Having your own website is just one way to promote your own writing and also network with other writers. Please do not believe that if you are not a published writer this will be a way to be "discovered". Most agents and editors are already too busy to have time to surf the Internet looking for new talent. A personal website is an ongoing way to advertise yourself and your writing. It is like having your own advertising agency.
A good starting point is to have a plan for your website. Visit other children's author's sites. Decide what information you want to include in your own. What do you find appealing, such as graphics, content or color. Look at the layout and ease of navigation. Check out the links that would be important to a children's writer. Also spend some time searching for advice on design.
If you feel you do not have the time or confidence to pursue your own website, you can have this service hired out to professionals. Designing a website is time consuming but the alternative can be very expensive.
If you are going to design your own website it will be a learning process, but a very valuable one. There are on-line tutorials where you can learn HTML (hypertext markup language). This is a standardized, tag-based, text formatting language that instructs a web browser how to assemble the text, graphics, and other content.
There are many books you can buy also if you would like a permanent reference book. This may be a wise investment because webpages should evolve and change along with your career. Some of these books are:
HTML for Dummies
Build a Website In a Day, Thomas Wrona and Elizabeth Parker, Ventana Publisher, 1997)
These books also provide informatiion and terminology any web master should be familiar with. You will also get ideas on layout, graphics and other web publishing processes. You can also purchase software which will create the webpage for you simply by giving it instructions, similar to a desk top publishing program. Some of these software programs are:
Adobe Go-Live
Microsoft Front Page
You can also use free web hosting sites on the Internet. These provide you with a limited amount of space for no charge. Often times you are at their mercy and must use their advertising banners. You do have some lose of control in this regard including elements you will use to design you webpage.
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