I’ve been spending a lot of time lately contemplating the new trend of having easy accessibility to authors on the web. Weblogs, message boards, chat groups, and mailing lists–these are just a few of the avenues authors use to get in touch with their readers. A brand-spanking new author myself, I employ all of these forums to make myself available to those who may want to speak with me. Within the last week I’ve concentrated time and money on web promotion, trying to introduce myself to potential readers and bring them to my site where we can get to know each other and hopefully establish a rapport. Someone once said that a person must see your name several times before it becomes a part of their conscious memory. Since I’m still relatively unknown, I have my work cut out for me, yet I can’t help but wonder at the feasibility of presenting ourselves as individuals first and foremost before our work.
Some authors have told me that pushing your books is tacky and turns off readers. So they present themselves, sell themselves as nice people you want to know and have dinner with. This will make you want to buy their books, or so they tell me. Is that true? How about great writing, great storytelling, great characters? Are these just bonuses you find in a book you bought simply because you know the author from their website?
Not long ago romance writers’ websites were simple in design—a little bio, a few book cover images, a few teaser excerpts, and a backlist. The site content was all about the books. Now, you sometimes have to search for the books amongst all the information about the author.
You can read about the writer’s daily life in their blog. You can learn their tips for aspiring authors and sign up for their workshops. You can find out what movies they’re watching and what books they’re reading. You can see pictures of family vacations and birthday parties. The intimacy is startling and sometimes disconcerting. I’m still reeling from the shock of reading about one author’s struggle with their mental medication.
Where are the books in all of this? I sometimes scratch my head and wonder.
I was privy to a discussion recently where a few readers were discussing some author sites they visited. The sites they talked about most were the ones lacking intimacy (i.e. no blogs or message boards). They wondered about the authors. Are they as standoffish in person as they appear on their site?
I was surprised. Is it important to the average reader to know intimate details about the person who wrote the books they liked? There are several writers I can mention whose work I enjoy tremendously and yet I have no clue who they are as individuals. This doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just grateful for the enjoyment their work gives me. What kind of dog they have or what flavor ice cream they like is of no consequence to me. But perhaps I’m in the minority? I’ve never asked on my blog or my message board or my chat group why the people who visit me come by. However, I’m going to ask you.
How do you feel about getting to know authors personally? If you’re a reader who enjoys this intimacy, can you tell me why it works for you? Or why it doesn’t? Do you think less of authors with whom you can’t converse freely?
No related posts.
Blogs and message boards definitely make authors more accessible, and I enjoy that. But I think a lot of readers are out there who may not visit author websites. They enjoy the books, and keep buying them. For those who do visit websites, I’d guess it’s more important to them to have that level of interaction.
What annoys me is when you post to an author’s blog, possibly asking a question relevant to the discussion, and she/he doesn’t acknowledge it. Or when they post entries that don’t allow interaction. What’s the point of a blog, in that case? Some authors seem to convey a “Diva” syndrome, whether it’s intended or not, if they never post on anyone else’s blog or if they ignore questions and comments. That’s a turn-off to me.
As a reader, I remember when I was younger reading books by some of my favorites authors and wondering about their lives and who they were. When I would find out little detais about them by watching television, I’d take the information in and retain it while I read their books. Today, I can go into a bookstore, look on the shelves, and see books by some of the authors whose blogs I have read or who I’ve seen on mailing list.
As an aspiring author myself, seeing the blogs and those emails that do come through lists from these other authors helps me see that I’m not the only one that has had these experiences before. Others have to, and it makes me as a beginner feel not so alone. The successes of others also helps me know that with a little hard work and some time I can do it too.
I like talking with other writers, sharing experiences with them. I learn something new everday it seems from things I read on blogs or on lists. Personally, I like this intimacy now. Back then I was always wondering. Now not so much.
I tried and tried to converse with Charles Dickens, but it’s been tough since he is dead. But I don’t think less of his works, and I read them anyway.
Things sure have changed. Ten years ago I couldn’t imagine writing to one of my favorite writers…and *expecting* a reply. Now, if I’ve posted a comment or emailed them and I don’t hear back within a couple of days, I’m like WTF?
Interaction these days, especially in the romance genre — and particularly with a new author — is essential. The only question is: how much is too little and how much is too much? 
Great column Sylvia! I love author blogs, but I think it’s beause I’m a writer. I don’t think I’d care about them at all if I were just a reader. I don’t know that since I’ve been trying to publish for the last several years and it seems like the Internet has grown massively in the last four or five of those years. As a reader not looking for anything but book news I can think of a handful of sites I went to searching for more info: Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter site, Alison Kent’s Girl Gear site, SEP and Jennifer Crusie (I just wanted to know when they would have more books for me to read). As a reader and writer I visit a ton of sites for a ton of reasons. Hmmmm. Great topic.
I’ve always been interested in the lives of writers. Before blogs there were biographies and essays. My favorite collection of essays was called Women Writers at Work. Anne Tyler, Erica Jong, and other contemporary writers talked about their work and how they integrated it into the rest of their lives. Those glimpses of writers with lives outside of their books thrilled me. So I’m all in favor of writers with blogs and photo albums and stuff on their website. However, I don’t hold it against a writer if she doesn’t have any of that stuff. Heck, some writers don’t even have websites. That’s fine. I respect their privacy.
I prefer to keep a little distance. I don’t think I’ve ever visited an author’s website looking for info about their personal lives. Info about their backlists and upcoming projects, sure, but it just never even crosses my mind to click on the bio pages. The little bios inside the books are more than enough for me.
As for author blogs, the ones I read are those which focus mostly on industry commentary. Those which are mostly “a writer’s life” I’m not particularly interested in. Maybe it’s because I have absolutely no interest in becoming a writer myself!
I often feel my favorite novels are my friends- & I wonder what the author who wrote them is like “in real life”. I don’t actively search for author blogs,but have found a few accidentally. Some are friendly & interact with posters & some are more private.
Actually I prefer the word private. I respect the need for space, peace & quiet. I don’t want to know every minute detail. A quick chat or anecdote is fine.
If an author comes across as friendly I’m likely to remember her in a positive way & remember that friendliness when her new book comes out. If an author comes across as unfriendly or has ranted or flamed against readers (as opposed to against their editor, for example) I am likely to remember that as well.
All in all,I’d prefer authors to write books faster! Less blogging & more writing for publication!:lol:
The reason I visit an author’s website is to see her booklist or when the next release is coming out. If they have a blog, all the better. It’s always great to read about a writing routine or good tips. But if an author wishes to be private and post a website letter once in awhile or just have a newsletter, that’s fine with me.
I’ve read often on author websites that authors actually get questions and requests of writers wanting them to critique a book or write a book with them, or harsh comments from disgruntled readers. So if they don’t want to be so accessible to strangers, I don’t hold it against them. If they write an awesome book, I’m forking over the money whether I’ve chatted with them or not. = )
As a reader, it disturbs me when authors consciously use the internet as a marketing tool to sell books. Let your work speak for itself. I enjoy interacting with authors on message boards when they simply have something to contribute to the discussion, like any other poster. However, it’s pretty easy to tell who is trying to develop a “presence” and create a “personality” FAST…Remarkable convergence with the pub dates of their recent releases.
I like getting some glimpses and insights into different authors through their blogs, but I don’t need a recitation of all the details of their days. I think that, mostly, I enjoy reading blogs because I enjoy good writing. The blogs I most enjoy visiting are those that are entertaining, regardless of the subject matter. That’s what I try to accomplish with my own blog, whether I talk about something that’s happening in my own life or make an observation or whatever.
As an author, I love getting email from someone who’s read my book. I’m still a newby, so these emails are infrequent. If I write to a more established, famous author, I don’t expect a quick reply. The demands on their time must be astronomical.
Sylvia, this is a fascinating post and something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.
I think there are some people who are interested in authors’ lives, but I think they are a very small group of people. I’m not comfortable talking about too much personal stuff mostly because I think it’s boring. I occasionally bring up personal info in my own blog, but I connect it to writing somehow.
One of my favorite blogs is Paperback Writer because she talks about writing and industry issues, and things connected to the whole publishing/author/writing community. I find her thoughts interesting and sometimes enlightening. MJ Rose has a blog on marketing and publishing which I read faithfully. But for the most part, I don’t care one way or the other about personal info — a bio is sufficient for me.
I agree with the comment above that the book–the writing–has to stand on its own. However, getting the “buzz” generated to get the book in the hands of readers is critical, and that’s why the internet — blogs, message boards, etc — are so important. The readers of blogs, etc. are AVID READERS. They’re willing to try new authors. And if they like your book, they’ll recommend it to friends, and their friends will (hopefully) buy it because they know the first reader is a SUPERREADER and wouldn’t recommend something they don’t like.
So it’s important, yes. Personal? Not necessarily. And established writers don’t need the buzz like new writers do, which is why I think new or midlist authors are more apt to have internet marketing tools, even if they are indirectly connected to their books (like a blog).
Blogging isn’t going to make or break a book. Even if you get a couple hundred people who regular visit your blog, they aren’t going to impact your sell-through, particularly if you’re pubbed with a NY house and have five or six digit print runs. BUT just like politicians have town hall meetings which bring a handful of people, it’s the good will generated by the gesture — I care what you think for them, and for us, I care to know who reads me.
Hope that makes sense!
I think for a newly pubbed author blogs, message boards, and websites are a great tool. I know I’ve bought several first time author books because I’ve “met” them on a board and liked them. For unknowns it may be a great tool for building a fan base thus selling that first book and hopefully the next.
I get the impression that blogs appeal mostly to other writers. I could be wrong, I’d like to hear if I am.
There are readers who visit, they e-mail me instead of comment because of their wariness at being “published” on an author’s website, but I think the number is small compared to authors. Yahoo! loops, however, appear to have a higher reader to author ratio.
I enjoy talking to other writers through my site. It’s a wonderful way to network. But the other day, as I was visiting an author site with my reader hat on, I noticed I couldn’t find what I wanted to know about the books. They seemed to be on the site almost as an afterthought. I had to search for them and when I did find them most had no excerpts, just links to buy.
As a potential reader, there just wasn’t enough information there to influence a purchase, which is why I went to the site in the first place.
What a great topic, Sylvia! I liked it so much I stole it for my blog today!
Sylvia…I found this a truly fascinating column! I’ve never given any of this much thought before. But now, I realize I fall into the category of readers who are only mildly curious about the lives of their favorite authors and who are generally happy with a brief bio at the back of a book. I’ve tried to achieve some kind of balance with my own blog: a little bit about my views as a writer and as a reader, mixed in with anecdotes about my life. I read very few other blogs and post only when I have something to say. I’m a slow writer, who often suffers a great deal of pain and fatigue because I have fibromyalgia, and I just don’t have time to do more. So, unless asked by a colleague to check out her website, I don’t visit those, either. The vast majority of my online time is spent doing research for whatever I’m working on, trying to check historical facts, customs, etc.
As far as an author’s internet presences I really only need the website.
That way I can get booklists and know about the latest releases and so forth. I’ve appreciated the move towards blogs, mostly because it’s been interesting learning more about the industry and the hottest topics currently being discussed in the romance publishing world. However, as nice as an author may be, that really doesn’t affect my book purchasing. It’s all about the books.
First, a confession. I’m the person who will look in your medicine cabinet. Insatiable curiosity. I have it.
Now that I’ve cleansed my soul, let me say this: I like being able to go to an author’s website and have an insider’s view to their world. Honestly, I’m most interested in their writing process. I love to know when they write, how they write, and what they write. Why they write.
If a blog has a message board and such, I believe that I’ll simply be another number. I don’t believe this will help me at all. I don’t care about recipes. Or gardening tips. My two main points of interest are writing and kids. This is my life; therefore, this is what I look for.
There is something known as TMI. I don’t particulary care what an author ate for breakfast everyday. I don’t need to know the person is allergic to shellfish unless there is a funny story involved.
And there is a line.
I value my privacy. Okay, I guard it. I have a bio. I believe it is sufficient. I also have an e-mail address if someone wants to drop a line. I believe this is common courtesy. I like having a way to connect with other writers and readers. But I do not invite people into my life, and I would never invite myself into someone else’s life. Period.
There must be a kind of understanding, though. If an author is ass-deep in editing, writing, or related things, they are BUSY. This must be understood. An author is not stand-offish if they’re writing one book, editing another, and picking cover art for a third.
It’s a fine line.
Grins*
I guess authors sometimes feel like they’re walking a fine line. At what point is it too much? It doesn’t really matter how much info they put out–the author needs to feel comfortable. I visit both reader and writer blogs and never think “too much info”.
If I go to a website I’m looking for book info, not really looking for personal info. I always read the “about the author” in the back of books, but I wouldn’t go to a website looking for more personal information–I’d feel like a stalker–LOL.
I don’t mind writers posting info on message boards to promote what they have coming out, but I prefer if they let me know up front in the threads title what it’s about.
I don’t like authors who get argumentative on “Reader” boards, especially if they’re posting as an “author” and not a “reader”. I had this happen once, in my face and spitting venom–she came across as a mean spirited $%#@. I wasn’t a huge fan to start with, but I’ll probably never pick up another one of her books, her behavior was attrocious and in poor taste.
Everyone’s different, but here’s how I operate. Blogs and message boards and all that are fine, sometimes they’re awesome. I have lots that I go to every day. I don’t buy books because of websites or blogs or whatever else. I use websites to find out about authors that I love, and I DO want to know all about them in a borderline obsessive way, but if they don’t have a website (Judith Ivory) I will still buy their books. They’ll still be my favorite authors.
As an example, a while ago I discovered Eloisa James and Connie Brockway after hearing that EJ’s last book was supposedly so wonderful (Giggles graded it a keeper) and after reading so many fantastic reviews of CB. I loved the CB book, but thought the EJ one was just “okay”. I still went to both of their websites, read everything about the authors that I could, and now regularly visit their blog on Squawk Radio. I love that I can do that! But the only backlist I wrote down was Connie Brockway’s, and now three of her books on my bookshelf, whereas the EJ went to the used bookstore for credit. It wasn’t bad, just not something I’d ever read again. I don’t think I’ll buy another of her books. Maybe used, because I won’t mind waiting for it. I don’t think her website is any worse than CB’s, in fact it’s better! Both of them are funny on Squawk Radio, and I know lots of people love EJ. I just didn’t. Her web presence isn’t going to make up for that, but I’ll still enjoy her website and think she’s funny on her blog.
To be (even more) honest, I have gone to lots of author websites because of links or after reading a review, to get a better idea of their books, and yet have never bought or read their books. I can think of five that I visit regularly for their blogs, two of them for more than three years, and I have never bought a book from any of them. Why is this? Simple. As nice as they seem online, the book just doesn’t look interesting to me. Why am I going to read a book that doesn’t look interesting to me, just because the person who wrote it seems nice? It’s a book, and the book isn’t for me. Period. The excerpts on their very site have proven that it isn’t something I’m interested in, but the discussion they’re having is funny, or controversial, or written from the heart, or I have online friends who visit the site. So I am entertained by their website, but don’t buy their books. I recognize their name, notice their books in the bookstore, but don’t buy their books. I don’t mean this in an offensive way, sorry if it was. Sylvia Day seemed to want people’s honest opinions so there was mine. And like I said, everyone’s different!
Artemis, I do want honest opinions and I appreciate yours.
I don’t think you’re in the minority.
It’s a very scary line, I think. As writers, particularly romance writers where an interesting sex scene can raise eyebrows and nudges to the lucky husband, I think we need to be a little careful about how much information we reveal about ourselves. Just because we have some fun conversations on a message board with someone doesn’t mean we “know” them. We don’t know who’s lurking behind that user name. And saying in your blog, “Wow, I was at my kid’s soccer game at Cummer Park in North York and I was wearing my brand new Jimmy Choo’s, which totally got muddy.” Well, hell, why don’t you paint a big target on your back and say hey, stalker boy, over here?:arrow:
Yes, I can certainly see the value in sharing more about your personality to give your readers some insight into your life and why you write what you write, but this *is* still a profession, and we should be professional with the persona we present to the public. You don’t see Hilary Rodham Clinton writing a blog saying, Damn. I was in the Senate meeting today and I had the worst cramps…
For me, I am trying to build my blog while anxiously waiting to hear if the book sitting for entirely too long on an editor’s desk will be published. I want to get my name out there, maybe generate some interest in me, but I want that to be because readers like my books, not because they agree with my personal politics. Personally, I may give someone an extra look in the bookstore because I ran into them online, but the bottom line must and should always be the writing. If the story doesn’t peak my interest, just because they were nice to me on a message board isn’t going to make me spend my hard-earned dollars.
You don’t see Hilary Rodham Clinton writing a blog saying, Damn. I was in the Senate meeting today and I had the worst cramps…
PinkPen, I’m in agreement with your other comments, and thanks for the biggest laugh I’ve had today!
For me, I’m not particularly interested in the lives of authors whose books I’ve discovered via bookshops, recommendations of friends, etc. I can only think of two authors I’ve discovered through print whose blogs I’ve later sought out. However, there are several authors who I’ve discovered only because of their blogs, and whose books I’ve ordered after their blog-writing has caught my interest. So I think that blogging certainly does recruit new readers for many authors, because I’m one of them. And I don’t think I’m alone.
I don’t need to know the author to enjoy their work. As a reader, we have only one relationship and that is a reader/author relationship and nothing else. Does this sound mean-spirited? Yes but I’m a reader first and foremost. I respect authors, I’m sure there are interesting tidbits about their life that might hold my attention but in all honestly, I’m never really motivated enough to care one way or the other about author’s personal lives. If I read an author’s website, it is only to find out about upcoming releases, backlist info and an email address for my private gushing but other than that: I do not require to know nor desire to have a personal relationship with writers. I have absolutely no desire to write myself. I do have some authors that I like and enjoy conversing with but it never gets personal or hardly ever gets personal. Just like work: we’re co-workers first, friends a distant second. I have all of these little rules in my head but to answer your question after all this rambling: the answer is a resounding, heartfelt no. I don’t need to know you to read your books.:mrgreen:
I am a huge proponent of using the Internet to build an audience. Not such a huge proponent of authors who “use” various venues for pure promotion (thanks, by the way, Sylvia for giving me my next topic!). I think how this is accomplished speaks to an author’s personality. I’m finding it fascinating that some consider the lack of response, a belated response, or disabled comments to be negatives — not because I think any of you who feel that way are wrong, but because I’m giving a talk on this subject this coming weekend, and it’s a point I need to make: if you encourage interaction, then you have to be prepared to play along!
contemplating contemplation
Over at Romancing the Blog, Sylvia Day has an interesting post on the nature of author weblogs. Why we (the authors) write them, why we (the readers) read them. What are they supposed to accomplish, and whether or not they are successful.
I think blogs and internet presence do help some. If I were in a bookstore and could not make up my mind, that name recognition could be the deciding factor. For instance, I really think the name Sylvia Day sounds friendly, I’ll remember it, and if the other book is by Jane Doe…
I’m an honest person by nature, and because I want to be published, I have to wonder if my views might alienate potential readers. If I’m going to blog, I’m going to talk about the things which interest me though.
When I was a child and a teen, it never occurred to me that I could meet or interact with writers. They were like gods and goddesses to me, and I was a mere mortal. (And I confess it’s a letdown the day you realize they’re actual humans!)This was back in the days before the prevalence of the internet, and only the most-famous-of-the-most-famous had their pictures in the book. I did not speculate that much, because there was not much point.
I remember the first fan letters I sent out, and the first replies. I was just a teen and did not even know to send SASE, so the people who replied were extra kind to do so. It was huge to get tidbits of info. Carole Mortimer’s (80s Harlequin writer) husband took her to task for writing in small cramped letters, another writer lived in Hawaii. Did I mention this was before you could do online and find out what brand of toilet paper and author used?
I do find that if there’s an author photo I will look at it again and again…I could pick Dean Koontz or Julia Garwood out of a line-up?
Anyhow, the internet had raised the bar on what a reader expects. It’s a long way from when I checked the mailbox and was thrilled for any response to a time when if no response was forthcoming almost immeditately a reader could take offense.
I think it’s all about balance. There was a comment earlier about a reader feeling uncomfortable with authors using the internet as a way of marketing their books. HELLO? Authors don’t have websites just so you can get to know them better, they serve a purpose, e.g. they would like to sell more books. Funny concept huh?
As for letting their books ’speak for themselves’, in order to do this, you would have had to read the book in the first place for it to ’speak’ to you. Blogsites, Yahoo lists, and website are all part of the authors PR vehicle. Not everybody is as well known as Nora Roberts.
I agree with you! Books can’t ’speak for themselves’ if no one reads the book, much less knows of its existence.
Respekt! Ein wirlich gelungene Seite.