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Do Creatives Need Websites?

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Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

There is ongoing debate about whether or not creatives need to have a web presence in addition to being on Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook.

Many authors and illustrators have decided that their presence on social media is sufficient.

Some, who have had websites in the past, have let them crash and burn and seem to have no intention of resurrecting them.

For those who dislike social media, a website is really essential.

One of the troubles with websites is that they can so quickly go out of date, both in terms of content and design.

It is important that an author or illustrator retains control of their site, and that updates are easy to instigate.

There is no point in having a fancy and elaborate website that can only be appreciated on a laptop. A website needs to be mobile-friendly – just as functional on a mobile phone as on a full-size screen.

Many people assume having a website will involve high ongoing costs. Not so.

Annually renewing costs are limited to hosting and domain charges.

An author/illustrator site should cost no more than £50 a year to host and the domain name registration (usually free in the first year) will be a further £10. So that’s £60 a year, or just £5 a month.

A simple WordPress site is relatively straightforward to set up; much more so than it used to be. There are other options but I would strongly recommend WordPress.

Many people will like to have a little help with this initial setup. There are businesses that specialise in website design. Expect to pay upwards of £500 for bespoke design services.

But help can be found from freelancers for as little as £100. My own fee for WordPress setup ranges from £100 to £500, depending on requirements. Most of my freelance time is currently spent copyediting but I am always happy to help authors with website issues – updating an existing site, or starting one afresh. Reach out (as they say) if you need some advice.
[Other freelancers can be found on Upwork.com]

Isn't WordPress for bloggers?

Not any more, it isn’t. It’s a rich and highly versatile CMS – Content Management System. A WordPress website consists of a mix of Posts and Pages. The balance is entirely up to you. If you don’t want to blog, you don’t need to – your site can consist entirely of menu-related Pages.

So, for as little as £150 in the first year and £5 a month thereafter, you could have a professional and functional online presence.

It's a good time to take stock and decide. Ask yourself:
  • Do I need a website?
  • Is my current website fit for purpose?
  • Do I think an online presence is worth £5 a month?
  • Can I set something up myself with the help of YouTube videos?
  • Do I need the help of a freelancer?
  • Am I flush with funds and able to hire a design company?

An example of a WordPress site we like is that of Lucy Christopher:
https://www.lucychristopher.com

If you do not have a website currently,
or you have a site that is old and no longer fit-for-purpose,
take a moment to consider whether
a site like this would benefit your profile.

 

Chris Hoy admits using ghostwriter for new children’s book

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Sir Chris Hoy has admitted using a ghostwriter for his new children’s book, likening the practice to having a support team of mechanics behind him during his cycling career.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist is the only credited author on the cover of Flying Fergus, which tells the story of a nine-year-old boy who is given a magical bike as a birthday gift, but he admitted yesterday that Joanna Nadin, an author and former New Labour adviser, had written the book.

via Chris Hoy admits using ghostwriter for new children’s book.

Bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix talks writing | East Tennessean

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In a recent interview with the East Tennessean, world-renowned children’s author Margaret Peterson Haddix opened up about her writing process and her opinion on what makes a good story while on the book tour for her newly released novel, “Under Their Skin.”

Best known for her award-winning books in the “Shadow Children” series and the “Missing” series, Haddix graduated from Miami University of Ohio with bachelor degrees in journalism, creative writing and history. Spending most of her time visiting schools, book stores or public libraries all over the country to meet with her readers for presentations or to sign autographs, Haddix is lucky to still find time to write. When push comes to shove, however, she has been known to meet rush deadlines against all odds.

“My ideal schedule is to write all morning and deal with other things in the afternoon,” Haddix said, “but if I am on a tight deadline — or really excited about what I am writing — sometimes I just write all day. Or, if the writing isn’t going well, sometimes I go take a walk or swim laps, and that usually recharges my brain. It varies a great deal.”

Haddix has now published over 30 novels for children and young adults.

via Bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix talks writing | East Tennessean.

Fiona Kennedy Interviewed by Liz Kessler About Malala

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malala

As authors, we often get asked to do interviews for blogs. On this occasion, I decided to turn the tables and interview my publisher instead. So here is Fiona Kennedy, publisher of I Am Malala, talking about why this book – and Malala herself – is so important and so special.

…
LK: Have you met Malala? What’s she like?

FK: I was lucky enough to meet her and her family at their home in Birmingham. She’s just extraordinary. Tiny and gentle, but with such presence and such a sense of purpose and determination. I am sure she will fulfil all her ambitions. She is truly inspiring just to be with. She’s chatty, charming and witty – we talked about everything from why English schoolgirls roll their skirts up at the waist (very puzzling to Malala given our rainy, cold weather), to her practising for the school debating team, to how she is still recovering, to teasing her brothers, to missing her old home – all sorts of things. The family are incredibly close – it was a pleasure to meet them.

Full interview via All.

David Almond: I never expected to become a children’s author

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from a piece written to celebrate the re-opening (aftger refurbishment) of Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books:

guardiansmallI never expected to become a children’s author. I was a grown-up educated adult and I thought my purpose was to write books for intelligent educated adults. But I’d been ambushed by a story called Skellig and my life and work had taken a totally unexpected direction. I found myself in a world where people really do believe that books and art can change people’s lives, that they can help to create a better world. I found young readers who, despite all the myths and mistruths, are active citizens, who really do read avidly and creatively, who are able to be both hilarious and deeply serious, barmy and profound. I found myself in a community of astonishingly talented and hardworking authors and illustrators. I found a literary home.

via David Almond: the tale of Seven Stories | Children’s books | The Guardian.

Q&A: Kids Can Press senior editor and author Stacey Roderick – Quill and Quire

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Ever wondered what it’s like to (temporarily) hang up your editor’s hat and write your own book? To have it published by your employer? We asked Kids Can Press senior editor Stacey Roderick, whose first picture book, Dinosaurs from Head to Tail (illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya), was released by Kids Can in March.

You’ve been editing children’s books for almost 15 years, but (other than collaborating on Centsibility in 2008), haven’t really ventured into author territory. What prompted you to write a picture book now? It is something I’ve always wanted to do – I have a lot of story fragments sitting in a file on my computer. And now that I have a young son, I spend even more time reading picture books than I did before. But to be honest, I’m not sure I would have dared try it if the opportunity hadn’t presented itself through my development work as an editor.

For the full interview: Q&A: Kids Can Press senior editor and author Stacey Roderick – Quill and Quire.

James Dawson starring on stage as Bumblehole, the son of Santa

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jamesdawsoncmas

James Dawson starring on stage as Bumblehole, the son of Santa
Newsflash: The Queen of Teen is taking to the stage as Bumblehole, the son of Santa, in a production of Get Santa at the Putney Arts Theatre!

…

About a year ago I realised I was a workaholic. Five books in two and a half years should have been a clue really, shouldn’t it? The problem is, when you love your job as much as I do, it’s tempting to write seven days a week. I am so, so lucky that I have a job that never feels like a job. I could write stories all day and be quite happy. But that’s a problem, because a single… thirtysomething… man can slowly turn into a recluse (the beard was inching towards Ardagh levels). I don’t want to become a Crazy Snake Man so I decided I needed a proper, old-fashioned hobby.

 

via James Dawson starring on stage as Bumblehole, the son of Santa | Children’s books | The Guardian.

The Murdstone Trilogy by Mal Peet

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Mal Peet’s first novel for adults gets a ‘rave review’ in The Guardian

guardiansmall

Not many novels about novelists are as acute or as entertaining as this: a genuinely funny comedy that takes the piss – out of Devon, the writer’s lot, the whole fantasy genre – with a Pratchettian mix of gusto and warmth. The latter quality is particularly helpful in the literary satire, which skewers the tropes of an entire genre while managing to keep the phantastic storyline going as a valid part of the plot.

Peet’s prose also boasts a Pratchettian vigour and invention, most obviously in the exotic “gremes” and “porlocs” of the Realm but also in the diurnal comedy of the real world. This may be Mal Peet’s first book for grownups, but it is an assured, even virtuoso, performance fully deserving that most prestigious of accolades – a rave review in the Guardian.

via The Murdstone Trilogy by Mal Peet review – joyful satire of the fantasy genre | Books | The Guardian.