And Now, Let's Talk About My Website

I've been reading a lot of opinions about author sites lately -- from what editors and agents look for to what website designers think to what readers hope to find. Also been reading a lot about the value of blogs and updating them frequently, which resulted in my combining my separate blogs into this single Meankitty-centric one. This wasn't an easy decision because of the rampant criticisms out there about authors who mention their children/pets/etc on their blogs, not to mention post PHOTOS, oh my meow, but nevertheless, I'm trying it anyway.

Now I'd like to ponder whether my main author website (http://www.jodywallace.com/) needs an overhaul. Here was my theory when designing my tres chic author site. I'd had Meankitty since 1999, and so I took the template, cut the cat stuff, and put in book stuff :). Clever, huh?

Because I've had the site so long, I've ended up with a lot of added content -- links to my nonfiction articles about writing, a Halloween photo essay, short descriptions of all my WIPs, funny writing samples I created for my contest judging classes, and so on. I guess what I'm wondering is...is my website now a disorganized mess? Does it have too much personal stuff? Is it grown up enough? Does it have positive added value, like I hope the blog does with Meankitty's posts, or should it be more of a business card site with Just the Facts, Jack? The blog will get updated regularly, we presume, but the site only gets updated when I have publishing news or some half baked inspiration.

If you want more information about author sites and blogs in order to give me the most informed opinion, because I know you long to burn an hour or so of your time researching this, here are some links, both recent and antique (in Internet years):

http://www.sff.net/people/victoriastrauss/website1.html (Dated 2003, pre-blogs, still useful)

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/website_review/ (One of the most recent posts; mostly concentrates on the new RWA website)

http://www.themidnighthour.net/11-editors-agents-on-websites-and-public-dissing/ (Has the most information about editors and agents -- yes, Virginia, some IPs do look at your crap)

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2006/11/web-sites.html (Even Miss Snark during her tenure sounded off about author websites and online presence.)

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2006/10/23/what-every-authors-website-should-contain/ (A long list compiled by the reader reviewers at Dear Author and commented on by many others)

http://www.writing-world.com/promotion/website.shtml (This is my ancient entry from wayyyyy back in 1999!)

http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/website.htm (I am not familiar with this source, but it showed up in Google, so what the hey.)

http://www.keriarthur.com/writerswebsite.htm (A more succinct list than some of the other articles, although the site itself is hard for me to read with its black background)

On Blogging:

http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2007/06/editors-do-read-blogs.html (More information about what editors/agents think of your online presence)

http://www.internetwritingjournal.com/nov05/cew4.htm (To Blog or Not To Blog, that is kind of an annoying question. Not in this article, but because I don't know the answer!)

http://thepenguinblog.typepad.com/the_penguin_blog/2007/06/what_makes_a_go.html (an article on the Penguin authors' blog about what makes a blog useful--prominent quote being "It should be personal - but not mundane." -- Oh noes!)

(And this doesn't even begin to melt the iceberg that is the dreaded and oft-dreadful author photo....)

I await your feedback with milkshaked breath!

JW

ETA July 14: http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2007/07/most-valuable-asset.html Agent Kristen at the 2007 RWA Conference....