Before I get to the post topic, I have a request. Right now my only website is on the larger HarperCollins website. There’s a link to it on this page, below on the right, called “Official Website,” which it is, and many thanks to Harper for creating it. However, my husband and I are planning a separate, new site. (I’ll continue the blog, although it may move and I’ll announce the change and you won’t get lost.) So, I have some questions and I may have more as we progress: Do you visit author websites? If you do and when you do, what’s the reason? What do you want in a site? What would you want on my site? (We don’t yet know what’s technically possible.) What do you like in sites you’ve visited? What do you dislike? Have any sites left you feeling frustrated or disappointed or annoyed? Why? And if there’s anything else you’d like to tell me about author websites, please do.
On April 8, 2010, Jen wrote, How can you tell when your story is sounding too familiar, like from something you’ve already written, or something you’ve read. I don’t want to be stealing any ideas from anyone, but sometimes when I write, the story starts to sound much of a muchness to what I’m reading, or at least parts of what I’m writing. I don’t do this on purpose, but still it happens. Or I’ll use a similar plot twist that I thought was entertaining. I also enjoy suspense, and like to use that extremely in my writing. But I want my story to be fresh, and don’t want to bore the reader in the first chapter, because it’s a previously used idea. (Or because I’m taking too long to jump into the plot. Or I jump into the plot too fast!) I like the concept of parallel universes, or doors between different realms, but it’s been taken many times. How do we make an old idea still new and exciting? I don’t have a problem with coming up with ideas. I have many, many story ideas, but it’s just a few that sound unoriginal.
Last December 9th, I wrote a post about predictability, and I don’t want to repeat what I said then, so I suggest you take a look.
When I wrote Ella Enchanted, I kept worrying about a sequence of four words that I thought I might have lifted from a song. Turned out I hadn’t. My four words were different, but even if they had been the same it wouldn’t have mattered. They were just four ordinary words. None of them was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, which might really have caused me trouble. Sometimes we (I) worry too much.
Writing is imitating. We imitate life and books and movies. Being a good imitator is valuable for a writer, maybe essential. Also when I was writing Ella Enchanted, I reread Jane Austen, and started sounding like her on the page, and my critique buddies asked me what was going on, and I had to deliberately quit.
Here’s a prompt: Read ten pages of Jane Austen (or more if you can’t put her down). Pay attention to how she structures her sentences. Write or rewrite a page in your current story imitating her voice.
Or pick a different writer with a distinctive voice, maybe Mark Twain or Charlotte Bronte or James M. Barrie, and imitate him or her. Try more than one if you’re up to it. This is excellent practice, because it makes you a more flexible writer and more aware of word choice, sentence and paragraph shape and length, approaches to dialogue, and every other aspect of bringing a scene to life.
Before I started to write the first book in the Disney Fairies series, Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, I reread Barrie’s Peter Pan. My intention was to approximate his style in my book, but I couldn’t do it; he’s such a supple writer; however, I noticed that he used the expression “of course” a lot, so I threw in many repeats of “of course” and hoped they would convey the flavor. I just looked at his book again a minute ago and noticed that he used semicolons frequently; hence this sentence and the one before it.
Imitation is not plagiarism. You shouldn’t copy another writer’s exact words into your stories, at least not more than four of them! Plagiarism is unethical.
Having said that, actual copying isn’t a bad exercise, as long as that’s all it is, an exercise. When I wrote The Fairy’s Mistake, I had never written a chapter book before, and my editor sent me samples of other chapter books. Before I started writing my own I typed out one of Paula Danziger’s Amber Brown books – every word! – to see how she did it.
Here’s another prompt:: Copy a page of a book you love. Have you learned anything?
Ideas can’t be copyrighted, only the expression of an idea in words. Still, we want to be original. I recently read a book that, in one aspect only, reminded me of Holes by Louis Sachar. I love Holes, and I liked this other book, but I wished the author had thought of something else in this single area, or had at least referred to Holes. If the main character had said something like, My life was just like Stanley Yelnats’s, I would have been happy, because the similarity wouldn’t have seemed sneaky.
A book that does a masterful and open job of connecting to another book is this year’s Newbery winner, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, which builds on an earlier Newbery, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Art builds on the art that went before. We take the old and rework it into something new, and Rebecca Stead did this ingeniously.
(By the way, When You Reach Me is historical fiction that takes place in New York City in the 1970s when the city was much less safe than it is now. I hope you’ll read the book if you haven’t already, but I don’t want you to get the wrong picture of present-day New York.)
If you’d like to take your main character into an alternate universe, you can. But you want to create your own alternate universe and your own way into it and not remake Oz and a tornado. How to do this? One way is to start from scratch with questions: Am I writing a funny story or a sad one or a total tragedy? Am I writing a mystery? A funny story, for example, will call for a different, goofier universe than a serious story.
What kind of characters inhabit this world? Fairies? Dragons? Philosopher eagles? A combo of different sorts of creatures? People?
Who is your main character who enters as a visitor or an escapee? Maybe she isn’t human. She may be an animal or a plant that has somehow become ambulatory and able to think and communicate. Or it’s a rock or a paper clip. Anything can succeed if you make it succeed.
Is this a happy universe or a troubled one? How does it connect to the world your traveler starts out from? It may or may not connect, or you may find out as you write.
You all know that I rely on lists, so for this project I would write a bunch of lists. I might list some of the aspects of the real world that I love and aspects I definitely do not love. You can use this list to develop your world. Long ago, I read a short story about an alien who adored earth because we have food and we eat. In his home galaxy there was no such thing. Your main character could enter a world without birds and any concept of flight, for example.
List basics: size, time, light, colors, sound, smell. Write down how your world might express these basics. In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, light moves slowly. Remember, for your own creation, some – probably many – aspects of the new world should be what we’re used to or the reader will feel lost.
What problem or accident causes your character to leave? If what she left behind was pretty good, she may just want to get back. Before you decide, explore the possibilities.
What are the problems in the new place? Make a list!
Write down possible means of entry into your invented world, other than a door or a wardrobe or a rabbit hole. Maybe the way in could be connected to your main character’s character. Suppose she’s great at math, and one day she walks into math class and none of the problems add up. The teacher looks exactly like Mr. Mikan, except this Mr. Mikan has bushy eyebrows. She’s in. That simple. I’d guess there are lots of ways to do this.
What might befall the main character once she enters? Make a list. There are many more possibilities than getting back home or saving the new world. What else can you come up with?
I keep blathering on about lists because I think they’re a key to originality. Lists free your mind to wander where you’ve never been before. You write down seven ideas that seem boring, old, over-used, and then the eighth is a surprise, and the thirteenth is too. Or you may have to write twenty options before you get to the fresh one. Keep going. And every so often glance back at the ideas you scorned to see if you might be able to breathe life into one or two of them.
There are prompts throughout this post. I hope you try them and save them and have fun!
And, if you want to, please share your thoughts on author websites. Thanks!
Dragon Archer says:
When it comes to author websites, I like:
> A list of all the author's books
> Thoughts/writing tips from the author
> News about upcoming books and events
> and maybe even some games. =0)
Hope this helps!
Dragon Archer
storyqueen says:
This is a great post. I will probably print it out!
The thing about trying to sound like another writer is that usually, if you try this exercise for real, you realize how impossible it is…and it helps you understand that even when you try to write like Mark Twain, it still sounds like you underneath….maybe a wittier, more colorful you. But still you. And then you worry about the "copying" factor way less. Even if you wanted to sound just like Twain or Shakespeare, you couldn't.
I am dealing with the author website thing right now as well. I love my blog, but…well, I have to do something more I think. So..
I do know that I like author websites that have a timeless quality to them…otherwise known as those that do not have lots of outdated material. There is nothing wrong with simple…(at least that is what I keep telling myself!)
Good luck!
Shelley
Cid says:
Do you visit author websites? If you do and when you do, what’s the reason?
I visit author websites for information on up coming books. I really like reading new releases and following the latest news. My friends and I are also starting a book review website so I've been checking up on authors lately to check facts and research things.
What do you want in a site?
The basics – bio, list of books (chronological order is nice), big news things, upcoming releases, a blog, and events since many authors do speaking engagements or attend conferences. It's nice to know if I might see you somewhere – because I'm friendly like that and will say hi.
What would you want on my site? (We don’t yet know what’s technically possible.)
In yours I would like to be able to link to the books you've written and maybe something like the movie version of Ella Enchanted. I'm also interested in the process of going from book to movie. You give a lot of great advice, so maybe a list of the top ten posts for writers who are maybe new to the site or a good place for new writers to start.
What do you like in sites you’ve visited?
Current information. Ease of access. It doesn't have to be fancy! Simple and elegant is by far my favorite.
What do you dislike? Have any sites left you feeling frustrated or disappointed or annoyed? Why?
I dislike sites that are very out of date. I recently read a book and the way it ended I couldn't figure out if there was a second book or not – so I went to her website – and the newest information was a year old and said she had a contract for the book I just read. Sites with neon, day glo colors frustrate me. Maybe that's me-specific!
Like I've said, the things that I think are the most important are current information and ease of access!
F says:
An author website! Yes, I'm so happy! I can't think how many times I've googled your name (before you started this blog), trying to come up with some proper website!! YAY! 😀
I visit a couple of author's websites, for their blogs, news about upcoming releases, etc.. What I like to see in them?
-Excerpts from new books.
-Deleted scenes/First drafts. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to read those.
-Author blog (but of course!)
-List of author's favourite/recommended reads
-Future appearances/tour dates
-The different covers the books have! For example, I love the old Ella Enchanted/Two Princesses of Bamarre ones. Not so much the new ones (I'm assuming they're old, the light blue/midnight blue ones respectively.)
Well, that's basically it. I also like the author writing about their story/novel, and how it came to be, which are their favourite characters/scenes and excerpts from the first drafts…oh, first drafts are the best…haha.
Sorry, that's a big comment. But I'm so excited! Can't wait for it, though I suppose it would take some time.
RichLayers says:
I visit author websites to find out when new work is coming out and to check on the order of books in a series if they've written a serial story.
I also try to link back to author sites when I do reviews of their (fairy tale related) works.
Bearcoon says:
I lurk author sites often, especially when they've got a forum and blog. It's fun to chat with other people who have the same taste in book X3
Emily says:
Author websites are fantastic, as long as they are updated. I like to see a bio, the books an author has written, events, upcoming books, and a blog (if they have one).
Some authors also publish short stories on their websites just for their website readers. I think that's a really neat idea.
I always try to link to an author's web page if they have one when I write a review.
Rose says:
Ms. Levine – I like your talk about "un-sneaky similarities." I've read books that sounded like others, quite a few, in fact, but it's hardly ever that I find someone in a story talking about her similarities to someone in another book. I guess authors are either trying to sneak through, or they're afraid of copyright troubles. Which brings me to the question: is it acceptable in a published work to refer to someone else's published work, the way you demonstrated? Is a character's name under copyright, or the title of the book – and will that get you in trouble if you mention it?
Regarding authors' sites: my favorite thing of all is when authors will throw out questions about books or writing – like whether girls can identify with male main characters, or the advantages of first-person narration – and let everyone share their opinions. And I also like the idea of short web-stories. Clare B. Dunkle has a great website for those (hint hint reader folk!).
April says:
Do you visit author websites?
Yes, sometimes.
If you do and when you do, what’s the reason?
Usually because I want to know more about the author. The little bios included in most books just don't say very much. I want to know roughly how old they are, about where they live (state/province and country), spouse or kids if they have them, pets, a fairly recent picture of them, about their hobbies, etc. Stuff about them, rather than their books. Of course anything very personal shouldn't be revealed for privacy and safety's sake, but I like to learn about the people who write the books I love—what they're like and what their life is like. Maybe even a written example of what their writing routine or typical day looks like.
But I want to know about their books as well. What's been published and when, and what's in the works. Links to where I can buy them would be helpful. Also any interviews they've done are usually interesting to read.
I also look for if they're on Facebook or Twitter, or if they have a blog. If they don't have any of these, I look for a way to contact them (an e-mail form? Via their publisher? Etc.). It shouldn't be their personal e-mail address (goodness gracious), but I'd like to know that a human sees it, and the not spam/trash gets forwarded to the author. I usually don't expect an answer. I just want to know they heard me.
What do you want in a site? What would you want on my site?
The things I listed above is a great start. Between a little about yourself and your life, and a link to this blog, that would be a good Web site, albeit a simple one. But I don't think author Web sites should get too fancy. If they've got too much going on it's hard to find the information I want, and it often looks egotistical/narcissistic. Flash Web sites usually evoke this feeling in me, especially since Flash sites usually have trouble loading on computers that aren't the latest and greatest, which I feel cuts out a lot of visitors/readers.
What do you like in sites you’ve visited?
Clean, simple, and timeless design. Easy navigation. Clear and straight-to-the-point copy, written in a readable style (preferably the author's style, but not necessary).
What do you dislike?
Lots of show-off-y features and trying too hard to look like a movie Web site. Complicated navigation. No search function. Lacking an FAQ and a means to reach the author (even if it isn't direct). Lots of annoying ads (some tasteful ones are fine).
Have any sites left you feeling frustrated or disappointed or annoyed? Why?
Yes, for the above reasons. If I can't find what I want in about 3 minutes, I'll leave and usually never come back. If it won't load in about 30 seconds (a minute max), I'll leave then, too. I might come back to see if it was a temporary slow-down, but only if I really want to see the Web site.
And if there’s anything else you’d like to tell me about author websites, please do.
Trust your gut: If you wouldn't like to be on the Web site, your readers probably won't either. If you can't figure out how to get around, neither can your readers. If you think it's messy or has too many ads, your readers definitely think so. Etc.
blackandwhitedreamer says:
Thanks so much for this post! I loved it! I went through a phase where I was reading tons of books by British authors – Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The White Darkness, NUM8ERS, I Capture The Castle, Chronicles of Narnia – all of which are set in England or feature British main characters. I adored the differences in speech and writing style, but before long I began to notice that snatches of British-sounding dialogue were popping up in my stories! This made editing a pain. Lately I've been trying to watch that I don't let other author's styles seep into my writing much, and your advice here is really helpful.
About a website:
Ah, just when I finally broke down and got an account here so I could comment on your posts, you decide to move it? 😛 oh well. I've gone on a few author websites, but not often; your blog has been the first thing I've really followed avidly. So that has to stay! A list of books is always nice, especially if you included excerpts! I would love to see forums where people coud discuss and review books or trade writing advice. Pet peeves are sites that aren't easy to navigate and have too many sub-pages. A search feature, so people could easily find a particular topic or page, would also be great.
April says:
Here's another prompt: Copy a page of a book you love. Have you learned anything?
My degree is in professional writing, and in one of my novel-writing classes we had to do this prompt several times (only it was a whole chapter, not just a page). Coincidentally, I picked Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Bamarre as two of them. 🙂
Erin Edwards says:
Yay! I blog. I know I've look for yours before. 😉
I don't think there is much new that I can put, but if you are looking for a consensus, then I might as well add my two cents.
Since I'm a writer, I usually go to an author's site to learn about their road to publication, for guidance, for inspiration, and sometimes for comfort that a successful writer's journey to published book took as long as mine is taking! 🙂
The other things I look for:
– a complete list of books (with pretty pictures of the covers) with book flap copy. Often I will use it to figure out the order of a series. (Why the order of a series can be hard to find out, it beyond me. It seems like publishers should make it obvious.)
– planned appearances.
– a lot of other things that I look for are often found on a blog, things such as writing techniques. Obviously, there is usually a link to it.
– for books my kids love, I will look to see when the next book is coming out.
– a frequently asked questions list about the author and/or the books
Things that annoy me:
-sites that are way out of date
-music – if you put this, make it to where there is an option to turn it off, not to where it just starts up and then you have to find *where* it shuts off, if anywhere
-lots of fancy moving graphics and links to pages that require I change all sorts of permissions on my security software (If you want more specifics on this, I can ask my hubby what kind of link does this. He's my tech professional.)
As far as moving the blog, you might just consider putting a link to this existing blog. (If you like, I bet you can change the background to match your web site so they look more connected.) I'm much more likely to comment through blogger than on any other blog and it works well if I want to get notices to keep up with the blog.
Ezmirelda says:
I was wondering about this same thing. I try to make my ideas as creative and fresh as possible but once in a while I stumble upon something that feels vaguely familiar. Most of the time I'm not sure whether it came from a dream or from a book I've read.
P.S It's nice that your getting another website. I'll check it out when you're done creating it. 🙂
pambelina says:
My biggest pet peeve with author's websites is when they do the background an especially dark color and then have their font a lighter shade of the same color. It makes it very difficult to read (and I have young eyes).
My favorite author website is Shannon Hales at squeetus.com. I like it because it's easy to read, easy to find the things you're looking for and, in a sense, one stop shopping for all the things related to her.
I hope that helps, if only a little.
P.S. It was wonderful to meet you when you came to Salt Lake!
Stephanie says:
As a school librarian, I show author websites to my students sometimes.My favorite author websites (and the ones the children like best) are the interactive ones. Bruce Coville's is absolutely incredible since he will read all submissions for the guestbook and responds to them personally. (My son printed out the responses made to his posts and carried it to school to help deal with some bullies!) Jody Feldman's games that connect to her book are a lot of fun to introduce to students.
I don't like busy, busy backgrounds or strange fonts in light colors because they are hard to read sometimes.
Katie says:
I am a huge fan of yours and an aspiring author, and I very much enjoy your blog. I especially enjoyed this latest post. Sometimes it's good for me to hear the advice of another writer because some of my peers who read my work don't find errors I think are really obvious.
In author websites, I like lots of book samples. I live in a town with a small library that mostly carries out-of-date books, so if I am interested in a book I have to buy it, which I don't always like because every once in a while I'll end up owning a book I don't like too much and feel like I've waisted money I could have used on another book I know I would like. I love going to an author or publisher website and reading a brief sample of the book I am interested in, just so I can see if I would like it. I also like when authors post comments on their pages, but with this blog I think you've got that covered.
Thank you so much for your advice, and I look forward to seeing the new website!
Q says:
I'm totally with you on the advice to imitate other writers' styles. That is how I developed my own: by practicing other people's, and then taking what I liked out of each.
Style is, I think, the hardest thing for people to develop because it can't be taught. It must be figured out individually.
athena14Lee says:
Ms. Levine:
Thanks for this post! I remember running into this problem a lot when I first started writing–I think one of my first stories and created worlds picked up some elements from your books, actually! (Though I can't remember now exactly what they were…) I think one of the best explanations (to me) for this imbibing of style and such comes from Tom Shippey, who said that sometimes we read something we enjoy so much that it becomes "part of the mental furniture, personal property rather than literary theft."
About your website: I do like to visit authors' websites, normally because I want to find out more about them and their work. I especially like reading their insights on their work, and the process of creating them (though I know that you also put a lot of that into this blog). Anything else, well, I think F's post pretty much covers it all.
Happiness says:
personaly, I enjoy subtle references to other auther's writing styles in books. (not nescaceraly "sneaky", but "subtle". there's a bit of a difference.) There is one book series (I want mention any names in case somone here likes it) that I don't particularly like, becuase I feel it copies the Lord of the rings. I have noticed some of Robin Mckinley's, Tolkien's, and Gail Carson Levine's writing style showing up in my work, which is a good thing in my opinion. I geuss I have mixed views on copying other writers.
And an auther website? whatever you want to do, just do it and know I am looking forward to it!
(please excuse spelling mistakes. sorry.)
Marisa Birns says:
Everyone has said what makes an author site wonderful and I add my voice to their choices.
What I dislike in author site is when one has to click many times before getting to the material. Example: having to click on a key, then taking key to door, then . . .
Love the prompt. I knew a writer who taught a writing course in New York City many years ago. One of her lesson was called "Pastiche" and students had to write in style of author being studied.
Silver the Wanderer says:
Wow! Lots of comments today! (And yes, this is Silver the Wanderer with a different avatar.)
Anyway, wonderful post (as usual ^^)! I guess I have some problems with originality as well, but I'm been told to take that old idea and turn it into something fresh – I'm sure you can understand since you write lots of revamped fairy tales 🙂 It's interesting…if I told someone a summary of my book, they might thing it sounds too familiar…but it's all the details that make it unique, and I think my plot goes a lot deeper than some of its comparisons. It's alike but so different at the same time.
Another thing – I'm writing something that I'd want to read if I saw it in a bookstore. I love fantasy books like mine, so if I like the storyline, I know someone else must – no matter the originality. And that makes me feel a whole lot better.
About author websites…
Actually, I visit author websites quite a lot. Whenever I finish a book that I really, really like by an author I'm not familiar with, I always do a little research on the internet. I usually look at author websites to find out when the next book by that author is coming out (and what it's about too) so I can mark it on my calendar and buy it right away. I also love it when the author will release the first chapter or so to read online.
I also love to subscribe to newsletters via email. Usually these are monthly, and the author talks a little bit about what's going on with them and how their current book's progress is. These also help to remind me when the next book is out.
Even since I got hooked on blogging, I've been subscribing to authors' blogs as well. Since I'm an aspiring author, I like to know what an author's life is like, and sometimes (like you) they share writing tips, which are invaluable to me. Actually, this is how I found your blog in the first place – I was following Rick Riordan, and he posted a link to you.
Back to websites…let's see. FAQs are always a must, as well as a biography and list of books. It'd be great if you had a page for each book and a description of it, like the blurbs on the back and inside cover. I also know one author website where there's a page of fan art drawn and sent in by people.
I think this was mentioned before, but a forum would be really cool for people to discuss writing and exchange tips, but I know that'd be hard since you'd have to find people to moderate it and keep it kid-safe.
Well, hope this helps! I can't wait to see the website! (And sorry for the long comment :P)
Grace says:
This again, was a great post. I love the list of questions about alternate universes, I'm playing around with the idea of making one for a story I'm working on and this will help a lot!
As for the author website,I see you have a lot of comments above so maybe you'll forgive me for skimping out on input.
Yes I do go on author websites a lot, mostly to read author blogs. I think this blog is awesome and as long as you continue it I'm content. Though I would think it would be awesome if on your website you would talk about what you did at different conferences or workshops and share new from the literary world.
Thanks again, Ms. Levine!
lilyofseafoam says:
I am excited to hear about the website! If I find a book or series I really like, I love to check out the author's website if one exists. I think basics like a brief biography and a list of published work or other professional work are important. I always love it when authors include a sort of "special features" section that discusses little things that might not pop up in books like why a character was given a specific name. I love seeing "scenes" that didn't make it in or character sketches for those that didn't end up appearing in the book. I like to know (as I'm sure you learned from my question)the motives behind names and scenes and anything else. I will agree that very light or bright text can be difficult to read.
As far as the topic of the post goes, this one was really helpful. The concept of saluting another artist within a work makes writing more connected and meaningful,and I liked seeing examples of it! My favorite example of this actually comes in music–in one of his art songs, Robert Schumann incorporates the first phrase of Schubert's "Ave Maria" into the postlude very obviously. I think it's a wonderful way to acknowledge the work of someone you respect.
Wonderwegian says:
Thanks, again for another inspiring post!
Yes, I visit author websites for books/authors I truly enjoy. Laurie Halse Anderson's website is a good example of a well-rounded site. All the basic/favorite things for author websites that have been listed in the comments are great. If there is a series I think it's good those books have their own "page" on the site. Also, linking reccomended websites and other books/authors is nice.
Erin Edwards says:
I meant to say that I loved the interview you did with Emily! There was so much that I could relate to. It was inspiring.
Blog readers, I came across it at: http://querytracker.blogspot.com/2010/07/gail-carson-levine-interview.html
But you can also see it here: http://emilysreadingroom.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-with-gail-carson-levine-video.html
Silver the Wanderer: Thanks for giving the heads up that you changed your avatar. I think I might not have noticed it was you if you hadn't said something. I've realized how much a picture helps me keep different commenters straight, so I finally got around to adding an avatar of my own last week. 🙂
gailcarsonlevine says:
Thanks to everyone for all the website ideas! David (my husband) has been taking notes. This project may take a while, but this is a great start. David is reading a thick book about a website programming language. He's multi-program-language fluent, so it won't take him that long to learn a new one, I don't think.
Erin Edwards–Thanks for the links to the interview! Emily did a terrific job.
Melissa says:
Hi Ms. Levine!
An author website would be great. There's one main thing I look for: contact info. Whether it's a form or an email, I want to be able to contact an author!
On that note, I can't find an email for you right now! I'm trying to get in touch with you, and so I'll post my letter here, but I won't be upset in the least if you delete my comment when you're done with it!
I just wanted to let you know about our brand-new website, Squeaky Clean Reads (www.squeakycleanreads.com). It's a website where readers can rate and review books in the areas of violence, profanity, sexual content, mature theme, age group, and more! Readers can also leave "content reviews" which are reviews about any objectionable content that a book may contain. You can see the review page for "Ella Enchanted" here:
http://www.squeakycleanreads.com/ella-enchanted-review.html
Most importantly, though, our site has a "Squeaky Clean Booklist". Books that are added to this list meet strict content criteria, and are voted onto the list by readers. These are books that are truly "clean reads". There are millions of readers searching every day for good, wholesome literature, and they come to our website to get reviews and recommendations for books they or their teens should read.
Your book, "Fairest", has come to our attention from a reader's request to add your book to our site. This reader's request stated that they feel your book would be a clean read. In addition, we are just waiting for enough votes to add "Ella Enchanted" to our Squeaky Clean Booklist!
I wanted to contact you and let you know that we are always looking for clean books to give away. If you feel like your book, "Fairest" would be considered a "clean read", and you are ever interested in giving away a few copies of your book, please feel free to contact us! The same applies to "Ella Enchanted".
Giveaway books are featured on our homepage, facebook page, blog, and bi-monthly newsletter, giving your book as much exposure as possible. Giveaway books are also permanently added to our website for review, and are added to our "sponsored books" widget (this widget is placed on the top 12 performing pages of our website).
Lastly, we want to thank you for your book. Your books are shining examples that quality, popular literature does not have to be filled with inappropriate or offensive material. Thank you! Our audience is searching every day for good, clean books, and they come to our website to read reviews and choose what to read next. Your books are a perfect fit for our readers and their families! I know millions have read "Ella Enchanted", but a giveaway would be the perfect way to introduce them to "Fairest"!
We hope to hear from you in the future if you ever decide to submit your book for a give-a-way! We'd be happy to send you our giveaway options.
~Melissa Seager
—
http://www.squeakycleanreads.com
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http://www.squeakycleanreads.com/give-a-way.html
Kilmeny of the Ozarks says:
Yay a website! I can't wait to see it. As for what I like on a author's site, I usually like lots of advice on writing, as well as personal info and stuff about there books (behind the scenes stuff and deleted scenes are always interesting!). My favorite writer's sites are Randy Ingermanson's and Holly Lisle's. They both have lots of articles and downloadable "freebies" on writing.
Mary says:
What a great post! Anyways, when I visit an author's website it's usually for one of the following-
1. To see what other books the author has, especially sequels
2.to find out about the author
3. To see if the author is writing more books. This one usually frustrates me the most. I read a book and love it, so I research the author to see if there's a follow up. If there isn't, I want a to contact the author to request more.( And would like a reply:)
I think it would also be good to have a link to where you can purchase the books, too.
Hope this helps- Mary;)
Rose says:
Ms. Levine I agree with Erin Edwards (I hope that was who said it) – you should have a link to this same blog from your new site. Due to privacy issues, Blogspot is the only place I do comments on. It's easy and safe.
Besides, it's a nice blog. 🙂
And I LOVE authors' websites, as a rule. My favs are Clare Dunkle, Robin Mckinley's blog, and M. I. Mcallister's, because you can get such a feel for the author through them, and understand the books better for "meeting" the writer.
Silver the Wanderer says:
@Erin Edwards, haha sorry for the confusion. And I promise not to change my avatar again anytime in the near future. 😉 Also, I saw Querytracker had that interview! Thanks for telling everyone about it.
Mya says:
Whohoo a new website! I'm excited already.=D
Personally, I check out author's websites to learn about upcoming events, or books as well as learning where she/he found the inspiration to write that particular story.
I'd prefer it read in the author's own words, instead of snippets from interviews or summaries you can find on Amazon or Wiki. Colour matters a lot too, we found the many disasters distasteful colours can give in a html course at school.
A few quizzes, tips, comments on new releases and events from the author would be nice too.=)
As to the post, useful as always, Miss Levine.=D I suppose its not too bad to borrow ideas, so long as it is acknowledged and not overdone.
In fact, the phenomenal Harry Potter series was surprisingly similar to a children's book I read, and it was published before the series. However, even though the basic elements were about the same, I don't think a copyright sue would be justified at all.
As a side note, I've been seeing Ella Enchanted on many "classic" lists on the net, along the old authors such as Jane Austen. Hope you enjoyed this piece of news!=D
Really like the copying prompt, I'm off to try that!
Deanna H. says:
I go on author websites for myself and for my 4th graders. We often view them together. These are the reasons I visit them–
-I want to see what new books they have or are working on
-I want to find out if and when they are doing a public appearance/book signing
-I love to see videos that some do. They show themselves inside their house and talk about where they write and such
-I love to read interviews with the authors. This is especially great for my students. We find out all about the authors. Not only the typical "Where do you get your ideas from" and writing tips, but also what are some of their favorite things, especially things about when they were younger.
I am very much looking forward to seeing you have an official site that you get to run.
Ghostykitten says:
I think that it's a great idea your finally getting an authors website! I love to visit them. I personally like visiting the FAQ sections, and the sections where it gives information about what books an author has written, or in the process of writing. Release dates are rather nice to see there, and the books synopsis. Excerpts of a certain book is very nice to see there, so you can give the reader a chance to really see if they will like the book or not. It's almost like a trailer, but for a book instead. ^.^
April says:
@Gail
I know this probably sounds weird, but I just watched those videos Erin mentioned and I think you're simply darling! You charmed the socks right off my feet. <3
I tend to hear a voice in my head when I read people's writing, and I was afraid that you would sound very different from the way I imagined. And though it was a bit different, it was better than I had imagined. You sound incredibly sweet and loving, but at the same time spunky and fun.
I hope some day I get to meet you. 🙂
gailcarsonlevine says:
Thank you, April. I would love to meet you!
Story Weaver says:
When I go to an author's website, I frankly don't give a fig about their life, I'm only interested in;
-what books will come out soon
-their published books and a summary of each book
-games/quizzes
-how to contact them
-when and where the author will be making visits
-and news; book-to-movies, premieres, awards the books gotten, ect.
Rose says:
Author visit calendars are a big thing for me. I've never managed to see any of my known authors, but I'm always hoping.
Heather Dixon says:
This is a fantastic exercise. One of the best ways I've found to become a better artist is to practice an hour or so every day drawing other people's stuff & imitating their style. I think that goes for writing, too!
I love this blog.
utterbookworm says:
I go to author webpages when I have just read a wonderful, wonderful book by someone (esspecially if I've finished all of their stuff or there's no more) and I want MORE!!! So I think a webpage should include some of the author's writing…not neccessarily a story, just something like…well…a blog, for instance! Definitely keep your blog. I'm a frequent reader and lots of your advice has helped with my writing. Thanx 🙂
athena14Lee says:
Ms. Levine:
Bit of an unrelated question. I know you've included a lot in this blog about doing the actual writing, but I don't think I've yet seen much about revision. That's one of my problems once I've gotten over the hurdle of completing the story. What are some tips and tricks you employ to make your writing better? Is there a point when you have to stop revising, and how do you know when you've reached that point?
gailcarsonlevine says:
Athena14Lee–I did write a post on revision on 11/18/09, called "Do Over." If I haven't answered your question after you've read it, please ask me more. I generally decide I'm finished when I'm changing words and then changing them back.
Jill says:
I remember looking for a site for you before you had a blog for things like if you were working on any books, where you were visiting and maybe random facts about you. I always hated sites that are just about books or sites just about the author. I like a nice balance. I also think it would be cool to have a discussion page like your comments but you could talk about anything. Well not anything, but about anything about writing or books.
By the way I heard about this really great writing excercise the other day. You look at titles of books you haven't read (not even the back) and write a story based off the title. It is really fun. But me and friend were just trying it out and I didn't know it shouldn't be about a book you've read so my friend saw my copy and said Ella Enchanted. Mine was about a girl who puts an enchantment on a friend named Ella. Sort of close if you think about it. My friend's (who has not read the book) was about a girl who became a fairy. It was fun!
athena14Lee says:
Ms. Levine:
I think I must have missed that post on revision. Thanks for pointing it out!
KitKatW says:
As far as author websites go, I LOVE them! When you read a book, you experience the characters' world; when you read what the author says about themselves, you get this whole new world that's not in any of their books.
My favorite author website of all time is Brandon Sanderson's. (You can google it super quick if you want.) I love his open and honest attitude about everything to do with his writing. I check his website every week because of the annotations and blog posts. It keeps me excited to read his next book and I feel a connection to it before I even read it because I've heard him talk so much about it. I love his focus on helping aspiring authors by showing his writing process and behind the scenes of his stories.
I love your blog and I think it would be a great idea to connect it to a larger site!