Rx for Writers

Transcripts

Mel: Kim Campbell, we WARMLY WELCOME you to the ICL Chat Room. Though this is your first time to come and chat, we sure hope it won't be your last. We've talked with people for whom you've built web sites, Kim, and they have sung your praises. In fact, it was Jill Esbaum—for whom you built a marvelous web site—who recommended we invite you to our chat room. We have all at least THOUGHT of having a web site. Some of the chatsters actually have a site up and running, and a few are veteran web site hosts. So we are all ears to hear from your expertise in web-site building tonight, Kim. THANK YOU for coming to our chat tonight!

Kim: Thank you. I'm honored to be here!

Mel: Kim, did you grow up in a family of writers? Or how did you get into writing?

Kim: No, I didn't come from writers. But I came from a comedic family.

Mel: Comedic?

Kim: Well, my daddy is hilarious. And my father's side is very funny. They like to joke and tell funny stories, so I think I have some of that in me.

Mel: I'd BET you do, with a heritage like that! Is your Sixth Grade is Sour Grapes novel comedic?

Kim: I hope so—it's about a wacky tomboy named Harriet Pinckerton, who grew up in the south and is having typical preteen angst, when her best friend is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. But there are funny parts—like boys who pick their noses shamelessly.

Mel: And how much of your novel is AUTObiographical, Kim? Did you indeed have a friend with MS?

Kim: I knew a girl in high school who came down with MS in ninth grade. Suddenly. So it made an impact. Yes, Sour Grapes is partly about me and my experiences as a young girl growing up in the semi-rural south. It's got a lot of southern flavor.

Mel: What things AREN'T autobiographical in your novel?

Kim: Hmmm...the part where I, playing the part of Harriet, get the boy! : )

Mel: HA! You've written other books, too, I know. Can you tell us about any of those?

Kim: Well, I have drafted a picture book that won a small award. It's called Thunder Up Yonder. It’s about a defiant little farm girl who doesn't want to come inside even though the weather's getting bad. My other middle-grade manuscript is called The Old Coot and My Jaunt to Georgia. : ) I'm very proud of the amount of writing I've done in 2 years.

Mel: Kim, how did you get started in children's writing?

Kim: Well, one day I was reading to my toddler, The Magic Hat by Mem Fox.

Mel: LOVE that book!

Kim: And I thought, "Hey, maybe I can do this!" So I started to type something out. That manuscript was (and still is) very bad! It's everything editors say not to do! It was called The Country Hippo. LOL—I've never even submitted it to my critique group, The Story Board.

Mel: So what made you decide to launch your own web site then?

Kim: Pride, I guess! I was trying to send a message to the world. At the time, I also think I was trying to send a message to myself. I wanted to proclaim, "Hey, I'm writing children's stories!" I was as green as they come (still am to a major degree) but I'm so glad I launched a site. It's been an emotionally motivating tool. SO WORTH IT.

Mel: Did having a web site make you feel "more like a writer"?

Kim: Yes, it did. But there are some traps with web sites. You can become immersed in their creation and ditch your writing projects easily. I have to still be careful with that.

Kim: http://www.luckypenny.net

Kim: Well, I didn't have anything published when I launched my web site either. This may seem like you're putting the cart before the horse, but if you're a writer, you've got work. You've got a work in progress, probably. That's what I started out posting. Then my work in progress won some awards. Voila! I had something to say on my web site.

Mel: Kim, tell us about those awards your work in progress won.

Kim: Sixth Grade is Sour Grapes won first prize at the annual Sandhills Writers Conference at Augusta State University. That was last year. This year Old Coot won the same prize. : ) It's those kinds of things that catch editors’ and web visitors’ eyes!

Mel: That emphasizes NICELY what awards that are more local can do for your "writing ego," and THANKS for sharing! Why does an author need a web site?

Kim: It's a conduit for success. Here are my 10 irrefutable reasons for writers to have a site:

1. Promote your book, or in my case a work in progress!
2. Reach potential readers, teachers, or educators
3. Sales! Buyers find you easily and can purchase your book with a simple click
4. Network with other writers…make friends and establish lines of support
5. Schedule events and presentations
6. Show your professionalism
7. Get serious about promotion and OTHERS will take you more seriously
8. Express your creativity
9. Showcase your work
10. HAVE FUN!
And my bonus reason is: MOTIVATION. Act like a professional and the world will treat you like one. Push yourself. You'd be surprised at how a web site can motivate you to get kickin' in your writing.

Mel: I, we know so LITTLE about web sites. I've heard about "hits," and know about what they are. Could you explain them, and the numbers involved, please?

Kim: This is when a person logs on to your site. For example, if Mel Boring keys into the browser line: http://www.2-tiersoftware.com – that web site has just received a "hit" or a visit. The more visitors you have, the better/higher a site will pop up in search results.

Mel: Is there a specific "standard" number of hits that it's desirable for a web site to receive?

Kim: I don't think so, really. The more the better, though. My site averages about 20-40 hits per day. And I'm unpublished. But you want it to be qualified traffic.

Mel: What do you mean by "qualified traffic"?
Kim: I want kids, teachers, and other writers visiting my site, for the most part. Folks that are interested in writing, or reading my book when it comes out, etc. People that are interested in the topics I'm writing about. I'd like it if editors visited too! J

Mel: YUP! Me too!

Kim: I definitely think you should go ahead and launch a web site. You'll want to promote your book well in advance of it coming out. By the way, congratulations! I suggest a welcome page with a photo, a "my books" page, an "author visits" page—where you'll mention that you're available to make presentations, and a bio page, plus a place for visitors to contact you. These are just the basics, of course. Many writers are very creative with what they post, but most have these elements. Also, a picture of your book when you receive the artwork and copy for what it's about.

Mel: You're making GOOD, organized sense of web sites, Kim! It can be very confusing for most of us, and it's good to know there ARE certain basics!

Kim: There are some wonderful tips posted at http://www.smartwriters.com – the place where it all began for me.

Kim: Absolutely not! I'm not a techno-geek either, TRULY, but the web site software I chose is so easy to use. Meaning, no HTML (web code that gurus use) and no matter how you set it up, it's going to look professional. The software I use is designed so that it's hard to mess it up. That's the beauty of it. Even beginners can use it. You should know basic computer commands, though.

Mel: Kim, is there ONE site you think of when you think of "the perfect site"? And how can we find out about award-winning sites to look at, to get an idea of what's good in a web site?

Kim: Eekers, that's a toughie. I have seen many writers sites and there are many I like. There is one lately that I think isreally nice—http://www.alyssacapucilli.com. However, it's not a 2-Tier site (which I bend toward of course!). I also like Jill Esbaum's site: http://www.jillesbaum.com, and Katy Duffield's site: http://www.katyduffield.com. Jill and Katy are clients of mine. Their sites are simple, fun, and effective.

Mel: LOVE that word "Eekers." (-:} Would an unpublished author benefit from a web site?

Kim: Oh, yes! When I launched my web site in August 2002, I was unpublished. NOTHING in any genre. But on-line I presented myself to the world as "a children's writer" and I was serious about learning and improving. I began posting information about my middle-grade manuscript, Sour Grapes with the end goal in mind. "If you build it they will come," you know? So when writers would stumble across my web site, a lot of times they'd e-mail me. I've made so many friends this way. Finding other writers made me feel less lonely. I believe I found my critique group (The Story Board) by having a web site. One of the ladies in Story Board owns SmartWriters and 2-Tier and they asked me to join after a couple weeks of e-mailing. I don't feel I would have ever found such a warm-hearted and talented group of human beings had I not been spending time on-line chatting with writers, exchanging ideas, life stories, struggles etc. : )

Mel: That's a GREAT story in itself, Kim!

Kim: That's another one of those toughies. In my opinion, though: I feel like there should be just enough to say what you have to say. Meaning, I wouldn't post 1000 links or 3 pages of inspiration. I like to limit it to 6 to 10 pages, give or take. Of course, if you're published with 25 books you're likely to have a larger web site. Beginners would probably have fewer pages, like mine. : )

Mel: That makes good sense.

Kim: What kind of sales? If you're speaking of book sales, you can post a link on your site to Amazon.com if you have a book published.

klschindler: Have you always designed web sites, even before writing books?

Kim: I started the two almost simultaneously. I reckon I loved SmartWriters that much, PLUS, I found that I liked building and tinkering with web sites, so I felt I could try building them for other children's writers. I have met some talented people along the way that have offered me some tidbits of writing advice. Most of my clients are published. : )

Kim: I work on Dreamweaver software at my day job but I have an IT team behind me to assist with tech support. At home, for my writer's site, I use 2-Tier Softare http://www.2-tiersoftware.com. I've been very happy with it. The REAL techno-geeks know code and programming galore!

Mel: Kim, could you tell some of us what "IT" means?

Kim: Information Technology

Kim: There are several out there to choose from. If you're wanting something up with minimal effort but a professional look, try 2-Tier. They have a reasonable price per month, or if you pay one year in advance you can get a free domain name—and I think it's for the entire year. Check out their web site for details. They offer on-line support from A to Z, so even if you've not created a site before they can help.

Kim: Shortcuts a timesavers? I would say less is more—meaning, keep your content straightforward and basic. Engage your visitors but don't overwhelm them with too much text or graphics. Simple and easy.

Kim: Yes, a domain name is like this: www.yourname.com. I would suggest going with your name or a pen name. I would love to have my own name as my domain name but somebody else owns "kimcampbell.com," so my name is not available for a domain name, but I'm working on snagging it.

Kim: 1. a domain name—www.yourname.com; 2. a site—created with software. e.g., Dreamweaver, FrontPage, or 2-tier Software's professional writer template (my preference because it's so easy to use and is geared toward writers' needs); 3. a host—disk space where the site is stored and works. You need good customer service and a reliable server. I recommend: http://www.2-Tiersoftware.com or http://godaddy.com. Caveat: Time-pressed or technically challenged folks may want to consider taking a class or hiring a site designer.
klschindler: Have you created any website for an unpublished writer?

Kim: Yes, me!! And a writer friend—Cassandra Blackburn, at http://www.cassandrablackburn.smartwriters.com.

Mel: Here's a good recommendation for 2-Tier:

Kim: First off, I send them an informal contract and questionnaire. I tell them what I do, which is simple sites with the option of some graphic enhancements. Then they in turn fill out the Q&A and do their "homework." Homework consists of researching other writers' sites—then deciding what works best for their style. I want the writer's personal style to shine through. : )

Mel: What might be "graphic enhancements," for instance?

Kim: Basically, it means "gussying up"—that's Southern for making something look fancy or pretty—an image. I can put a halo effect around a photograph—or a special background. I can also do some fading, or turn a color photo into a sepia tone or black & white. I have some semi-advanced options at my disposal. I use a program called Fireworks to manipulate graphics. Sometimes a little gussying goes a long way.

Mel: LOVE that "gussying up"! Thanks for the word candy! What exactly, again, should I consider before launching a web site, Kim?

Kim: This varies. When working with my clients I mull over this one burning question: "What's the author's message and style?" The answer will drive a lot of the content. If the author is writing about fun topics, the graphics and copy will lean toward the whimsical. Check out Katy Duffield's "calendar" at www.katyduffield.com to see what I mean. It’s fun! An example of serious content is at Eileen Pettycrew's site. www.eileenpettycrew.com.

Mel: You've talked about domain name. Does my domain name choice really matter?

Kim: Yes, I think it does. I WISH I had my name (kimcampbell.com) but someone else owns it. I think it's the most professional and easiest (obviously!) to remember/recall. Your domain name is your business card of sorts.

Mel: And how best do you choose a hosting service, then?

Kim: Word of mouth. Look at sites you like and ask the site owner who their host is. Ask them if they are happy, and if they get good customer service—so important!—if they get e-mail, how good is the tech support, etc. It's not a good thing if the host is down a lot. Being down means that visitors cannot log onto your site. It means that your host has server problems. : ( If this happens a lot, find another host.

Kim: With digital cameras you ought to be able to download pictures directly into your PC and use them. If these are hard copy items, then yes, you'll want to scan them. Kinkos has scanning. Of course, it's better to find a scanner at a friend's house or work because Kinkos charges out the wazoo!

Kim: Including my own, I'm up to 8, maybe 7. I've got 2 people on my waiting list for Smartwriters/2-Tier sites that I will begin in May/June of this year.

Mel: What is the difference between a customized site and a template site?

Kim: A custom site is one that you or a professional designer creates completely from scratch. You do ALL the programming and design work and use a programming environment like Dreamweaver or FrontPage, and you create the graphics yourself and optimize all your own images using a program like Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia's Fireworks. Template sites are built using fill-in-the-blank tools and applications that allow people with limited programming knowledge to create an attractive site without having to learn new software like Dreamweaver or FrontPage. Fancy software is fine for some people, but not everyone has the time or technical ability, you know? Either way you go, a graphics program like Fireworks still makes the images look GREAT (gussying up, remember?) and some template software like, 2-Tier’s, offers a lot of versatility in the design tools so that you can get a custom look even though you're working with a template.

Mel: What a GREAT FOUNT of information you are, Kim, THANKS! Why can't I just create a "free" AOL or GEOCITIES site?

Kim: My first impression of these sites is that they are homegrown (no offense to anyone who has one!). Imagine Coca-Cola with a free AOL web site—you wouldn't be impressed, would you? Probably not. There are very inexpensive alternatives to "freebie" sites. : )

Mel: Could you tell us about how much time on average a person should need to spend on maintaining their web site?

Kim: Again, this varies. Some folks spend more time than others. I usually update a sentence or two each month. But I don't have a ton of news to report! : ) So it takes me 15-30 minutes per month I'd say.

Mel: That's VERY reasonable! When it's all boiled down then, Kim, do I need a professional site designer? No, BUT if you plan to manage your own web site, you will need to learn about Internet etiquette and basic computer functionality. Also, you'll want to learn (take a class on) Dreamweaver, Fireworks, or Flash. Of course if you want a simple site to do yourself easy-breezy, you can probably avoid these software packages and a lot of headaches & hassles—opt for a template site. You CAN have a professional, impressive, MEMORABLE site without spending a fortune on or learning fancy software packages! : )

Kim: Telling people about your domain name—in casual conversations, at writing conferences, in the "signature" line of your e-mail program. I include my domain name in all my writing-related correspondence.

Mel: You've mentioned something earlier that I fear, HTML. Do I have to know HTML?

Kim: No, you really don't. I've managed to come this far without it, even capturing an honorable mention for a best author web site from Writer's Digest. (This is an HTML - free zone.) : )

Mel: That's so comforting to hear! And CONGRATULATIONS on that honorable mention!

Kim: With Dreamweaver and 2-Tier it's just a matter of typing and basic formatting of text (similar to Word Perfect), so HTML is not required these days.

Mel: Ahhhhhh! (-:}

Kim: I build most of the site (post content and lay out the graphics in an eye-pleasing manner) and then hand it off to them to maintain. Once they have a completed site, most of the updates are text. But if they get stuck, they e-mail me and I help them, of course. I'm still in touch with all my clients.

Kim: If you mean, Do I use HTML?, the answer is no. I just type, like we are doing right now. : )

Mel: It's probably difficult to believe a person doesn't have to use SOME kind of code, Kim, but I'm GLAD you don't need to.

Kim: There is a ceiling to customizing a template site, but then there's a trade-off with everything. You get the ease of use but you don't get as much "free style" input. If you jump onto smartwriters.com you can take a peek at the many smartwriters' sites and you'll get a feel for the possibilities. Compare that with Coca-Cola's, if you want to go to the other end of the spectrum.

Kim: No, not if you have a proclivity toward the computer. If you can use the Internet, know some basic computer commands, etc, you can try it and probably do just fine. It takes some getting used to—it took me MONTHS to design my site, http://www.LuckyPenny.net the way I really wanted it to look. I had much to learn. But, I utilized 2-Tier's customer service and eventually I got the hang of it.

Kim: If you visit my web site, you'll see a link called "Web Site Design Services". I work with my clients as friends after the consulting has ended. I typically do not charge for extra help here and there, if it's quick and easy. I feel like my clients are somehow extensions of me now—I'm proud of their work too, and want their site to shine.

Kim: Yes, and this can be done quickly and easily through the administration page of a 2-Tier web site. You should not submit to search engines more than 3 or 4 times per year. There's a rule that they have to "ban" frequent submitters. Also, I can track statistics on my site and see what OTHER sites are driving traffic to MY site. : )

Mel: A technical question now: What are meta-tags?

Kim: Meta tags are also known as keywords. They go in the header of each one of your site pages and help search engines target search requests to your content. For example, if you've written a book about bullfrogs and somebody is searching for "bullfrogs" at GOOGLE, your site ought to show up in the search results because of your meta tags.
You can enter several meta tags on your web site pages, which is what you want to do. You're found more easily this way.

Mel: Do I need to be a technical guru, then, to build a site or maintain one?

Kim: You just need to know the basics of a computer, or be willing to learn. If you know the MS Office packages, you can probably do this! If you try and can't—you can always hire a designer. : )

Mel: What groups of people is a person trying to reach with their web site?

Kim: Who is your audience? Another burning question! You want people to visit your site and learn about YOU, the author and/or buy your book, invite you to speak . . . simply put, "be found"! You want to reach readers, educators, students, and of course EDITORS!
You want to offer resources about your writing topics.

Kim: No, I am no poet. Goodness, I wish. Try Jill Esbaum's site: http://www.JillEsbaum.com.

Mel: How, again, do I "make" a good author web site?

Kim: Opinions do differ. But my basic penchant is listed as follows:

1. Home page - brief welcome message from the author, and a photo
2. My books page (or credits)—Book covers with links to Amazon.com
3. Author visits - If you're published I hope you're giving presentations! Put a picture of you at a school (or wherever your gig is held) and offer suggestions about the types of author appearances you provide.
4. Contact me page—leave a way for people to e-mail you or write you (P.O. box suggested)

5. Guest book page—this is a fun way to communicate with other writers, readers, etc. And of course Aunt Sally, who is so darn proud of you!
6. Links page - sites that impress, that you visit frequently, and other writers’ web sites you admire
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
"My Writing Life"
"FAQ"
"What's New?"
Favorite Books
Reviews
Author Interviews
Fun Stuff for Kids (Printable bookmarks, puzzles, etc.)
Be creative!

Mel: Does the NUMBER of people contacting you through your web site ever become overwhelming, Kim?

Kim: Um, no for now, BUT, I do get quite a few "pings" from people and I actually enjoy it. 2004 has been good so far. I like the outside content. It gives me emotional support. : )

Mel: What kind of content is typically posted on a web site like I might set up?

Kim: Whatever you post, be sure it's professional (typo free) and relevent to your writing topics and genre. I like simple sites where there's not a lot of scrolling down.

Kim: I suppose I'd have to see it first and offer suggestions then. E-mail me your link off- line and I'll let you know some suggestions.

Mel: You are a very generous person, Kim, and here is an affidavit to that:

Kim: http://www.luckypenny.net

Kim: What do you mean by "big web site?" At 15, maybe any web site looks big, huh? I don't see any reason why not. There are a lot of young writers out there. Smartwriters, I think, has a section for young writers on their site. http://www.smartwriters.com. Feel free to e-mail me later, though, young_Writer04. Good luck! I do believe there are publishing outlets for young writers. You may have to google for places to submit.

Mel: This same person also asks if a 15-year-old can get a book published and I think they ought to know about The Outsiders, a popular novel published in the 1970s; and the author, S. (Susan) E. Hinton was only 14--so YES, a 15er CAN get published--and GOOD LUCK, young_writer04!

Kim: It's up to you—if you know how to create a customized site, then by all means dig in. 2-Tier templates are created for folks who need that extra ease of designing. There are pluses and minuses on both sides. : )

Mel: You have REALLY made us feel tonight that SOME people COULD do their own web site, Kim, but I don’t think I could!

Kim: I'm not sure I understand this question. A search engine is a place to type in words or phrases to find web sites.

Mel: I think they mean are any of the search engines especially good for WRITERS.

Kim: I haven't heard of any specifically. But if anyone knows, I'd love to know too!

Mel: I've never found any that were, either!

Kim: I like it because many of the people are children's writers, and many of them (not all) are beginning writers or barely published. It makes me feel welcome to know that there are all kinds of writers "hanging out" on that site.

Mel: Time for one more question!

Kim: Oh glory, I really don't know the answer to that but I'm sure the owner of 2-Tier would know. I suspect though, if it's a business expense, that it is.

Mel: Yes, it definitely WOULD be a business expense, and if you file form 1040-C for a self-employed business, there is a line for a deduction like a web site expense. Kim, never have these two hours flown faster! THANK YOU so MUCH for all you have shared. You’ve made believers out of many here, I know, who see the value of having a web site. But I'm thinking we've only begun with you. Would you come back someday and continue this helpful chat, please?

Kim: Cool! I've learned something too. Yes, of course. THANK YOU.

Mel: On Thursday, May 6, two weeks from tonight, the VERY FIRST person who ever appeared as ICL’s Chat Guest, in June, 1999, will be returning. Terry Whalin will be here, and there is NO ONE who is as knowledgeable about the Christian writing market in both magazines and books as Terry. He has worked on both sides of the desk, as an author of MANY books for both children and adults. Then a number of years ago—after a stint as an ICL Instructor—Terry grew interested in editing, and grew very talented at it. He worked as editor for David C. Cook, the foremost Christian book publisher, and very successfully. Terry now works as editor of adult pieces at Howard Publishing. So come and join Terry and me on May 6!

Mel: And THANKS AGAIN to you, Kim Campbell, for all the expertise you shared with us tonight!

Kim: You're welcome, Mel.

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