Writer’s Guild: Benefits of An Author’s Website

Original Content | 7/29/2025 | By Laz A. Mataz

[Lazamataz]

When I finished and published my first novel, it became apparent to me that an Author’s Website was important. I set about creating mine.

What are the benefits of an Author’s Website?

• It shows professionalism and dedication to prospective agents, publishers, event coordinators, journalists, and your readers. An agent or a publisher is far more likely to become interested in your novel if you demonstrate that you are dedicated to your craft. A website will confirm your dedication.
• You have full control over your brand and the presentation of your work. Even if social media or retail outlets remove or cancel your work, the website ensures your internet presence will persist.
• It serves as a wonderful place to showcase your work. Short stories, blog posts, and planned releases can be centrally located there, allowing a reader a much more immersive experience that demonstrates your writing style, and can entice new readers.
• It can attract new readers. If you optimize your search engine visibility, people who are searching for your type of literature may come across your website.

The quality of your writing must be your cornerstone, but without effective marketing, even the best work will wither on the vine. An Author’s Website is an important component of that marketing strategy.

I’ve created an Author’s website, and below are images that show how I laid mine out. I’m only going to show the index (first) page:

Note the items I have included:

• A menu bar that allows a user to navigate between the various pages, including the Home page, a page that contains short stories I have written, a biography of myself, a blog page where articles like this will appear, a contact form, and a page for other authors that I know and admire.
• A short entry about myself.
• A place where my current novel is featured. I’ve included links, to the right, to the best reviews. I made sure to place a button there to allow a user to easily get a copy of the novel.
• A gallery of the novels I have written. Only one exists at this time, but I plan a sequel, and that is represented in the gallery.
• A place to sign up for the newsletter that, while not yet launched, will be coming soon.
• A place to see all my latest blog posts. Only one post exists at this time, and the posts will be geared towards new writers.
• The footer contains a menu copy, a copyright notice, and icons (not yet active) for sharing on social media.

There are a few places where I add a little humor. For example, try to submit me a contact without completing the Captcha step. 😂😂😂

I also ensured that this website is ‘responsive’, that is, that it will render both on computers and portable devices (such as an Android phone.

An Author’s website is important. If you intend to be serious about your craft, I highly recommend you invest the time (or the money, if you are not website-design savvy) to create one!

Happy writing!

[Lazamataz]

The Writers Guild of Free Republic ping list:

This is an important tool for aspiring writers! Enjoy the discussion.

[Lazamataz]

Here are some authors’ websites I admire:

https://walliskinney.com/
https://www.teaganoliviaking.com/
https://margiewrites.com/

And, of course, mine:

https://lazpublishing.com/

[Twotone]

Looks like a very nice website!

[tired&retired]

Congratulations on your website. It validates your pseudo identity and is a big step in your success as a writer.

[Krosan]

You look very young. Did you sign up on FR when you were 4?

[logi_cal869]

Awesome. Thanks.

I’m ramping up for a website myself and need to post a vanity requesting FReeper feedback for details I’m lacking, tech-wise.

As soon as I refocus my post-vacation brain...

[Lazamataz]

I’m ramping up for a website myself and need to post a vanity requesting FReeper feedback for details I’m lacking, tech-wise.

I could write a thread about the tools and techniques I used, if you like. The tool I used (Bootstrap Studio 7) is NOT intuitive, but I mastered it.

[Lazamataz]

You look very young. Did you sign up on FR when you were 4?

LOL! There is not a picture of me on the website yet. I need to get one up.

[Lazamataz]

Looks like a very nice website!

Thank you! I think I did well. 😁

[Lazamataz]

Congratulations on your website. It validates your pseudo identity and is a big step in your success as a writer.

Thank you! I feel it is an important step for any writer... thus, this thread. 😊

[sasquatch]

https://www.wildergarten.com/

[stylecouncilor]

Nice job!

[Larry Lucido]

Yours looks good!

I guess HitsvilleUSA was already taken huh? :)

[logi_cal869]

Interesting. I’ve been avoiding the depths of IT for a bit and never heard of it. Somewhat regret it, but sounds like Bootstrap is right up my alley.

If you see fit to do a thread on it, I’ll definitely be following. I’m currently deep in writing content while simultaneously framing a broad outline for the site’s design/features (forum is a must, as are ecommerce, reviews and a ‘news’ page written/updated by yours truly).

The feedback I got during my vacation was especially uplifting & motivating. Unfortunately, that means work towards finishing my own book must be sidelined for now.

[FreedomPoster]

I miss Jerry. His “day book” (arguably the first blog, a neologism he hated) was daily must read material along with Free Republic for around 20 years, for me.

https://jerrypournelle.com/

[montag813]

Can you make any money doing this, when the Kindle Unlimited price is $0.00?

[Openurmind]

“IMPORTANT! NOT ONE LINE OF MY WORK IS WRITTEN BY A.I.”

Yes it is important... Honestly earned without cheating... Huge KUDOS man... :)

[Lazamataz]

Can you make any money doing this, when the Kindle Unlimited price is $0.00?

To my mind, money is secondary to exposure.

[Lazamataz]

“IMPORTANT! NOT ONE LINE OF MY WORK IS WRITTEN BY A.I.”

Yes it is important... Honestly earned without cheating... Huge KUDOS man... :)

A.I. written literature is complete crap anyways.