Current word count: 17,348
Words written today: 526
Words to goal: 22,652 / 371 words a day til the end of September
Additional writing: revised chapter 20 of first novel; 12 left
I’m all about promoting new authors on Day By Day Writer. You’ve probably noticed that many of the authors I’ve interviewed here are debuting authors or those on their second books; they’re not necessarily recognizable names. Not that I wouldn’t turn down J.K. Rowling if she said she wanted to be on this blog 
, but there’s something great about being able to spread the word about authors who aren’t as well known.
So, today, I’m showcasing Gwen Cooper’s new website, which I think is really cool.
Gwen’s second book, Homer’s Odyssey, will be on shelves on Aug. 25. (I wrote about the book’s trailer in June.) The book is about Gwen’s life with Homer, her fabulous cat who has no eyes. As a friend of Gwen and her husband, I’ve heard fun stories about Homer and am looking forward to reading more in Homer’s Odyssey (love that name!).
The website looks great, and I think it’s a good example of what a good author’s website should be, at least according to a recent blog post on literary agent Nathan Bransford’s blog. According to guest blogger Jordan McCollum, a writer and Internet marketing guru, the top 7 things an author’s website must have are: a blog, social media, search engine presence, professional design, an about page, examples of the writer’s work and a contact page. Gwen has all of these except the social media links, which I don’t think is a crime; there are still plenty of people who don’t regular haunt Facebook and Twitter.
Have you got a website? Whether you’re a published author or aspiring, here’s an opportunity to promote it by posting it in the comments. I’ll make up a page of author websites that will include all the ones you tell me about. And if you’d like to promote your favorite author websites, do that too. Blogs are allowed as well. These are essential marketing tools and useful to look at, so the page will become a good reference tool for all of us. Post away.
Write On!
P.S. Day By Day Writer will be interviewing Gwen on Sept. 11, so stay tuned for that. Maybe we’ll get her to talk about the creation of her website, among other things.
I really like the link–that’s one professional website!
I do have a website (bethrevis.com), but it doesn’t have everything listed–in part because I think an unpubbed writer needs different things from a pubbed one.
I have a link to my blog, social media links, pitch, first chapter, bio page, and some marketing info. Actually…in looking at that list posted, I think I do have everything covered, although it could probably look a little more spiffy.
I write and write and write and…
And I go to writers conferences, but I never seem to get around to sending in anything.
My webpage is a blog about gardening, but it has most of the requirements listed above. I am an inspired and aspiring author of many genres, so I take out my frustrations on my gardening. At least I end up with something to eat!
This is a great idea!
I forgot to mention that my website is http://lavalily.com Please visit and leave me a note.
Thanks so much for the link love!
You’re welcome, Gwen. Great site.
Lucy and Beth, I’ll put you on the new author web site links page.
And Lucy, keep writing and keep working on your making your writing the best it can be — in ready for publication state, then get out there and jump in, send out your work! Good luck.