Do authors need a presence on the web? Yes, to a certain degree. But they need to keep up with it. Update it from time to time. Newsletters or emails work for me. These little things show readers that they are important to you and your work. It’s also important to be honest about just how much web presence you can commit to and be realistic when you, the author, decides that. Ultimately, it is their books ultimately keep readers coming back for more but in this highly competative field every little bit counts.

K. Patricia Cross wrote:
“The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate “apparently ordinary” people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people. “
Yes, you are quite excellent my dear. And I should know. As I am quite the most Ordinary of Woman. An ordinary woman who found her voice because of generous people like you.

Julie

Damn hot air…

As for Internet time, I have cut my regular blog/board sites to half a dozen with another several that I visit when I have time. Commenting regularly is time consuming, so I lurk more these days. I do worry about my own online persona. I fear that I sometimes come across as pompous and arrogant–qualities I loathe. But I am so conditioned to answering questions and sharing information that I do so first. Only later do I tell myself, “Just shut up, Janga!”

About offending people, I’m sure I do it all the time. Wording something wrong is all it takes. Though it didn’t happen often, I’d throw people a curve ball when I was still on the radio and hear about it being offensive later. It was always unintentional but what can you say? We’re all human.

But for me, it doesn’t go the other way. If the writing’s just not there, than no amount of great personality will make me keep reading. However, I would never recommend a friend not read a book if the author is sweet and has a great personality. I’d just feel terrible So that’s one positive, I guess.

But I do have the same fears about talking in cyber-space. I’m sarcastic too, so I only make jokes with people I know well, who I know will take it the right way. Even being careful, I’m sure I’ve offended somebody along the way! With all the different ways typed-out words can be taken, how do you ever make sure that you don’t offend anyone?

And that’s the crux, a snarky author may write great books, but they won’t get read much if she offends too many people. Or she could be sweet as can be and one off the cuff remark came across wrong. It’s such a tightrope!

In the case of AuthorTalk, they are very funny. But I’m not sure how much that’s actually promoting books. They are entertaining though. And that’s kind of a fun outlet to take advantage of a different form of creativity.

I’m with you - it’s awesome to see great people like Anna and Toni succeeding. They’re lucky enough to be the entire package - winning personalities and beyond-fabulous books. But what about really nice, kind people who are mediocre writers? Or brusque, socially awkward people who write amazing books? As the market gets more and more competitive - and authors take on greater celebrity status - I wonder if we’ll reach the day when just being a great writer isn’t enough.

I also wonder about the importance of persona - what if you’re not what you write? We can’t all be J.R. Ward. Even Anna’s a great example - her hilariously witty blogs aren’t necessarily the best representation of her dark, angst-y plots. And everyone’s so enamored of AuthorTalk lately - though I find it amusing, I’m not sure that Gena Showalter’s interpretive dancing does much to convince me I’ll like her writing.

But I’m fascinated by the whole trend.