Alert readers might have noticed I’ve made some changes around here. I added a testimonials page (Thanks Bob, Kent, Tom, Devan and other Bob!). I cleaned up my portfolio (Thanks Kelly and Josh!). I have more changes planned for the next few weeks.
This is all in response to a class I took on making a perfect freelance writer’s page. This was through Freelance Writer’s Den. Look to the right for a link to the group. It’s a for-pay site with open membership only for the next week or so…and totally worth the $25 a month. Seriously. Go sign up. If you missed the deadline, you can still buy their books and ebooks.
On the subject of writer websites, here are a few belonging to colleagues and people I admire. Check them out. Compare them to your own. I’d love some comments about what you liked and disliked.
- April Moore, a Colorado-based freelancer who recently got her first book deal.
- Sarah Newton, freelance editor and writer with a beautifully simple site.
- Carl Pruit, a fellow travel writer based in Portland.
- Ian Scofield, our writing prompt guy.
- Lawrence Block, one of my favorite authors. “Uncle Larry.”
- Carol Tice, who ran the workshop that started this mess.
- Business Book Ghostwriters, home of my mentor Jack Rochester.
- Christopher Moore, another author who has definitely arrived. No relation to April.
Some of these are hand-made by part-timers. Others are the kind of professional design you see when a writer can afford to hire the best. Check them out. What can we learn?
One last note: as I revamp my blog according to Carol’s and others’ suggestions, I’ll be writing it all down. Look for my ebook: Extreme Home Page Makeover.
Thanks for listening.
What works for me is when a site is simple and “tidy”… The main content takes up a majority of the page, but still has some good whitespace at the edges. I greatly prefer when a site uses a slightly larger font like 14pt, instead of the more common 8pt or 10pt. Minimal graphics, and if there are pictures, please don’t have them animated. Black text on white background looks clean and is easy to read, but I prefer when there’s a bit of color, or even white text on dark backgrounds, as it’s easier on my eyes for long reading sessions. There’s some good stuff in your colleagues’ pages.
Will be interested in what you learn. And as I apply it to my own. Finished novel to Kindle Select I suspect in March (still being edited and cover art prepared.) Will likely shop the print version for a few months… http://www.greggtownsley.com
I totally forgot to put yours in there, and I even had you on the list! Seriously, people, check out Gregg’s site! Especially his head shot. I wish I had a photo that good..
True, yes you can spend a lot of time just rearranging the pcnlies. And yes, you ought to write anything just write to get things going. But I find that whenever I’m wanting to write, there’s no use in forcing it. You need space, not just physical space although that can often help but you need mind space. I need to have my mind uncluttered of life’s trivia, so ideas can find their way in and not get snarled up. I can write to order if needs be, if there’s a deadline, but something worthwhile needs a combination of mental intensity and expansiveness at the same time.
Hey thanks for including me on this list! I’m looking forward to checking out everyone’s site.