Suggestions for my website? - Writers Forum

OtherWorlds · 07-11-2008, 05:02 AM

Hello all. I'm gonna pose a question I've been asking my friends on some of the other writers forums I belong to. What do others like to see on a writers website? I'm still adding pages and updating mine, and I would welcome any suggestions on what I could do to improve it.

So far, I've got literary agency and publisher listings, articles on how to write queries and how to format manuscripts, and some other stuff, but I wanna make the site a lot bigger and more fun for visitors. If you have any writing relates websites or articles you would like me to consider attaching a link to, or even any ideas about ways to improve the site, do tell. You can PM me, or visit the site on the link below and email me your comments, using the address under Contact Me on the home page.

lin · 07-11-2008, 10:51 AM

Graphics. That doesn't look like a fantasy site, it looks like a romance site for the menopausal.

Big newbie error: I come to your site and see a big blurb about who you are and what you're up to. When all I care about is myself and what I want to see. To you see a lot of newspapers running the staff box in top of the front page? These things are best tucked away for those who give a damn about them.

What you want it an immediate, visually engaging presentaion of what's on your site and why it's cool...show don't tell.

Fantasy...you probably ought to have an art gallery. Get artists to alllow their work their with links to their site. Your front page should be an impressive piece of fantasy art and bold links to things of interest: publications, artwork, writing, new releases, interviews.

This is a VERY overcrowded field. There is very little need for more. If you want to be there, you need to be unique and serve a niche and make it clear from the get-go what the site offers the viewer.

lin · 07-11-2008, 10:52 AM

Have at least 5 pages

2.0 · 07-11-2008, 11:10 AM

The headings "Welcome" and "About me" and so on should be up in the bar along with "Links" and "Literary Agents".

To me the pink is off-putting. Even as a female, I'd personally prefer a steely, powdery blue if you wanna keep the romantic feel.

People love to give their input. It can't be hard to stick a single-topic message board style thing in there. You might get some good resources that way and people are much more likely to leave their mark in public rather than take the time to open email.

valeca · 07-11-2008, 11:22 AM

At a glance, it really does look like a site geared toward romance, not fantasy. Not even romantic fantasy--plain ol' romance--like these.

edropus · 07-11-2008, 11:47 AM

All brutally honest responses. Don't get offended or take them personally; listen to the advice.

OtherWorlds · 07-11-2008, 12:55 PM

Hello all. Well, you gave me some hard hits here, but I asked for the punches,so I'll try and take them with grace.

Seriously, I do appreciate the input. I've been critiqueing long enough to know that a nicety-nice answer, although pleasant, isn't very constructive.

Now, to address some individual suggestions:

lin, thanks a lot for your comments. I definately didn't mean my site to look like a hang out for the "menopausal". (Although now you mention it, a menopausal lady did tell me it was beautiful. Hmmm...) Lol. That being said, I am geariing it toward fantasy and paranormal romance, so I'm trying to keep the elements of both equal. But I get what you're saying. Maybe I could stand to add some graphics to the home page that would appeal to everyone. Something romantic, yet fantasyish, if that makes any sense. About the blurb on me, you've got a good point. I'll look into switching the About Me section over to another page.

P.S. I have 7 pages, but with enough suggestions, I'm sure I'll think of more to add.

2.0, Thanks for the advice. I plan to keep the Welcome, because I think that's kind of the essence of a home page. I agree, however, that maybe the first thing visitors want to see isn't an About Me section. I'll see about moving it.

I like your powdery blue suggestion, and will think that one over. I also like the input idea. Several visitors have already suggested to me that they'd like a place where they can post comments and have discussions with other visitors. I'll play around a little and see if I can figure a way of adding a message board everyone can post to.

valeca, again, I'm trying to meet a happy middle point between fantasy and paranormal romance, but it seems I'm not there yet. Lol. I'll look into adding some fantasy style graphics so fantasy fans don't feel left out.

edropus, thanks for the advise, mouse. Don't anybody worry about offending me. You develop a thick skin in this business, and I hope I'm always open to suggestions. Thanks to all for your ideas and constructive critisicm.

Mike C · 07-11-2008, 01:29 PM

Problem is there is no happy medium between two vastly different genres. As it it, the site doesn't seem to have any elements of either fantasy or the paranormal; it looks like a RWA page.

Split the site in two; a section for fantasy, a section for PR. Differentiate content, look and info and tailor each section to the target audience, that way you don't have to compromise and you give visitors what they want.

Work on a strong, graphic, professional look for both. There are plenty of resource sites already existing for both genres, and to be honest most look like they were designed by 10 year olds 10 years ago, and haven't changed. Make it look good, and have something original to offer, and people will come.

2.0 · 07-11-2008, 04:27 PM

The update is a lot easier on the eyes. The colors and oil lamp feel antiquey, which I think goes along with the whole 'quills' idea.

Just a couple more little things:

I'd prefer to see the search in the upper right corner or somewhere on the bottom. The stark white just kind of breaks the color flow, you know?

I would combine your welcome with the site purpose. Some things are restated anyway, would just make it more concise.

The fonts and colors for the different front-page sections are different. You might have done this on purpose but it's not jiving with me. Having the welcome be a different color would have been alright if two sections down the font didn't change. It just seems a little off balance.

I do like Mike's idea about splitting the site in two parts. With the current color scheme it would be easy to come up with two good-looking icons to take you to the respective halves. Everything looks good in sepia =)

Anyway, keep working on it, it is definitely coming along.

OtherWorlds · 07-11-2008, 06:05 PM

Thanks a lot 2.0 and Mike C. The reason for the different kinds of fonts is that I've just started reworking the site and haven't changed the colors and font over to match the new look. I'll be working on it more throughout the day though, so bear with me a little and I'll see how many of your suggestions I can get implemented in a day's time.

By the way, Mike C. I like the idea of deviding the site into fantasy and paranormal sections. I'll experiment a little and see what comes up. It's interesting integrating the two different genres onto one site. It's not that paranormal romance is hugely different from contemporary fantasy, when it comes down to it. It's more about the different audiences. On average, teenagers and twenty-somethings (and often males) tend to be drawn more the fantasy way, while middle aged women frequently go for the romance. Pleasing everybody can get a bit touchy, but I'll see what kind of medium I can strike. Thanks again.

lin · 07-12-2008, 12:39 AM

Looks better, but still doesn't suggest fantasy or paranormal.

Look around for good art, cut a deal with the artist, it's a mutually benficial thing.

The MAIN thing is not details, however, it's what I was saying.... your front page needs to speak to the viewers wants and needs, not your own.

You need some content up there, and a reason for people to click on anything.

Your "Welcome" paragraph could be reduced to like two lines.

Having big, eyecatching links on home page to FANTASY PAGES and PARANORMAL pages would help with what Mike was talking about.

BTW
You need to work on the <HEAD> tags of your pages.
The TITLE's are messed up. They need to have your site title on each one
CAPRICIOUS QUILLS --Links for instance
It would be a good idea for the home page TITLE to be something like
CAPRICIOUS QUILLS -- Resources for Fantasy and Paranormal Writers

This is a clue to the viewer...and what they will see if they book mark your page...

You have NO KEYWORDS or Description!!!! Come now...

I think it's a major mistake not to be using a style sheet with this thing.
Are you really going to go through and change <FONT> tags everytime you want a different color?

Go to SFFworld.com or deviantart or some such and find some fantasy artists to contribute to your page in exchange for profiles/links.
Start a little gallery with a thumbnail, photo/profile, and link for artists. This will give you free eye candy and bring people to you.

Good luck

OtherWorlds · 07-12-2008, 02:59 AM

Thanks for the advice, lin. I'll look into getting some romantic fantasy artwork up there. Right now, my site looks more like a place to buy antiques than anything else. Lol.

lin · 07-12-2008, 01:55 PM

Get on those <HEAD> meta tags, too. If you have trouble with it, go to other sites and VIEW their SOURCE CODE and see how the keyword and description tags work.

Also see the tag that relates to a .css file

HTML Code:

<LINK REL=stylesheet HREF="style.css" TYPE="text/css">

I'd suggest you create a style.css file and upload it to the root directory. Put some tags in it like these

#text {color:#4F3117; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size:14pt; font-weight:bold}
#smalltext {color:#4F3117; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size:13pt; font-weight:bold}
#superduper {color:#880000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size:22pt; font-weight:bold}
#headline {color:#4F3117; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size:15pt; font-weight:bold}
#superhead {color:#4F3117; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size:16pt; font-weight:bold}
#superred {color:#880000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size:17pt; font-weight:bold}

Then with your own color, font, etc. Then replace (you can use search/replace if you're careful) your

HTML Code:

<FONT> </FONT>

tags with

HTML Code:

<DIV ID="superred">  </DIV>

or whatever.
Anytime you want to change a font color, change it on the css file and it automatically changes globally for the site.

body { background:#FEF9CF; font-family:verdana, sans-serif;
font-size:88%; color:#4D3318; padding:0; margin:0; }
You can also set your link colors in the css

This css tag sets your background color font size and color for any page invoking that .css file
You can use different files (links.css) and call them on other pages to have different font colors on different pages.

Read an online css tutorial to find out how to do more if you wish.

OtherWorlds · 07-13-2008, 08:07 PM

lin, I really appreciate all your advice. I know that must have taken you forever to type in so much info. That being said, I plan on avoiding getting too technical with this site. I know very little about computer lingo; writing's more my game. Don't think I haven't taken any of your comments to heart, however, (you and everyone else who chipped in). I appreciate all your suggestions and will work on some of them.

You may notice I've gone back to my original design, the "menopausal" one. Lol. After some confusion, I finally decided it was the one I would be best able to customize to my needs. I did visit DeviantArt, though, as you suggested, and have made arrangements to get some fantasy-style artwork up on the site by the middle of next week. In the mean time, I'll have to make do with the pink.

Thanks a lot, everybody. You've been very enthusiastic in your suggestions.

Mark Carter · 07-14-2008, 12:18 PM

I'm not an expert but you did say you were gearing towards fantasy and paranormal romance, and--like the others said--it looks like a plain romance site. If it was me I'd darken the mood a little. IMO, romance plus fantasy or paranormal would lean towards the traditional gothic style. I'd go with darker colors and something more brooding than a bunch of flowers. Check out the link below for the Gothic.net forum. They are probably too dark and gothic for what you want but you might want to lean a little in their direction.

Gothic.net - Gothic Goth Horror Community