How to Make a Professional Writing Website
Building a professional writing site can make a difference between selling a novel and gaining new clients as a freelance writer. Even in the publishing world, authors who build an audience, platform or online presence before becoming published have a higher chance of success when compared to those who don't create a website. When designing a website that focuses on writing, there are a few things to keep in mind. Specific guidelines include easy-to-follow navigation, an "About the Author" page, content freshness and readability, as well as the overall visual layout and design of the site.
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Instructions
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Include an easy navigation menu at the top of the screen between the header image and site content, or on the left or right of the main content in a sidebar. Use menu topics such as "Home," "About the Author," "Books," if the author has written novels, "Price Guide," if the author also edits or freelances as a writer and a "Contact" page for those who wish to get into touch with the writer.
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Use the "About the Author" or "About Us" page to list experience. Explain how the writer started her career and what her focus is if she writes novels. Treat the "About" page like a resume for a writer available for work by listing past experiences, testimonials and the work the writer seeks to acquire. Include jobs such as editing, ghost writing, writing blog posts for larger companies, collecting data as well as writing scientific papers.
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Design the site so it's easy to read. Choose an uncomplicated font and keep it at a size that most eyes can read. Good font choices include Times New Roman, Courier New and Garamond, as most computers come with these fonts installed. Use these fonts to allow easy viewing of the site. Don't mix fonts on a page.
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Use a color scheme that not only reflects the writer as an individual, but also one that complements the design theme and layout. Use black or a dark gray on white for easy reading. Ensure the navigation menu is easy to find and that all links work properly. Nothing looks worse than when a link directs a reader to a "404 Site Not Found" error page. Keep the site simple and avoid using Flash technology for much of the site, as most digital devices such as Amazon's Kindle, the iPhone and other eReaders cannot display the content properly.
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Add multimedia such as photos, music and videos for even more customer interaction. Include photos of the author's book cover, or include a musical play list that sets the mood for each chapter of an upcoming novel. Create videos for author interviews or videos on their inspiration. Let visitors learn more about the writer by giving visitors something to look at, watch, listen and experience.
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References
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