Several years ago, I attended a session at Lighthouse
Writer's Workshop that consisted of a panel of five literary agents from New
York. They discussed what they look for in writers, how to approach an agent,
and the importance of establishing an Internet presence long before engaging an
agent. In this post are suggestions for establishing your own professional
presence on the Internet.
Whether you’re prospecting for writing jobs or you want to
promote a book you’ve already written, an Internet presence is essential. This
presence may take the form of a website, a blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter
handle, or a combination of these.
Make certain that you spend most of your time actually
writing, rather than promoting yourself. There is a fine line to walk if both are
to be done appropriately.
Pictures Add Interest. Whether creating a Facebook, Blog, or
Twitter post, a picture will add interest and catch the reader’s attention.
There are free illustrations and photos available on Google Images, but you may
run into copyright issues. You can always post a photo you have taken (get
creative with these), or you can purchase from an inexpensive online stock
photo agency such as Deposit Photos, Photo Spin, or Fotolia.
Websites
A website is your online business card. It is a place to
show what is important to you. If you are publishing a book, it is especially
helpful to create a website.
Visit other writer’s websites to determine what you like and
don’t like. Be sure and include your bio and contact information posted in a
prominent place.
Purchase a domain name from a website such as
https://www.godaddy.com. The domain name
should cost about $10-15/year. You can either pay for hosting or get hosting
free from a service such as Google Sites. If you choose to purchase hosting,
expect to pay less than $10/month.
Blogs
There are several free sites where you can establish a blog.
As of this writing, WordPress seems to be the go to site.
Blogs can be used for a variety of purposes.
- Establish yourself as an expert on a topic.
Focus on one or two topics to build a community of people with your same interest(s).
This approach may also lead to paid writing jobs. Publishers who are looking
for an expert in a specific area may find your blog and approach you.
- Provide a place to practice your writing skills
on a regular basis.
- Get your name out there. Do not write pieces
that you hope will earn you money; instead, write about related topics. Offer
quizzes, Q&A’s, giveaways, and notes about your ongoing research.
Your blog should be specific, clear, and detailed. A blog
post is often most effective if you start with a hook to “capture” the reader.
Tell a story that will help the reader identify with the content you plan to
write. Incorporate the senses so the reader can picture the scene you are
setting.
Possible topics for your blog.
- An occasion—something that you’ve recently done
or witnessed.
- An idea—a thought, observation, or rant
- A review—a product you’ve used, a show or
exhibit you attended, or book you read
- A quiz, top ten list, or other game. Engage the
reader by asking questions and providing a comment area for the reader to
answer.
- Posts with titles such as “The Top Ten Ways to
…….” are often popular.
Make certain that there is an easy way to contact you
through your blog. Your email address should be clearly visible.
Facebook
Create a page on Facebook where you share professional
information—not personal information. Include posts about your current writing
projects, share writing techniques and tips, include links to informative
articles about writing, etc.
There are several Internet sites with instructions about
setting up your site. Here are a few.
Twitter
Many agents, editors, magazines, and journals are on
Twitter. Following their feeds is a great way to learn about what they are
looking to publish. Additionally, Twitter can be used for networking with other
writers.
Become an “expert” in one or two areas and tweet about those
subjects. Write at least ten non-promotional tweets for every promotional one
that you write.
As with all types of writing, make certain that you use a
hook to grab the reader right away. Topics to consider tweeting about include
books, workshops, classes and other material that have helped you be a better
writer. Share about the process of writing and what has and hasn’t worked for
you.
If you have written a book, include a link to your book in
your Twitter bio.
Tools to help you be more efficient on Twitter:
(Much of the information provided in this blog post is from
a class I recently took at Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop
https://lighthousewriters.org, taught
by Jenny Shank. Some of the information is my own.)
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