The problem I have with websites is that I’m never happy with how they look. I always see other people with great layouts and backgrounds, and I see how easy on the eyes theirs are, so that when I look at mine, it feels like a mess.

It isn’t. I know it isn’t. The reason it feels that way is because I don’t know what to do with it. I want it to be attractive so that people will come back, or at least look at it for a little while. What does attractive mean, though? Should it be professional? I mean, I want people to take me seriously as a writer who’s working to get published, so shouldn’t the website I direct them to reflect that?

Should it be fun? I want it to have color. I want it to be welcoming. Professional isn’t always welcoming.

I don’t want it to look like the homepage of a law firm. Professional is law firm, in my opinion. Professional is hard edges with straight, to-the-point information. I found a great layout and template that I love, but it doesn’t seem professional. Should that matter? If I love it, shouldn’t I use it? It’s soft-colored, easy to read, and inviting. Those should be my goals, right?

I don’t know.

The other thing that bothers me is that I don’t know if I should link my fan fiction website/blog to my “official” one. Is that a bad idea? I see it as kind of a “if you like my fan fiction, try reading my original stuff” link. They’re on two different accounts, though, so if I did, it would be a bit hard to get them together.

Does anyone have any advice, specifically about the second issue I’m having?

1. writingitout answered: If you fanfic has a lot of sex, I wouldn’t link it, but if its pure story, maybe. Every book based on a TV series is essentially fanfic.
2. rodwen posted this