1.) Stay in touch with your readers. Whether your readers are people you know or not, a website opens the way for you to share your writing with more readers. Just the other day, a guy I'd never met before commented positively on my writing. I loved it!
The more opportunities I have to create support for my work, the better. And let's face it. We write in order to share our stories and/or articles. The more we do this, the better.
2.) The list of your publications gives great insight into what's important to you as a writer. When I was creating my website, I didn't include every bit of writing in my online portfolio. I cut a few stories out; I also didn't include my poetry.
I realized that these pieces didn't reflect me. This gave me insight as to what I wanted to present creatively to the world; it also showed me the direction where I wanted to go.
3.) Establish yourself as a professional. When I first created my website, I was announcing not only to the world, but to myself: I am a writer and I'm proud of my work. I knew I took my writing seriously. Plus, a website looks great on my resume.
Since I teach there's always an option that my future employer will check out my writing. They can see not only what kind of writing I do, but that I'm serious, committed, and talented.
4.) Avoid the annoying question at dinner parties: "So what do you write about?" This may sound funny, but I'm being serious. Haven't you been cornered by some stranger who's dying to know where you've been published, what you write, and what you write about?
A quick and easy solution-after your 30 second pitch on behalf of your wonderful writing-is simply to say, "Check out my website." In my experience, most of these information mongers never go to the site. But for that five percent who are truly sincere, they can discover for themselves where your work has been published, what you write, and what you write about. Definitely a win-win situation.
5.) Publicize those great magazines that published you. Why not? They've given you some great attention, it's fun to shine the light on them too. If, like me, you've been published in online journals, then a good magazine is just a click away for an interested reader. How easy is that?
Now, if you're thinking it's too expensive or time consuming to create a website, think again. I created a blogsite with the help of a professional for less than three hundred dollars. I update it myself. There are no monthly charges. The joy it brings me is tremendous. Believe me, creating a website for your writing is
well worth it. Now go for it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Mills Kerr has been writing fiction and memoir for over 11 years. She aims to inspire, support, and connect with other writers online. Read her published work at her website jennifermillskerr.com
