Web Fiction Guide Forums

Responses

1. 

   1

   Cicerone (Member)

   Posted 3 years ago

   That's quite the question.

   Easiest and shortest answer would be: Make the site easy to traverse.

   The simpler it is to find everything you want to be found, the better everyone will like it. Which is why my site is so sparse, with just a few images here and there and it's built to suit every browser size. A lot of the Word Press themes takes up only a small part of the middle of the page or the like (and after talking to a web designer), I made my site able to stretch/shrink to the size everyone needs. All my pertinent links can be found without scrolling, so people can see immediately and click right away.

   Also: Extras - have upcoming announcements, recaps, glossaries, character info, the usual. Also, a good, fun thing to have is a list of stuff that inspired you or books you like - that way people get the idea of what inspired you so, as people who recommend it, we can get a quick idea of what you might be similar to.

   If I were to look for sites to recommend, it would be the easy to read and use site, an obviously well-written story, other things for a viewer to do/look at if they've read everything and want more, or want to see what it's like before reading...

   Lost my train of thought there.

   A good selection of links to other works like yours would be good, too. Building a community between all the serials is really important too.

   Of course, art is a must if it's online, since it's so visual. Colours as well. It's hard to find the right mix of just enough and just right, and a lot of people don't think too much about it. However, I've found that a white background is a little harsh to read longer entries on. I know I'm probably not alone in preferring the acidic paper in books / recycled paper that's not quite white since it's a bit easier on the eyes.

   I'm rambling, but I think I've got it.

   Though I do think Melly should look ahead to 2010 and downhill skiing in Whistler - they an make skis big enough for that. Summer Olympics only if she does the swimming - she'd set a world record with just reaching. :p

   Anyway, I'm not sure if I was clear but I can clarify if you need me to.

2. 

   2

   Kyt Dotson (Member)

   Posted 3 years ago

   Many probably don't know this, but I basically live with a cabal of librarians. So I took this message to them to get their opinions on the subject and here's what came back.

   There are replies from JJ Drinkwater (who volunteers at a virtual library in Second Life) and Djenna Hirschman who is an extraordinary academic librarian and archivist and works for JSTOR.

   JJ:

   Well, just the basics come to mind

   Provide good summary information:

   - Plot synopses
   - Wozzit about?
   - What genres does it fit into?

   Plus stuff I'm sure you already know: good keywordage on your sites,...and joining up with any agglomerative groups, or rings of more-like-this. ...and keeping the technological bar to reading your stuff really low.

   As for the Schmooze Angle:

   Folk what do Reader's Advisory are great makers of lists, and appreciate persistent URLs...or at least remembering to have a link-to new site. And there's advantage to sucking up to...er, bringing yourself to the attention of.... folks like http://lii.org/ and http://www.ipl.org/

   Djen:

   Further,

   Librarians love local and semi-local authors. You probably want a broad and geographically distributed audience, so making an appeal to librarians based on your localness may not have crossed your mind. However, generating a sufficient amount of local interest can help you get more national or international attention by building your fan base.

   Online serials authors and editors could ingratiate themselves with the local library in the following ways, depending on the individual serial's budget and content:

   - Visiting the library and talking to the appropriate librarians to see about:
   - Sponsoring library events
   - Advertising on the library webpage
   - Getting added to a list of links to works by local authors
   - Being included in a list of links to references on the library webpage (depending on your content)
   - Being included in children's story hour (again, depending on your content)
   - Being included on the library's teen page (like a broken record, depending on your content)
   - Running workshops at the library regarding your topic area (or writing workshops for fiction
   - Flyering on library bulletin boards
   - Printing out some sample content and depositing it with other freebies at the library

   Don't visit only your own library branch or district. Neighboring communities usually consider folks from the nearby local enough; this may come in particularly handy if you live in a rural or suburban area adjacent to an urban area with a larger library that serves a more diverse reader base and may be able to help you connect with the target audience.

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