only be industry folks visiting your website. You get digital bonus points for having something special for your readers. It's up to you to be creative and decide what you have to offer.

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Self-Publish or Perish?

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

I asked my Twitter followers what publishing, writing, or querying topics they'd like to see in a blog post and Emily's question about the relation between self-publishing and literary agents stood out.

@MsMariaVicente Blog post idea: An agent's take on Self-Publish or Perish: Is it a good or bad idea for writers just starting out?
— Emily Wibberley (@Wibbs_Ink) November 13, 2013

Self-publishing is undeniably popular, but it also has a bad reputation. The thing is, self-publishing has been around just as long - arguably longer - than traditional publishing. There are many distinctions between the two and it falls on each individual writer to decide which path is best for his/her career. For the sake of simplicity, I'm only discussing self-publishing and traditional publishing as binary choices. For an in-depth look at the many paths to book publication, see this chart.

Since Emily's question focuses on writers just starting out, it's important to emphasize the questions that a writer needs to ask before choosing a publishing path: Do you want to be published by a traditional publishing house? Or are you anxious to turn your manuscript into a book right away? How much work (outside of the actual writing) are you willing to put in to make your book a success? Are you able to spend the necessary money to create your very own publishing team? Do you know enough about marketing and publicity to make your book stand out?

Traditional publishing takes a lot of time (finding an agent, securing an editor and a publishing deal, waiting for the book to come out...) whereas self-publishing is often immediate and allows the writer to have control over exactly when things happen. Marketing and publicity is absolutely necessary for both traditional publication and self-publication. However, self-published authors need to do a lot more work on their own - and marketing and publicity takes a lot of time (and money). Are you willing to spend money on graphic designers, publicists, and editors, things that are usually provided by a traditional publishing house? Your book needs to be extra special in all areas (even if you have a great story, the other elements still need to fall into place) to stand out in the world of self-published books. With traditional publishing, you will have a team of people helping you achieve this goal - and it will not cost you a thing (unless you decide to hire extra help, like an external publicist - but that's a different topic for a different day).

The decision to self-publish a book will have an impact on a writer's career. If your plan is to self-publish a book and then later query this same book to literary agents, please be cautious. While most agents aren't against self-publishing, many aren't willing to pitch a previously self-published book to editors unless it has sold thousands and thousands of copies. However, if you feel really compelled to self-publish a book and then later decide to query an agent with a different project, this is a much more manageable situation for both you and your agent.

Self-publishing isn't for everyone, just as traditional publishing isn't for everyone. Some books do great in the self-publishing realm, whereas others are meant for traditional publishing. It's not that one is better than the other. Which path is best for your book and which path will get you to where you want to be in your writing career? Make sure to weigh all of your options and consider the impact it will have on your career in the future.

I'd love to read your opinion on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing in the comments.

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Secret Agent

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Okay, so it's not really a secret anymore. I am excited to announce that I have joined the P.S. Literary Agency as an Associate Agent! The official announcement was sent out into the publishing world this morning and I am thrilled to start building my client list.

It has been a great journey from publishing student to publishing intern to, now, associate literary agent. I owe oh-so-much (more than words will ever allow me to explain) to Bree Ogden for giving me the confidence to pursue this crazy career and to the team at P.S. Literary for offering me the position.

If you're a querying writer (or will be in the future), you can read more about P.S. Literary on the website. Information about what I represent can be found here (and I will be updating that page in the next day or two with a more detailed wish list).

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Getting Published in the 21st Century

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

I know there are quite a few readers of I Believe in Story who have dreams of one day being a published author. There is no set pathway to being published and it's difficult to read through all the advice columns and decide what will be the most effective for yourself as an author. It can also be time consuming to click through numerous websites and blogs to find what you're looking for. I want to share a great resource that will help writers at any stage of his/her career.

Carly Watters, a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, has put together an ebook of her best blog content (and some new articles as well) that covers everything you want to know about publishing a book in the 21st century. I've read the book myself and it's filled with useful information like writing tips, self-editing checklists, best querying practices, and catching the attention of literary agents. Carly's book is applicable whether you write nonfiction or fiction in any category.

The official description:

From Literary Agent Carly Watters comes Getting Published in the 21st Century, an ebook of Writer’s Digest award-winning blog content and new material primed to help writers get published.

It has never been more difficult to get traditionally published than it is right now. But with the right tools, and industry insider tips, Carly will show you how it’s possible for you.

Getting Published in the 21st Century will share with you: 

•  How to begin your book and why you’ve probably been starting in the wrong spot
•  10 self-editing tips that will transform your manuscript
•  Carly’s 9 ways to write smarter, not harder
•  5 tips to make your query letter stand out (from someone who reads over 800 a month!)
•  The top 7 reasons why agents stop reading your manuscript
•  What agents are looking for in a client
•  12 ways to create an author community

Whatever question you have about crafting your novel and how to get it published, Getting Published in the 21st Century has the answers.

The ebook is only $2.99 and if you purchase it from Smashwords before November 5th you can get 50% off with the coupon code YT68T. You can purchase the book here (or click the book cover above). At the link, you can also view a sample including the full table of contents.

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BookCamp Toronto: Internships

Thursday, 29 August 2013

I attended BookCamp Toronto this past weekend where Canadian book publishing professionals got together to discuss books and the publishing industry. This week on the blog, I'll be sharing key points from a few of the sessions I was able to attend on Saturday: digital publicity, tech platforms for authors, and internships.

As some of you may know, I've been an intern in the publishing industry for over ten months now. Both of my internships are on the agenting side of the industry, so my roles are completely different from what most publishing interns experience. Since I am an intern, I have a strong interest in what I like to call "the great internship debate." Are internships legal? Are interns exploited? Do we actually learn anything from interning? (If you're interested in my personal opinion, read this post.)

The internship session at BookCamp focused on how to make the most of an internship. I think the following advice is really important for current and future interns to keep in mind.

Before Your Internship

Know where you're applying. It's tempting to apply to every available position, but remember that you will be working for free (or for very little pay). Make sure you want to gain experience from the company and search online to see if any previous interns have said anything negative about his/her experience.

Choose an internship that is applicable to your interests. If you want to be an editor, then an internship position in publicity may not be your best option. You want to use your time as an intern to cultivate skills. Despite popular belief, most internship positions do not lead to a full-time job. Make sure you will be learning transferable skills during your time as an intern.

What do you want out of the internship? Really think about your answer to this question and then have the conversation. You are working for free and you should not be afraid to make your expectations clear. You increase your chance of success if both you and your supervisor understand what you want to learn from your internship.

During Your Internship

Network. Talk to as many people at the company as possible. Go outside of your department and introduce yourself. Ask questions. Make sure people know who you are and know what you are capable of doing.

Schedule meetings with everyone, not only your supervisor. If you're interested in what someone does for the company, ask them if they're available to have a brief chat. You want to learn as much as possible while you have the chance.

If possible, ask to complete one large project on top of your smaller, day-to-day, intern duties. If you have a major project finished by the end of your internship (most in-person internships in publishing are three or four months), then you know that you've shown the company your dedication and skills.

Always ask for feedback. Many interns go through their entire internship without getting any feedback. If you don't know whether you're doing a good job, then ask. Feedback will make you a stronger editor, publicist, salesperson, etc.

After Your Internship

Keep in touch. When it comes to finally finding a job, it all comes down to who you know. Don't be afraid to send the occasional email or tweet to say hello to someone you connected with during your internship. If you recently completed an internship, the people you worked with know that you're looking for work. They won't be surprised if you ask them to be a reference.

Other things to consider:

Don't go in to an internship expecting a job. Think of it as an extension of your formal education. The goal is to gain experience. Working for free isn't an ideal situation for anyone, so make sure you're getting the most from the experience. Many people now working in publishing started as interns. They understand the struggle. Make good use of your time.

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