[Sylvia Day]

Romance author Alison Kent brought up a wonderful and provocative point in her blog http://www.alisonkent.com/diary/archives/00000420.html about romance authors being singular in their easy accessibility to the public through the web.



My comment in reply was:



"What do you think about that, Alison? Are romance authors too accessible and that ruins the magic for online readers? My favorite all-time author is Lisa Kleypas. If you go to her site http://www.lisakleypas.com there is no blog, no message board, she doesn't even have a contact page. She says her writing schedule prevents her from answering e-mails (though she does pop into the Avon Ladies message board occassionally.) Do you think her reluctance to associate with readers keeps her in a different mindset than those of us who surf daily? Johanna Lindsey doesn't even have a website. Why do you think some romance authors embrace their online readership and others don't? And does it make a difference in their careers?"



What do you think?

[Sasha White]

I think Websites are great! I live in a city with no RWA chapter, and no writing groups of any kind. By visiting other autors websites I've found some interesting people I hope to remain friends with for a long time to come. Some have helped me with my writing, others I don't communicate with as a writer, but as a reader, a fan.



Even if they don't help an author's sales, they certainly don't hurt.



Just my opinion.



~Sasha

[Sylvia Day]

I agree, Sasha. I enjoy visiting author websites and looking around. I would never sit down and mail a letter, but I do try to send an e-mail letting an author know how much enjoyment I got out of their hard work!

[Sidonie Fairbanks]

I like knowing what is going on in people's lives. Plus, I feel relieved to know that other authors have daily struggles with their writing the way I do. That is the main reason why I wish some NYT best selling authors had a blog. I know that when I become published and become a best-seller, I'll keep blogging, not only just to get things off my chest, but also to show people that everything isn't hunky dory everyday.

[sween]

I agree author websites can enhance a career .... I think they need to promote the author's writing and love the links to other authors. A concern I have is the recent trend of blogs that have seemingly too personal information (i.e. health issues, strange thoughts, etc) that a potential editor or reader may think odd. I want to think of my authors as a fantasy character. I'd rather not read about the mundance aspects. to me, reading is escapism.

If you want a personal blog, keep it personal!

[Sylvia Day]

I agree, sween!



Frankly, I was disillusioned when I went to an erotica author's site, saw she had a blog, went to it eagerly hoping to learn more about her work, and instead found myself reading an entry about a crazed day in her life. I was astonished that she would wish to share the things that she did.



When I started my blog I explained in my very first entry that I wouldn't be discussing personal matters in my life, only the process of writing and getting published. That being said, there are a few writer's blogs that I visit regularly where the author shares bits of non-writing related information in such a warm and humorous way that I find it enchanting. I think too, that many authors have a circle of friends and fellow writers that regularly read their blogs and they communicate with each other this way.



In any case, you can probably feel safe reading my blog!

[Sidonie Fairbanks]

I never thought of putting personal things on my blog. But then again, I consider my writing and my writing days to be personal enough. I don't mind reading about other people's hectic lives because I used to have a regular blog, and I used to visit the blogs of my webdesign friends a few years back. But yeah, I do think that if an agent or editor happened to find time to look at your blog, your personal stuff(along with foul language!!), would seem a bit uncouth.

[Sasha White]

uh oh! :shock:



I put personal stuff in my blog! But it's 'public personal'...if that makes any sense? I comment on spraining my ankle, getting robbed at work, getting stuck in the rain and going on holiday to Greece. These are things that effect (affect??) my writing.



I guess I try to put things in it that resonate with me...mundane, everyday, writer based or not. And hope that people will make some sort of connection. I don't think it makes my writing anything less of an escape....because the stories I write certainly aren't what my everyday life is like! Maybe closer to what I dream, (although some would be considered bad dreams) my life could be like.





Sasha

[Sylvia Day]

Ireland Alexander said:

I don't mind reading about other people's hectic lives

Well, in an effort to keep the other author anonymous I kept out details but she mentioned her mental health medication and other items that completely threw me off guard. Too much information IMO. But perhaps others don't mind.

[cece]

Sylvia Day said:

she mentioned her mental health medication and other items that completely threw me off guard.

Wow!!! Wait.......it wasn't me. I quit taking my meds. Just KIDDING!!!!! I post personal stuff becuase, well, I don't write every day. I try to keep it general (but I know I don't always succeed) Like on my birthday we went all out but the next day I went in and deleted teh posts. :oops:

[Sylvia Day]

Cece,



I loved your birthday posts!! They were hilarious.



Truly, a weblog is the property of the writer and every person has a right to their own thoughts and feelings. A weblog is a forum for those thoughts and I would never try to censor someone else. I sure wouldn't like it if someone came along and said I wasn't allowed to write something on my blog.



I just think that an author website is an extension of a writer's work. To me it's like going into a business. If the receptionist at a business started telling me that she'd forgotten to take her mental health medication, I would definitely think less about that business' professionalism.



(Disclaimer-this is purely my humble opinion and no offense is intended to anyone :!: )

[Sasha White]

I agree! I liked the Birthday Blog Cece...especially the pic! :afro:





8) Sasha

[Sylvia Day]

Sasha White said:

:afro:

Oh. My. God! The little afro dude had me ROTFLMAO!!! Freakin' hilarious! Oh, Cece... You're a doll for sharing that picture!

[Larissa Ione]

Yikes! I blog about a lot of personal stuff--as evidenced by the Spooge Cat story! :oops: But I do try to keep politics and religion out of it. I can't STAND visiting an author blog and being lectured on religion or politics just because they have a beef with Bush or Kerry. In fact, that's a rant that's probably coming tomorrow, since I just visited a blog that did exactly that--preach to me about politics. And I couldn't even comment because the author turned off the comment option. Grr.

And I, too, liked Cece's birthday blog!

[Sylvia Day]

Larissa Ione said:

the Spooge Cat story!

Larissa,

That, too, was hilarious! Lord, I LdMAO! (I'm grinning just remembering it!)



I think people visit blogs because they want to glimpse a bit into a writer's personal life, so some personal tidbits are reasonable and expected, especially when expressed with an obvious humorous bent.



There are posts though that make me :scratch: .



I haven't read one lately and none by the blogs I visit regularly.

[Sasha White]

I love the personal things. The cats, the dear hubby, dear sons, dear dogs stories. I agree I'm not huge on politics. I don't mind talking about religion, but I'm not fond of getting lectured on it. And it's not fair if they turn off the comments. To me, by blogging about it, you're inviting comments, and as such, should be prepared to discuss things.



Sasha

[cece]

Larissa Ione said:

And I, too, liked Cece's birthday blog!  
_________________
Do something stupid so I can blog about it!  

I read that and thought of me. :oops: Which is why I deleted all signs of the party the next day......then the pic (I saw that 'fro smiley).

Larissa I totally agree on politics and religion.

[Poopy Pants]

Or at least, have a working contact detail which booksellers and the press could at least access.

[phoenix_rising]

My comment in reply was:



What do you think?[/quote]\
For me being able to meet the Authors online is a thrill it makes you guys more real for me to know that you are just like us, but obvious creative genius when it comes to writing or you wouldn't be where you are. Your more accessible and friendly I still like certain other writers like Johanna Lindsey I guess they liked their self to be apart from things in order to write better. But knowing what your readers want makes things better cause your giving them exactly what they want but with a delicous twist.