Fiction Writer's Guide to Building a Website

There are thousands of websites on the internet today covering everything from business topics to news, from hobbies to schools and clubs, and really anything else you can think of. The internet has become the place where people go in order to find new information and products.

With that in mind, every fiction writer should realize that building a website will really help them out in their writing career. 

The first thing that a fiction writer should consider when building a website is the domain name. That is the URL, or website address of the website. Many fiction writers choose to use their name for the domain name, since it is a marketable aspect of their career.

Section One: Introduction and Biography

Every fiction writer's website should have an introduction to the author and some basic information about that person. People love to see a picture of their favorite fiction writer. That is why author photographs are often displayed on the back of books. It is also interesting for a reader to learn about where the author went to school, the general area in which they live, or what their hobbies are.

Section Two: Currently Available Works

Fans want to know what a fiction writer currently has on the market. Whether the writer's book is in bookstores nationwide, or they sold a story to an ezine online, their fans need to know. After all, the fiction writer's fan base keeps them going.

It is a good idea in this section of your site to include cover graphics, titles of the stories or novels, and an informative blurb about the work.

Section Three: Fan Interaction

Interacting with readers and fans is a great way for a fiction writer to increase their following and their interest in stories or novels. Authors that are accessible to their fans are more apt to inspire a more passionate following.

In the fan interaction section of the website, you can include something as simple as your email address, or something as complex as a chat room or forum. If you do include an email address, make sure that you, or your staff if you have one, is prepared to answer all emails promptly.