Maintaining a Web Presence

I guess that is what I am doing right now, in writing this blog. I’m often amazed to see that people have read it. Okay, just a handful, but it’s earning me money on Adsense and it’s a strange feeling that there are people out there, people I don’t know, who are reading my words. In some cases, they are even coming back for a second look.

It would be great, actually, if any of you who are reading this would let me know who you are, and if you keep coming, why. But if you want to remain anonymous, that’s okay, too.

There has been much debate recently on a couple of forums I’m a member of about:

· Why we need to have a web presence

· How much time it takes to keep that going

· Whether or not it takes us away from our writing.

Well I think presence, web or otherwise, is vital writers who take themselves seriously. Yes you have to write well, and then you have to get yourself out there. Get the public interested in you. After all, what does “publish” really mean? It has to be something to do with making your work public. You are part of your work.

Anyway I enjoy writing my blogs. I do this one, a fictional one, “Rozia” that is about a quite important character who has just left anoterh story. This is what happens to her after she leaves. It’s quite an experiment for me. Firstly, as a fictional blog and secondly as an experiment in writing from character. Thirdly, I never plan what I’m going to writer before I start. Then there is my “The Language Expert” blog, which is all about language learning. After all, in a former life, I spent twenty-four years teaching languages and I still write a few materials for language learning. I used to also maintain two other blogs – one about property investment and the other about the silly things which are happening in the 21^st Century. However, having decided I’m first and foremost a writer, I’ve abandoned the latter two. Other people do these things better. However, I have not taken the content down.

What I love about blogging is that is it instant publication. It also gets my writing muscles warmed up, as it’s the first writing task I do each day.

For your convenience, and if you’re interested I’ve listed my other blogs and websites on this page.

What about all those other places? My Space, Facebook, Shelfari, Twitter, Wiki and Eacademy? Oh yes, I’m there. But I don’t use those all that much. I will respond to anyone who contacts me that way and I do always list my events and new books on My Space and Facebook. Authors’ Den is also great. It’s in effect a web site you can build yourself. I am, however, using this less now and I prefer the Blogger blogging provider to the Author’s Den one.

I’m very fortunate in having a husband who maintains my personal web site. I just send him emails about what I want doing and he does it. I do spend time every now and then reviewing that site. And if I see a great idea on somebody else’s, I copy it. No shame, this woman.

Plus there are the forums: Wordpool, Bristish SCBWI and Children’s Writers.

All of this helps you to network without leaving your desk. The chat also stops the loneliness.

However, I do issue a word of caution. Remember, by being there you are putting yourself in the public eye. I do also have a writing related day job. I work as a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Salford. I keep myself in check by reminding myself never to post anything I would be ashamed of the Vice-Chancellor knowing about me.

Synopses

Synopses
There has been quite a bit of debate about this on Wordpool recently. Or was it SCBWI? Well, many of the same people on both. I’ve actually been on several courses, and had almost as many different versions of what makes a good synopsis.
I do struggle with them myself. I often feel that I’ve not go everything into them that the potential editor or agent needs to know. It isn’t just a matter of telling the plot. You have to get something of the atmosphere, the characters and the form of the novel across.
Only twice do I think I have got it absolutely right. Once was for “Nick’s Gallery”. The other was the Harry Bowling competition that I am entering. The latter needed 500 words and I wrote 480. The former was two sides of A4, double-spaced.
Some writers and editors will ask for specific things. But if you’re on your own, and you want to second guess what the potential editor wants to know, this is what I recommend.
First, you must get your story into one sentence, not more than two lines long – though you can have several clauses if you must. You should use this in your query letter anyway. I always find it a useful tool in keeping me on track as I write anyway. More often than not, the premise is hidden in that sentence as well.
One writer who talked to me about writing synopses suggested that you keep a chapter by chapter one as you write. You’ll have to edit down later, but it will remind you of what happens. And just a few publishers and agents do want a chapter by chapter account.
Always use the present tense. This is not a blurb. You do need to tell your reader what happens. Make sure what you describe has the right emphasis and the full story arc is revealed.
Remember also to mention something about the atmosphere you create and the personalities and motivations of the characters. Include also who you see as the reader and give a rough idea of word count.