Comments on Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: Guest Blog Week: The Top 7 Things Every Aspiring A...

That's not entirely accurate. As I said in the art...

2010-01-12T11:15:18.297-08:00

That's not entirely accurate. As I said in the article, I work in Internet marketing. The prevailing wisdom in SEO is that good links pointing to a domain, even on a subdomain, increase the authority of the root domain in search engines' eyes. It's not about passing "link juice" or lift directly to the domain (a far more slippery topic), it's about accumulating authority for the domain overall.

so you know links to blog.domain.com will not pass...

2010-01-11T19:08:28.214-08:00

so you know links to blog.domain.com will not pass lift to domain.com - unless through links from it to the domain

Great advice! I tried to make my blog different fr...

2009-08-18T13:53:14.625-07:00

Great advice! I tried to make my blog different from other aspiring writers or bloggers by sharing the ups, downs and all the emotions and drama that come along with trying to make it in this crazy field. I hope it draws more people to the sight. I am really candid and I do blog frequently. I really enjoyed your blog post and I hope to use some of your advice when I begin building my website. Feel free to check out my blog at www.vivalassam.blogspot.com.

Thank you.
Sam White

Great advice! I tried to make my blog different fr...

2009-08-18T13:52:45.146-07:00

Thank you for the tips. In the process of putting...

2009-07-29T14:48:30.481-07:00

Thank you for the tips. In the process of putting together a site at the moment, will definitely be keeping this list in the back of my head throughout the process.

Thanks again!

I'd like to address a point I saw in the comments....

2009-07-25T16:03:14.124-07:00

I'd like to address a point I saw in the comments. An anonymous poster asked if anyone ever buys based on author web sites, and I want to say that the answer is a resounding YES. The way this usually happens is that Author Bob puts out a new book, and Joe Reader loves it. Joe goes to Author Bob's web site and looks up his backlist. Then goes out and buys off the backlist.

Also, another little tip. Make sure your website has work safe graphics. I realize this seems like a silly thing to say, but there are a huge number of romance and sci-fi/fantasy author sites that have a number of graphics that aren't work safe. I think it's okay for content to be a bit dodgy, but you don't want Joe Reader clicking on the link to your website and opening a page that gets him in the middle of a lawsuit.

Just an update for those interested: Kathleen MacI...

2009-07-20T14:42:08.871-07:00

Just an update for those interested: Kathleen MacIver and I will be doing full reviews of (aspiring) author websites on my blog. If you'd like your site reviewed, please sign up: http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/website-reviewed/

A page of silliness is also good, like the DORMOUS...

2009-07-20T08:46:41.484-07:00

A page of silliness is also good, like the DORMOUSE page on my website!

Wow, great post! And lots of helpful comments too....

2009-07-17T00:46:45.931-07:00

Wow, great post! And lots of helpful comments too. Thank you so much Jordan and Nathan!

Jordan: Thanks for your support and advice. It is...

2009-07-14T21:53:47.962-07:00

Jordan:
Thanks for your support and advice. It is very much appreciated.

@Donna—Advice for lurkers: just stop lurking! Just...

2009-07-14T13:59:06.406-07:00

@Donna—Advice for lurkers: just stop lurking! Just like when you go to your first writers' conference&dash;go up and talk to someone. No one's going to say, "Ugh, you have no right to be here, talking to me!"

Networking can be really, really powerful in this industry (as in any other). Did you see how many people mentioned that friends did their website design for free? There are all kinds of mutual benefits to networking.

As for jumping in with your own blog, yeah, it's possible that you might say something that might have already been said. But wherever you saw it last probably wasn't the first time it was said, either, and sometimes things bear repeating. I love the advice here that you should blog about your research, or your world building. You can also take the opportunity to mention good writerly news—selling a story, meeting a new writing buddy, a good critique session—or to have discussions on problems, plotting, etc., etc.

As for posting an excerpt of your novel, it's up to you. Note that I said, "you should at least have a short summary of your work on your site. You might also consider a short excerpt." Is it mandatory? No. But when you feel you're ready to begin querying, and your work is ready to go before agents, I think it's probably ready to put the first couple pages on the Internet.

OK. I graded my website (which is my blog) against...

2009-07-14T09:06:20.167-07:00

OK. I graded my website (which is my blog) against your list and failed. Now I'm depressed. Don't worry. I'll be OK.

thanks for the great advice Jordan. I think I made...

2009-07-13T20:35:05.392-07:00

thanks for the great advice Jordan. I think I made the mistake of only having my email address instead of a form copy as it has really multiplied the amount of spam I've been getting!

Thanks Jordan; I know I'm late in posting a reply....

2009-07-13T19:06:49.275-07:00

Thanks Jordan; I know I'm late in posting a reply. I've been told many, many times that having a website and a blog is the best way to attract a agent/publisher. So, I looked for your answer to Matilda's question (do you have to have a website) before sending my own post.
Here's the deal: I'm what could be called a "Lurker". I lurk in blog- land, reading the advise and posts, sometimes having a thing or two to say. After reading everyone else's posts, whatever questions or comments I might pose have been answered. I'm satisfied. So, I wouldn't know what to do with a blog of my own, or if someone actually made a comment about what was posted on the web site. It's really scary - at least to me - not just posting an unfinished, or unpublished, novel excerpt or thought out there in cyberland. I mean, I follow this blog, but haven't subscribed because I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing with even this much.

Got any advice for "Lurkers"?

And thanks; this was a very informative post.

Links! That's what every web or blog has to have. ...

2009-07-13T18:50:58.782-07:00

Links! That's what every web or blog has to have. Links. Otherwise you're shouting into a bucket in the dark.

Kathleen & Jordan - Thank you both so much for the...

2009-07-13T10:57:47.346-07:00

Kathleen & Jordan - Thank you both so much for the advice re: my website! I'm sorry that I'm only thanking you now... but I'd failed to check back on this post. Oops. That'll teach me to do other things with my weekend!

I must admit that my website is a work-in-progress at the moment - as I'm still working on the edit of my novel - but I'm happy that the vibe of the site has garnered such positive feedback, and I appreciate the tips re: my buttons and separate windows (and the previous advice re: blogs having a similar look as the website, which mine doesn't at the moment). As soon as I'm done with my edit, I plan to revise the RH site, with these guidelines in mind.

So, thanks again to you both (and everyone else who contributed so many wonderful ideas re: author websites).

--Laura

Rick, Nice site!

2009-07-13T08:44:43.677-07:00

Rick,

Nice site!

Thanks heaps, I found this really helpful. Don't t...

2009-07-13T05:23:15.681-07:00

Thanks heaps, I found this really helpful. Don't think that I've mastered all the steps, but I'm working on it. It was good to see that I was already on the right track

I need to have my (awesome web- designer) husband ...

2009-07-12T21:23:50.706-07:00

I need to have my (awesome web- designer) husband put a link to my Facebook page on my site below the one for Twitter, but everything else is there. Great pointers in simple language, Jordan.

And yes, I had almost all of that in place BEFORE I got my first contract. It's a good way to fill in some of the extra time while you're waiting for agents/publishers to respond to your submission. =)

You know, besides working on your *next* book.

Thanks to everyone who commented; you're welcome t...

2009-07-11T21:46:21.433-07:00

Thanks to everyone who commented; you're welcome to everyone who thanked me, and most of all, thanks to Nathan for opening up the blog!

Jordan, that’s fantastic. You rock I followed yo...

2009-07-11T01:14:31.325-07:00

Jordan, that’s fantastic. *You rock* I followed your instructions, now I don’t have a Pop-up window to post comments. Yay! That will make it so much easier for people to leave a message.

Thanks heaps, Jordan, and thanks, Nathan. This is a great web page. I’m so happy I will go and hug myself. (I’m having a second childhood.)

Trish.

@Trish—Personally, I find the embedded comments bo...

2009-07-10T23:45:01.499-07:00

@Trish—Personally, I find the embedded comments box a little more user-friendly (esp. if you don't have the word verification turned on). If your visitors have to click on another link to comment, it lowers the likelihood that they'll make the comment.

To change between your comment forms in Blogger, go to Settings>Comments—Comment Form Placement. Remember to save changes!

Ye,Jordan, thank you, you've answered my questions...

2009-07-10T22:51:13.292-07:00

Ye,Jordan, thank you, you've answered my questions. I like the separate post comments page, which Nathan uses better. Am I able to change to that one? It's easier to use.

I would like to make it easier for people to leave a comment. Especially if they're children.

I've only had a blog for a short while and I'm still learning how it all works.

Recently I changed from one Antivirus server to another and I couldn't use pop-ups on blogs at all. As soon as I changed back to the old one, I had no trouble.

Thanks, Jordan.

@Trish—Well, the popups on the site we were talkin...

2009-07-10T22:08:38.617-07:00

@Trish—Well, the popups on the site we were talking about are coded into the JavaScript that way. If you mean popup comment windows on Blogger blogs, I hate those, too, but I'm used to them. (Though for a while there, my browser did NOT get along with them. Made it almost impossible to comment.) There are two other options on Blogger: the embeddable comment form, which I see you use on your blog, or the separate post comments page, which Nathan uses here.

I'm not sure I'm answering your question, though. Am I?

@Misti—glad to help!

This blog was wextremely helpful. Thank you so muc...

2009-07-10T18:21:19.072-07:00

This blog was wextremely helpful. Thank you so much. I was atempting to produce my own website when I got the email about another comment fron Nathan's blog. I opened and my prayers were answered when I saw what the topic was about. I am almost completed with my website now. Thank you so much for this.Misti J

Comments on Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: Guest Blog Week: The Top 7 Things Every Aspiring A...

That's not entirely accurate. As I said in the art...

so you know links to blog.domain.com will not pass...

Great advice! I tried to make my blog different fr...

Great advice! I tried to make my blog different fr...

Thank you for the tips. In the process of putting...

I'd like to address a point I saw in the comments....

Just an update for those interested: Kathleen MacI...

A page of silliness is also good, like the DORMOUS...

Wow, great post! And lots of helpful comments too....

Jordan: Thanks for your support and advice. It is...

@Donna—Advice for lurkers: just stop lurking! Just...

OK. I graded my website (which is my blog) against...

thanks for the great advice Jordan. I think I made...

Thanks Jordan; I know I'm late in posting a reply....

Links! That's what every web or blog has to have. ...

Kathleen & Jordan - Thank you both so much for the...

Rick, Nice site!

Thanks heaps, I found this really helpful. Don't t...

I need to have my (awesome web- designer) husband ...

Thanks to everyone who commented; you're welcome t...

Jordan, that’s fantastic. *You rock* I followed yo...

@Trish—Personally, I find the embedded comments bo...

Ye,Jordan, thank you, you've answered my questions...

@Trish—Well, the popups on the site we were talkin...

This blog was wextremely helpful. Thank you so muc...

Jordan, that’s fantastic. You rock I followed yo...