Category: Writing Journey

What is the purpose of an author website, and do you really need one as an author?

                  Whether you’re a published author or not, you absolutely need to be searchable, hence you’ll need a website. Readers, publishers, agents, and any literary party will more than likely open the google search bar and attempt to learn more about you as an author and your literary work.

                  An author website not only showcases your literary works but also provides the author professional credibility, instantly connects you with your readers and provides an opportunity to build an audience. Your website will serve as a hub for all of your literary works and it’s a place where individuals can get to know you on a more personal level. Think of it as your official online presence – a one-stop shop where you can market your books, share your writing content, and display what you have to offer your readers, potential agents and/or publishers.

                  So, what content should an author’s website contain? I highly recommend that you do your homework and research several authors in your genre before you proceed with an author’s website. Every author has different layouts and information that they share, however, I have outlined a few critical bullet points that will guide you when building your website and what it should contain.

• Home/Landing Page – The landing page is important because it is the readers first impression of what to expect. It should quickly identify who you are and what you have to offer the visitor.
  • A quick “welcome” or “introduction”
  • Links to social media sites
  • Cover to your novels or literary works
  • Reader reviews and/or media coverage (if applicable)
• About/Biography Page –Your author bio should always be written in third person. Learn more about how to write an author’s bio on my blog post labeled, “Draft a Compelling Author’s Bio.”
  • Start off with a brief description on what inspired you to write and then close with your personal hobbies and interest. Be sure to include any credentials that credits your ability to write. Readers want to get to know and connect with you on a more personal level so why not take advantage and highlight it.
• Books Page – You should have a books page whether you have published literary works or not. If you do not have any published works then highlight your work in progress and focus on any release dates, media coverage, etc.
  • Include a list of your books along with book covers, a brief description, links for purchase and any other relevant material that you are offering.
• Contact Page – Readers, potential agents, publishers and even third parties interested in your books, interviews or speaking engagements will want to contact you. Do not miss these wonderful opportunities due to lack of contact info.  
  • Include email address and mailing (if applicable)
• Blog – I personally do not feel that a blog is a must, however, it can help drive traffic to your website thus providing more visibility for you and your book sales. Be sure to write about something clever that will attract visitors to your site and keep it tasteful. I’d like to note that writing a blog does take up a lot of your time so if you’re unable to commit, then do not even start one.
• Disclaimer/Privacy Policy – This one is a must! Every website needs one to avoid plagiarism and to inform your visitors what happens when you collect their personal information like name, email, and even physical address. I would google a few examples to determine what language and information is applicable to your website.

                  Now that you know what information or content an author website should have, you need to move on to the most interesting yet confusing aspect of actually building it. There are several options and companies that offer hosting and website building, but which one should you use? Again, more research will be required before committing your hard-working money and investing time on building your website. If you have the means and don’t have the time to spare then hire a professional.

• Website Platform – A website platform is your website builder where all of your content will be shared and posted. It is the foundation to your website and provides interactive features for your visitors. I must say that it took me almost two months to build my site but that’s because I was very particular on how I wanted it to look. There are lots of YouTube videos that can provide guidance on how to build your site and this can only be accomplished with lots of patience.
  • WordPress – most website platforms partner with hosting companies that offers support to both. I have used WordPress for almost a year now and it has been amazing and user friendly.
• Web Hosting – In layman’s terms, a web hosting company basically provides internet space for a fee and ensures that your website is broadcast on the internet around the clock. The web hosting company does not own your website but rather rents you internet space. Without a web hosting company, your website will not work. Now for the real question, which company should you use. I recommend to research what each company has to offer, the fee they are charging and the amount of time they will be providing this service to you.
  • Bluehost – I decided to go with this company because of the reviews, the fee was modest, and it was easy. They also provided a package which ended up being very beneficial, so I didn’t have to go to ten different places to get started.
• Domain Name – Your domain name is your URL aka your web address. There are several ways to register for a domain name and to confirm whether the one you have in mind is already in use. Remember to keep your domain name simple, professional, and as clear as possible. I recommend using your Author name (whether that is your real name or pseudonym) so that it is easily searchable. So, where can you obtain a domain name? Your hosting company usually provides a package where you can purchase a domain name, hosting, domain registration and domain security. I would first:
  • Go to www.domainsearch.com to see if the URL you are thinking of using is available or already taken.
  • If the name you have in mind is not already taken then write it down and proceed to register it with your hosting site.
• Domain Security – You will definitely want domain security which protects your personal information from being shared or sold to other companies. As previously mentioned, your web hosting company will usually offer a package that includes this feature.

                  I hope this information has been helpful and provides clarity for whenever you decide to build your website.

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What is a copyright page, and do I need one? Well, if you want to protect yourself and your literary works from book piracy then you will definitely need one. A copyright page not only provides helpful information to book distributors, retailers and librarians but also discourages plagiarism and protects your literary works from being copied without your permission.

Now keep in mind that your literary works is automatically copyrighted the moment you write it. However, without a copyright page then your ownership of said works will be difficult to prove in the court of law.

The copyright page is most commonly found on the back of the book’s title page and is standard in any book. And although there is no set format, there are specific components commonly included which I have outlined below as reference.

Contents of a Book Copyright Page:

1. Copyright notice (required) – copyright symbol, year of publication and the name of the copyright holder
   • EXAMPLE: Copyright © 2020 by Eli Liszt
2. Rights reserved notice (required) – all rights reserved
   • EXAMPLE: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s right.
3. ISBN – international standard book number (will need separate ones for each book format)
   • EXAMPLE: ISBN 978-0-578-68056-9
   • EXAMPLE: E-Book ISBN 978-0-578-69713-0
4. Library of Congress Control Number – is a free number that libraries use to catalog your book.
   • EXAMPLE: Library of the Congress Control Number: 2020123456
5. Disclaimers – implying that you deny responsibility for particular aspects of your book, such as denying characters were based on actual persons.
   • EXAMPLE: This book is a work of fiction. References to events, establishments, organizations, or locations are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental. All other names, characters, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
6. Permissions notice – only required if you used any copyrighted material with permission from the owner.
   • EXAMPLE: Excerpt from THE DIARY OF ANAIS NIN, Volume Five: 1947-1955. Copyright © 1974 by Anais Nin. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
7. Credits – give credit to anyone who made a contribution to your book such as a graphic designer, photographers, editors, or proofreaders.
   • EXAMPLE: Cover design by Daniel Lieske
8. Print edition – if there are multiple editions.
   • EXAMPLE: First Edition
9. CIP data block – only required if you plan to market your book to libraries but otherwise not required. A CIP data block actually stands for “Cataloging in Publication” and refers to the bibliographic record created by the Library of Congress for a book prior to its publication. Unfortunately, the CIP program excludes self-publishers from participating.
10. Ordering information – info for people or organizations wishing to order more copies of your book.
    • EXAMPLE: For information about special discounts available for bulk purchases and sales promotions contact LIGHTNING SOURCE LLC provided by INGRAMSPARK.
11. Author’s website – website
    • EXAMPLE: www.eli-liszt.com
12. Printing details – location of printing
    • EXAMPLE: Printed in the United States of America.
13. Trademarks – Disclose any trademarks you may hold to names, logos, or imprints included in your book.
    • EXAMPLE: Logos are the most common
14. Printer’s key – numbers are actually there for the publisher’s production department. They represent the printing number (or sometimes, the printing year).
    • EXAMPLE: 20 20 79 38 56 41 96 18
15. Publisher information – For self-published authors, you may put your name, pen name, and/or an author website in lieu of publisher info.
    • EXAMPLE: Published by Eli Liszt, 2901 W. Parker Rd, P.O. Box 868054, Plano, Texas 75086

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