I get this question every once in a while from unpublished writers inquiring about our services. It’s always been tough for me to answer it, since from my side of the table as the developer of websites, it’s hard to judge the real value of taking this plunge. The question behind the question is, of course: Can a website or a blog help an aspiring author make that first sale? I figured it was time to do some research on the topic by getting answers out of agents and of published authors who had a web presence before they sold.
Can a website or blog help you get an agent?
The short answer is: Yes. Agents (and to some extent, probably also editors) do visit your blogs and websites, and what they find there can impact their decision to request materials from you. All of the agents I surveyed said that if they find your query or partial interesting, then they’ll most likely visit any URL you’ve included in your query or cover letter. Agent Kristin Nelson said that in cases where she’s unsure about requesting more material, what she finds on a blog or website is more likely to sway her one way or another. While the agent’s decision to offer representation will depend on the manuscript itself, your web presence can help motivate the agent to take a closer look at it in the first place. For an even more encouraging example, agent Lori Perkins said, “I read about a book published by a small press, Googled the author, went to her blog, where I found an excerpt from the book. After reading it, I knew she could write, so I emailed her about representation.â€
Can a website or blog hurt you in your search for an agent?
Definitely! When an agent visits your home on the web, she is looking for more info about your writing and info about you, the writer. The importance of professionalism can’t be stressed enough. Kristin Nelson points out that a site that’s obviously homegrown leaves a bad impression and can actually do more damage than good. Content that the agent finds off-putting can make her decide you’re not someone she’d like to work with or that you’re not serious about your career.
Keep in mind that your URL in a query or cover letter is not the only way an agent can find you on the web. They visit many of the same sites that you do and could follow any link you leave behind. They might be pointed to your website by an acquaintance. Or they might actually Google your name to see what they can find about you. Several agents admit to Googling writers they’re curious about, so consider that not only when you add content to your own site or blog but also when you post anything on other people’s blogs and message boards. If you come off as unprofessional or say something that rubs the agent the wrong way, you could get a “no thanks†instead of a request.
Do’s and Don’ts
So what are agents looking for on your blog or website, and what do they not want to see?
Samples of your writing are probably the most important. If your query or partial interests them, they might visit your site looking for more excerpts. Information about your other projects could be helpful, too. You could talk about your research and writing process. Mention anything positive as relates to your pursuit of a career as an author—conferences and workshops you’ve attended, contests you’ve won, and critique groups you’re a member of.
The number one thing to avoid is adding too much personal information. A “this is what I did today†blog generally won’t impress an agent, unless you write it in a way that shows off your voice and writing skills. Agent Marlene Stringer of the Barbara Bova Literary Agency said, “This is a great venue to show off your writing chops, and I can get a better feel for your writing style overall if you’re writing about other topics. This is especially useful if you’re writing in a genre that is hot at the moment, but might not be next year. Lets me see you can write other things.â€
Marlene adds a warning that unpublished authors should be careful about dispensing advice on the publishing business when it’s clear they have very little actual experience to back it up. Agent Jessica Faust of BookEnds similarly cautions against talking about sensitive issues such as politics. It’d be very unfortunate if you got a rejection because the agent felt offended by your personal beliefs.
Finally, be careful about talking too much about your submissions. Agents prefer not to know that you’ve received X number of rejections for the manuscript they’re considering—they tend to find that discouraging.
Advice from published authors
Why did they establish a web presence before selling?
Getting a head start on networking with readers and other writers seems to be one of the top motivations. HelenKay Dimon said, “The real benefit was in the relationships I formed with people via my blog. Authors I never would have met stopped in. Some of my best writing buddies now are a direct result of those early relationships I made through blogs.â€
It’s also a way of showing to the publishing world (and yourself) that you’re a professional and serious about a career as an author. Kalen Hughes’ reasons were:
To help establish my name in the industry. I’m a costume historian, so getting my name out there to the romance community (both to potential readers and other writers) seemed like a good stepping stone (good promo). It was a way to have a “base†of people who would be ready to buy my book once I sold. It was sort of my version of “dress for the job you want”.
Was it worth it?
The general consensus seems to be that, yes, establishing some form of web presence is worth it. If you can afford to hire a professional, do so. If not, set up a free blog with a nice, free template.
HelenKay Dimon found blogging to be a good way to motivate herself to sit down and write. Once she’d blogged, she’d move on to working on her manuscript. Author Joely Sue Burkhart said that even though no publishing professional took note of her blog, it helped keep her working towards her goal of getting published.
Not everyone finds this advantage, though. Larissa Ione said that if she had to do it again, she might decide not to blog, since the thinks now that it might have taken up too much of her writing time. On a positive note, Larissa mentioned that editors have since told her they knew who she was because they remembered her from her blog.
Stephanie Tyler also pointed out that she’s glad she had a site up and running early, because once she sold, she got so busy that it would have been overwhelming to go through the whole site building process at that point.
Another thing to consider, mentioned by Jenny Gardiner, is that a web presence can help you gain interest from your potential readership.
Finally, one aspiring author (who chose to remain anonymous) shared a story that’s straight out of an unpublished writer’s dream: A blog post she wrote caught the attention of a NYT bestselling author, who then read her excerpt out of curiosity, was impressed, and offered to recommend it to her editor. While the editor ultimately rejected it, the aspiring author got a foot in the door, she got her name and full manuscript in front of the editor, and she established a powerful networking connection.
On a final note
Whether you decide to set up a site, a blog, or both, and whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, the first thing I recommend that you do is register your domain name. Grabbing your name is cheap (approximately $10/yr), and you make sure that when the day comes to set up your site, you won’t have to settle for something other than yourname.com.
Before you take the plunge, plan ahead. If you decide to pay a professional to create your site, if possible try to find a look that you would want to keep even after you sold so that you wouldn’t have to pay for a whole new site later on.
It’s not strictly necessary for an aspiring author to set up a blog or website. There’s a chance it could help your career, but there’s also a chance it could hurt, if you’re not careful. Consider first how much of a commitment you’re willing and able to make re. blogging regularly and/or keeping your site up-to-date. If you feel like you have little to add to a blog or site that would present you in a professional or advantageous way, there’s no need to feel pressured to invest money and/or time in a web presence.
And whatever you do, don’t let your blog or website distract you from getting that manuscript written!
Do you have any further thoughts or advice? I’d love to hear it!
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Well, from a SEO POV, the sooner you set up your site/blog, the better. It takes about half a year simply to get out of the Google Sandbox, not to mention start building those valuable links in.
And of course, an aged site helps with page rank.
For all that to happen, you need at least a couple posts or some content on your site. If you’re going to do nothing else, grab your domain name, set up a free Blogger site, and REMEMBER to swap in your domain name instead of that terrible .blogspot.com url (that, btw, Blogger owns and controls, not the author), and post 2 or 3 posts on your genre (better, post once a month or more).
Very informative post. I’d toyed with reserving a domain name, but didn’t think anything would come of my little writing hobby. When I started taking it seriously, my ‘name’ was already taken and I decided to add my middle initial. I never did anything with it, and when it came up for renewal, I did another search, and whoever had “my” domain hadn’t renewed, so I grabbed the one I wanted, and set up a website. I was lucky to have a son with enough savvy to create something (I hope) professional looking. It’s outgrowing the original framework, and we’ll probably have to update it to make it more friendly for me, the one who has to update the content.
My personal feelings about websites. Keep them clean. No fancy graphics, no music that blasts when someone clicks your URL, no dancing fonts, and unless you have to deal with the ‘over 18′ disclaimer, no entry pages. People are in a hurry these days, and pages that take too long to load will have them clicking elsewhere.
Also, avoid the free sites that run ads. It says you don’t consider yourself a professional.
As for blogging, thanks for the heads-up about the blogger domain name. I started with Blogger because they were free and easy to figure out. I never thought of swapping my domain name. Then again, there are probably only 7 people who ever look at my blog.
Lastly, my agent DID look at my website and blog before she offered representation.
My blog is mostly a writer’s blog now – although maybe that’s because I’ve been doing more writing. If any interested agent cares to look, however, they can go all the way back to my first entries when I’m just graduating high school and wrote a bunch of “My parents are mean” posts…-_-;;
Over at Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels, they posting something about how Robin Hobb (who also happens to be one of my absolute FAVOURITE authors) hates blogging, because according to her, it makes you think you’re writing progressively through the day without actually writing anything constructive (too much time on the InterWeb = too little time writing novels). I’m not sure whether I agree.
I hope they consider the following:
1) ALL aspiring authors get tons of rejections. Miss Snark told us not to quit querying until we hit a hundred. I think most of know not to complain, but the Math is against us.
2) We’re playing Blindman’s Bluff. We glean the wisdom we can from industry professionals on-line and in Real Life. Nevertheless, we’re still swinging in the dark.
3) We have a foot in with the readers and a foot in the industry. We may have a unique view on the Big Picture. I interact with readers all the time through my book review blog. What they tell me and what I sometimes hear the industry believes they want don’t always match up.
4) I understand the importance of Professionalism, even if I’m not entirely sure what it means. However, it’s possible to worry so much about appearing professional that our sites become too boring and impersonal to attract visitors.
5) I have a unique problem. I have a book review blog. Although I’m always upbeat and attract enough visitors that industry professionals seek me out to review novels, there’s still the chance an agent or editor I’m querying will take offense at something. I’ve had people complain I didn’t gush as much about their novels as I did others.
The very thing I do to help published authors could negate my ever joining their ranks.
In trying to navigate this tricky issue, I’ve been tempted to throw up my hands and delete everything.
Be professional and use some common sense about stirring up messes, but also be yourself. If you stifle your sense of humor, lighten up your dark side, and blunt your edge and that helps you get an agent, isn’t that agent going to be a bit taken aback when they get to know the “real” you? Present yourself, to the best of your ability, the way you want to be perceived. If someone doesn’t like it, that’s not someone you could have a successful working relationship with, anyway.
That said, I am careful about not putting my rejection woes on my blog. “Look what a loser I am, I’ve been rejected 50 times” might not do any real damage, but it also doesn’t exactly enhance my appeal to potentially interested parties, you know? Safer to keep that discussion confined to a writers’ loop or somewhere else like-minded folks can commiserate and different-minded folks can’t see what a whiny baby I am.
Awesome, awesome post! Thanks for gathering such great info and advice in one place. It confirmed a lot of ‘gut feelings’ for me and gave me some other things to consider as well.
I have a blog, and I try to do equal amounts writing/book talk and everything else… when I’m having trouble with the WiP you can generally tell because you get more recipes and blather, but when I’m on fire in the novel, I crank out semi-intelligent posts. I’d like to do more writing posts, but as I AM unpublished, I don’t want to sound like I’m preaching, as you say, by giving advice or whatever. Often, I find advice from pro authors that resonates with me and extrapolate or comment on it, and I tag the posts “Two Cents” so you know it’s just that – one unimportant gal’s opinion. On the whole I’d say having the blog (it’s only 9 mos. old) has been helpful for the networking I’m able to do. My goal for the next year is to make it more professional, though.
[...] Courtney posted today on Romancing the Blog that agents and editors will google the names of interesting partials or queries they read. This is [...]
Back in November my brother called to tell me that he’d struck up a conversation with a woman in a pub in his home town of Washington, DC. She was a writer – chick lit or romance or both, he couldn’t recall. My brother said he told her about my professional situation: established in media tie-in writing and wanting to break into original fiction — primarily romance and mystery.
“Oh,” my brother reports she said. “Your brother is Kevin Killiany?”
“You’re familiar with his work?” my brother asked, his mind boggling slightly.
“Oh, no,” she replied. “But he posts all the time on Romancing the Blog ”
My own Live Journal suffered terribly when I set myself the goal of writing something of interest every day. I had intended an exercise in both discipline and development of essay writing skills. It ended up being an endless series of fillers. My average number of daily readers dropped from the mid-50s to the single digits. I still write humorous pieces and vignettes from my life, but I’ve resolved to include more essays of substance in the future. Make the effort to appear at least adult, if not wholly professional.
I am interested in establishing my own site, but I have some concerns about what to put in it. As a writer of media tie-in fiction, of course, I can’t post excerpts of my published works. I don’t have the copyrights. And I’ve heard that posting unpublished stories or excerpts is unwise, since many markets count posting on a public site to be a form of publishing; thus it could only be sold as a reprint.
Good advice. When I started my blog I’d already had an agent for a year and she had just sold my first novel, but I can see the advantages of having an online presence even before those first offers come in.
There are disadvantages too. Maintaining a blog, maintaining dialogue with your readers, keeping up with their blogs and all the other good writing blogs out there is very time-consuming. It’s well worth it, but I can see where a beginning writer might end up spending too much time blogging and not enough writing.
The greatest advantage from my perspective is hanging out with other writers at every stage of the game. The feedback, support and empathy I get from my blogging cronies is invaluable to me. Being a writer is no longer the loneliest job on the planet, thank Blogger.
Kevin, you’re famous! And as for that stat counter – you probably have the same number of true readers as before, and the fall-off is probably due to your site no longer showing up in some kind of search based on, for example, the name of a famous person that you mentioned in a post. Every now and then I get a surge in ‘readership’ that can last for weeks, but which is not reflected in the comments – hence my theory.
[...] Work In Progress, Writers, Writing and Writing advice Yesterday RtB had an interesting post on whether or not aspiring authors should establish a web presence. In a nutshell, there are pros [...]
Thank you so much for this post! The reason that I started my blog was because I had been wanting to write a book for years (not even thinking about the fact that an agent might find it here
). I was using it simply as an easy way to get my ideas down, get feedback, and then I would put together the final manuscript offline. Now, I am thinking about buying a domain name and creating a website for myself like i have for my business instead of just a simple hosted blog. Hopefully someday someone will look at my page!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve been wondering about this very thing. I have a blog, and I’ve been hoping that it could be helpful (in addition to just a fun outlet and a good way to play around with words). I know about the temptation to let blogging take away from writing time, though, and have learned how to work around it. It can still be tough sometimes, though.
Great post! Very informative
On the advice of another writer friend, I reserved my domain name before I even had any bites from publishers/agents and I’m glad I did. When I signed my first contract I wasn’t scrambling around trying to figure out who to use or how to set up a website, etc. It definitely saved me a headache or two.