tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post1440689694697110394..comments2024-01-02T16:42:15.732-05:00Comments on Redlines and Deadlines: Nothing but 'NetECPI Editorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00569261288668237013noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-43305212675061391322010-11-11T17:57:14.948-05:002010-11-11T17:57:14.948-05:00Quite informative and definitely makes one think a...Quite informative and definitely makes one think and consider and really study their website. Awesome post.Lissa Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03849005112321761765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-80467321582077166592010-11-11T08:44:14.746-05:002010-11-11T08:44:14.746-05:00Great information. This helps a great deal, Thanks...Great information. This helps a great deal, Thanks.Avrilhttp://www.avrilashton.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-90233068136065881202010-11-04T15:27:19.960-04:002010-11-04T15:27:19.960-04:00Valuable information and I appreciate the thought...Valuable information and I appreciate the thought that went into this column...Thanks, Jeanjean hart stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12287808234288499369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-18668514114283595542010-11-04T12:35:17.001-04:002010-11-04T12:35:17.001-04:00Great advice (and comments)! I have an author webs...Great advice (and comments)! I have an author website that's a bit of a hybrid - half blog so I can easily update it and half actual website pages. I have a separate blog that's meant to be a reference for aspiring writers and also follows my continuing journey in the publishing world :)Then I have two FB accounts and a Twitter account... it's a lot to keep up with, but I figure having an online presence is the only way to get to know people without leaving my house too often :)<br />If anyone feels like checking out my sites:<br />www.ShoshannaEvers.com<br />www.TheWritersChallenge.com<br /><br />oh p.s. I agree with Kelli that it's super hard on the eyes to read black background with white or colored print. Even if a site is awesome I can't spend too much time on there if it's like that...Shoshanna Evershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10172269305910566840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-32187452967394719062010-11-04T09:57:45.736-04:002010-11-04T09:57:45.736-04:00Oh that is some good advice. It couldn't have...Oh that is some good advice. It couldn't have been said better and the humor makes it easier to swallow!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-79086489580071795922010-11-03T21:19:14.741-04:002010-11-03T21:19:14.741-04:00Terrific advice, Kelli! It's given me a lot to...Terrific advice, Kelli! It's given me a lot to think about. :)Anne Raineyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06110446131001665977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-9183298765633725722010-11-03T17:21:16.980-04:002010-11-03T17:21:16.980-04:00Thanks Kelli.Thanks Kelli.Regina Carlyslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316730032624449669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-17611055456166978142010-11-03T17:05:36.065-04:002010-11-03T17:05:36.065-04:00Regina, I think people like both. They're diff...Regina, I think people like both. They're different things with different purposes, for my money. When I read an excerpt, it's to get a taste of an upcoming release, see if I'm interested. I most often read free stories (short or otherwise) if I'm completely unfamiliar with an author, to become familiar with the writing style. <br /><br />Free stories have been everything from tiny shorts the author just put up for fun, to full novels he/she holds the rights to and has decided to offer for free instead of re-subbing somewhere.<br /><br />Whatever you put up, if it's unedited, I'd suggest declaring that.<br /><br />Kelli, who's AIM ID is acting the fool at the moment!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-57808701691736004192010-11-03T16:29:24.079-04:002010-11-03T16:29:24.079-04:00I really do think it's all a matter of author ...I really do think it's all a matter of author style. At Three Wicked Writers Plus Two, I've blogged on some really different topics. Everything from my kid and his dog to male POV. Blog posts should be interesting. Period. I love visiting author websites just to see what's going on with the author's writing and their life in general. So I always click on the blog. Unfortunately, I'm usually bored right away. I put a lot of effort into my posts when I blog. A blog, in my opinion, should be just as interesting as the books the writer is trying to sell. And that goes for the website too. I hear authors all the time saying they can't think of anything to blog about. Just blog about life. It's simply a matter of putting your personality into it and taking a little time to make it entertaining. <br /><br />Nice comments here, btw.Tess MacKallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00066240659271231596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-21561016660051828322010-11-03T16:27:30.563-04:002010-11-03T16:27:30.563-04:00Question. So what is best? Doing a free read (that...Question. So what is best? Doing a free read (that is edited and polished) or doing WIP excerpts? I swear, WIP excerpts just scare me. Do you recommend hiring an editor to go over the free read? Assuming you only plan to make it available on your website, of course.Regina Carlyslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316730032624449669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-26530670568748722602010-11-03T16:18:09.652-04:002010-11-03T16:18:09.652-04:00My absolute pet peeve about author sites - when th...My absolute pet peeve about author sites - when they lack a simple and easy-to-use list of all their published books. Don't make me search for the list, don't make me select by series or genre (although you can have those options, too). Just give me one list of ALL your book. Include cover, title, release date, format, and publisher. And of course a link from each to the book page at the publisher site or Amazon.<br /><br />Second pet peeve - "hiding" free reads. Hey, readers (and editors) love to try out an author for free. Put a damn button in your main menu bar to take me to your free reads. Don't bury them somewhere, so that visitors don't even know you've got them.<br /><br />RaeleneUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14751722476039016767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-66469605285357522802010-11-03T16:04:39.196-04:002010-11-03T16:04:39.196-04:00Regina, you have to be - hands down - the easiest ...Regina, you have to be - hands down - the easiest client I ever worked with. It's easy for me to build something for someone who can articulate what they're looking for and have no qualms doing what's necessary to brand herself.Lex Valentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04913165199017718669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-32018279978813751242010-11-03T16:00:26.195-04:002010-11-03T16:00:26.195-04:00Oooh. On the subject of blogs and blogging... I ha...Oooh. On the subject of blogs and blogging... I have a blog on my author website and I keep my posts related to writing there. My personal blog which I've had since long before I was published is more casual and personal. It IS a personal blog. I gripe about my kid. I gripe about my old man. I talk about all kinds of...stuff. But I'm aware that all eyes are on a public site. It wouldn't be very wise to forget that every time you login to post. And I'm fully aware that the better part of the people who subscribe to my feed are bloggers who subscribed to me long before I ever signed a publishing contract. Still, it doesn't hurt to remember that everyone is watching you when you do something in a public place like the internet.Lex Valentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04913165199017718669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-15884279928716814592010-11-03T15:57:28.050-04:002010-11-03T15:57:28.050-04:00Lex did MY website. I love it. The branding thing ...Lex did MY website. I love it. The branding thing is so important. Glad you mentioned that, Lex. Tying elements of your website banner with blog banners, sig banners and avatars is so important I think.Regina Carlyslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316730032624449669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-74885363379217562282010-11-03T15:54:50.899-04:002010-11-03T15:54:50.899-04:00Kelli, I actually keep my website blog a bit more ...Kelli, I actually keep my website blog a bit more professional. At Three Wicked Writers plus Two, we do a mix of fun and informative and on my personal blog I'm far more informal. More chatty I reckon. So I mix things up a bit. Yeah, I know. Lots of blogging. LOL. I find it's a good way to connect with others though so, to me, it's worth it.Regina Carlyslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316730032624449669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-89131427218185758622010-11-03T15:53:57.569-04:002010-11-03T15:53:57.569-04:00Very good advice, Kelli. When I do a site for some...Very good advice, Kelli. When I do a site for someone I mention a lot of that. One other thing I mention to people - branding. Get rid of the freewebs and weebly addresses and invest in your domain name. It's one of the best things you can do to make yourself look professional.Lex Valentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04913165199017718669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-78633899906571026822010-11-03T15:46:08.602-04:002010-11-03T15:46:08.602-04:00Hey Sam, I'm a fan of blogs on the site, but p...Hey Sam, I'm a fan of blogs on the site, but possibly because I'm as lazy as they come and don't want to click all over the place. :) If you can still maintain the cleanliness of your site while adding a blog, so much the better.<br /><br />But Regina raised a great point: What kind of blog do you want, professional or personal? If you'll be imparting a lot of personal posts, there are probably justifiable reasons for keeping them separate.<br /><br />Then again, maybe you don't mind mixing business with pleasure. The choice is highly personal, I think. <br /><br />And Dee and Blak...I'll check out your sites as soon as I'm able. If you really want to know what I think. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-45928758123627476492010-11-03T15:13:32.714-04:002010-11-03T15:13:32.714-04:00I agree with that on Daisy. Keep waiting for her t...I agree with that on Daisy. Keep waiting for her to show up at Romanticon! Would love to meet her.Regina Carlyslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316730032624449669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-20413945348622143382010-11-03T15:03:27.603-04:002010-11-03T15:03:27.603-04:00Yes, Reg. I'm stalking. I have a balaclava on ...Yes, Reg. I'm stalking. I have a balaclava on so you can't see me in the shadows here. I have soft-soled shoes on so you can't hear me following you about.<br /><br />Um, ok. That sounded just a little bit weird. Good job you know me, eh?<br /><br />Yes, I agree. I'd love to meet an author I loved who acted the same as she did on her blog. One of those people I imagine would be uber cool and fun is Daisy Dexter-Dobbs. She is one funny woman, and I bet she'd have your ribs killing by the end of five minutes.<br /><br />:o)Natalie Daehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369259206273465746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-33280479621921291382010-11-03T14:46:49.925-04:002010-11-03T14:46:49.925-04:00Ahhhh you're stalking me, Nat? I'm honored...Ahhhh you're stalking me, Nat? I'm honored. LOL. I don't know. Just seems to me that sharing bits and pieces of yourself on a blog isn't all that different from sharing who you are in the stories you write. I think people who read my personal blog have a pretty good idea about how I express myself, something about my sensibilities and if I seem like a person they'd want to have a cup of coffee with. I've met a number of writers whose work I loved and walked away smiling because she was just as cool, nice, and fun and I'd thought she would be from reading her work. Love when that happens.Regina Carlyslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316730032624449669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-76789795177559460732010-11-03T14:35:20.037-04:002010-11-03T14:35:20.037-04:00P.S. LOL a lot at Debbie saying she hasn't got...P.S. LOL a lot at Debbie saying she hasn't got cocks of the month.<br /><br />:o)Natalie Daehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369259206273465746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-44530352316427095792010-11-03T14:34:31.300-04:002010-11-03T14:34:31.300-04:00I'm not stalking you, Reg, honestly...mwhahaha...I'm not stalking you, Reg, honestly...mwhahahaha.<br /><br />I agree about the personal blog. Sometimes I feel badly speaking about my personal business and feelings and always have that "thing" in the back of my mind of: Am I being professional saying this? What will so-and-so think?<br /><br />What I then told myself is that I'm a person as well as a writer, and if I want to blog about feeling like poo or finding a fabbo bargain, I should be able to without feeling bad that the blog content isn't about my latest book.<br /><br />I always wanted to "get to know" authors when I was younger, and now, with this digital age, I can. Finding out, for example, that Tess Gerritsen blogs "just like a normal person" had me so excited I squealed. Perhaps I'm a sad moo, but it made my day.<br /><br />:o)Natalie Daehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369259206273465746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-22550804327400478202010-11-03T14:30:54.117-04:002010-11-03T14:30:54.117-04:00Right on the money, as usual.Right on the money, as usual.Desiree Holthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15998620493796031671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-29401901326792556512010-11-03T14:21:04.108-04:002010-11-03T14:21:04.108-04:00Something about blogging. Just my opinion of cours...Something about blogging. Just my opinion of course. I try to keep my website friendly yet professional but on my personal blog, I concentrate a bit more on connecting as a 'person' who just happens to write. Yes, I promote my new releases and the releases of other writers but always try to include little things about myself. Nothing too personal but enought to give readers a chance to get to know me a bit.Regina Carlyslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316730032624449669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-77134778720321515702010-11-03T13:56:51.407-04:002010-11-03T13:56:51.407-04:00Excellent blog on websites. Made me want to run s...Excellent blog on websites. Made me want to run shrieking and screaming over to my website and update it. Good advice and ideas to consider.<br />SarahSarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.com