If you grab a book off your shelf and search the author in your internet browser, you’ll most likely come across the author’s website. Most writers have a goal of publishing a book, and an author website is an important tool to use when building your writing career. It is beneficial to create one before you have a book as this post will offer advice and explain their importance.
Why is a Website Needed?
An author website works as a portfolio. It gives readers, agents, editors, and publishers a sense of who you are. It’s also a way to advertise your writing and put yourself on the literary map.
You don’t need a flashy, pretty website, but you do need one that gives people a glimpse into who you are and what you’ve accomplished. You want to ensure everything on the site is easy to read. Think of your website as a work in progress. You’ll add more content as you move forward within your writing career.
What to Include
There are many ways to organise your website. It depends on how open you want to be with the public and how you want to engage.
Previous Publications? Links? Include them!
If you’ve published an article, essay, or short story that corresponds with your book, be sure to include those links on your website. It will show your writing abilities which is especially important to publishers.
Once you publish a book, you’ll want to share links to reviews, media mentions, interviews, as well as any notable mentions about the book, such as if you won an award. This adds to your repertoire as a writer.
Author Biographies
Include a third person biography that is no less than 50 words and no more than 200 words. It is beneficial to include your credentials for writing your book, such as university qualifications, professional courses or certifications that validate your expertise on the topic you wrote about. What you include is up to you, but this is a great way to mention where you live or your hometown, if you have a career other than writing, or mention your family. You can share as little or as much as you’d like. Do be aware of the potential readers who will be viewing it.
Here are a few Exisle author biographies to use as examples:
Gilda Joffe, graduate of The Juilliard School, is an executive coach for women, with a specialty in eliminating fears hindering development of business and creative potential. With a focus on mindset work, she has over 25 years of teaching and coaching experience and is a certified HeartMath® trainer for businesses and individuals. As a violinist, Gilda performed throughout North America, as well as internationally with various European ensembles in major halls across the world.
Isabelle Duff is a farmer, author, and soon-to-be student at the University of New South Wales, where she will study Advanced Science and Commerce. She is currently on a gap year, working full time on her family farm near Manildra, NSW, where they farm sheep and cattle, and crop. Isabelle is a self-proclaimed ‘absolute tree hugger’, passionate about science and environmental agribusiness. She hopes to one day manage the family business. Isabelle’s favourite things in the world are rock music, picnics, Aussie wildflowers and of course, Saffy – her dog (and best friend) who inspired Cookie. She feels more at home in the bush with her beautiful dog than anywhere else.
Blog
If you want to include a blog that you update often, this is a great way for readers to get to know you more on a personal level. You can include news about your new book, your writing process, what you're reading, and anything else that you'd like to share.
Social Media
If you have any social media accounts that you want your readers to follow, include them! For more information on how to use social media, check out our blog post on “Navigating Social Media as a Writer.”
Author Website Examples
Think of your website as an extension of yourself. Your website will be different depending on what type of books you write and what themes you write toward.
Karen Fischer https://skinfriend.com/
Since Karen is a nutritionist and writes health and wellness books, her website includes recipes and links to buy her other books and skin products.
Stephanie Ward https://stephaniemward.com/blog/
Focusing on children’s books, Stephanie includes activities that correspond with her books, as well as a blog highlighting other children’s book authors and illustrators.
Kiese Laymon https://www.kieselaymon.com/
Kiese, known for his award-winning memoir, Heavy, which focuses on having a Black body in the United States, includes a tab with sincere doctors based in the United States.
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