Let me start by saying that I love the new design of this site. Although red is my color, the gold looks a lot more sophisticated. Well done, Monica.
Website design is a topic on my mind, as I have for a long time thought it would be nice to have a website I could update myself. My old website was dynamite, but every time I wanted to change something, I had to contact my webmaster, except I’d forget to contact my webmaster and by the time I remembered to contact the webmaster, I’d forget what I wanted changed. Yes, it’s true. I’m a sufferer of AAS: Absentminded Author Syndrome. There is no cure.
I have to say right now that my webmaster was wonderful. Tom at Literary Times did a fabulous job on my website, gave me a flash intro thingie and everything from scratch. If you are looking for a webmaster, please give Tom a chance. For thinking I could do it better myself, please give me one giant thump on the head. (Just kidding!)
Actually, I’ve enjoyed getting my fingers dirty in a little html, php and other languages to make my pages pop. In truth, what really started me on this quest was the desire for a little freelance editing work. Seems most openings were for online content and these folks actually expected you to know how to post items yourself. I hadn’t a clue. Besides posting a blog, I was about as tech savvy as a can of soup.
The way the world works now, no one can really afford to sit back and just write. Writers have to be promoters and maybe they need to know how to make a webpage or come up with a book trailer on a budget. We’ve got to wear many, many hats and not all are a comfortable fit.
Speaking of book trailers, I’ve got an idea for a doozy and since my daughter has this film internship over the summer . . .Well, you get the picture.
To see how my website handiwork turned out, visit me here and tell me what you think.. Look for my book trailer this fall. For now, tell me your non-writing travails as an author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of the anthology Soldier Boys, out this month from Parker Publishing.
You wrote:
The way the world works now, no one can really afford to sit back and just write. Writers have to be promoters and maybe they need to know how to make a webpage or come up with a book trailer on a budget.
This is so true. I reminds me of when I first got my bachelor's in marketing and all of the marketing jobs required you know software programs like Adobe, Quark, and Photoshop. Of course, none of those courses were part of the degree program, and I ended up in sales. Depending on what type of writing you want to do, you may also have to learn how to write white papers, copy, press releases, grant proposals, or web content if you want to earn a living completely from writing.
Regarding getting a new website, one of the first things authors need to find out is if the designer will be responsible for updates and how timely they can honor the requests. When scheduled books signings come up, the press covers you, or if you want to delete something that has been canceled, you will need it done in a timely manner. If the designer is only responsible for designing the site, you might want to consider adding a link to a blog that you can update as often as you like and putting your press info and book signing info on it. Or you might consider getting ahold of some content management software that makes updates as easy as writing a Word document.
As for my many hats outside of book writing, I learned HTML, borrowed books on copywriting and writing white papers, learned about writing press releases, and learned how to use software that converts Word docs to PDF docs. All of that and still no one has ever heard of me. LOL!
Emmanuel,
You are too funny. It's true that we do all this work just to stay unknown, like the red queen running as fast as she can just to stay in place. Oy! But I do want to reiterate that it wasn't my webmaster's fault about updating. It was mine. Part of doing the website myself was forcing myself to keep on top of that.
Again, thanks for posting. You have been entered into the pool for an autographed copy of Soldier Boys. LOL
I really like your new web site look and think it's great that you actually did it yourself. Very cool! It's good to have others help but it's better not be so reliant sometimes.
Looking forward to your book trailer,
Paz
Hey Paz,
Too true. Glad you like the website. It helps that I did it at wordpress where most of the work is done for you. The header is all mine though. BTW, you, too, are in for the anthology draw.
All the best,
Dee
I understand what you mean about developing your own website and being able to update it on your own. I too ventured out in this direction but found it to be too time consuming especially considering that I had to research everything that I wanted to change. I think I did a good job for a novice, but I could not maintain it.
By the way, I love your work.
Dee, your website is great. I would love to update my site with a new look, but the fact that I can update it with at least text and pictures on my own keeps me from doing an entire revamp. I like having the freedom to add my own updates without worrying the guy who created the site for me.
The "author as promoter" thing has been a huge surprise, and challenge, for me. It is sooo time consuming, and you just never know if you're doing enough, or just wasting time and money.
Great post! And I agree, great new look to the site.
Hey Phyllis,
I'm hoping to overcome that trap by keeping everything simple. What's there now, well, that's it. If I want to change something at 2 in the morning (my usual time for thinking stuff up) I can do it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I stay happy with it.
Thanks so much for your kind words.
All the best,
Dee
Hey Farrah,
All this non-writing is very time consuming. I try to set aside one day a week to handle all the promotional and other non-writing chores. Otherwise it gets to be craaaazy. Glad you like the site. Honestly, I found the most time consuming part transferring all the information. You don't realize how much material is on your site until you try to move it somewhere. LOL
All the best,
Dee
The site looks great, Dee. I thought I was the only one who's tech-savvy-less. So much to do, so little time. Congrats on your newest release.
Love & Peace,
VeeJay
Hey VJ,
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, you have competition in the less than tech savvy department. Speaking of my new release. . .time to put the names in a hat and have my daughter pick. LOL Be back in a few.
All the best,
Dee
I love the new look.
Thanks so much, Shelia!
And now for the winner of the copy of Soldier Boys :::::::drumroll please::::::: Phyllis!!!
Phyllis, please e-mail me your address at deesavoy@gmail.com.
All the best,
Dee