How much is too much?

Three Star Member Age : 39 Joined : 03 Oct 2008 Posts : 96

I have been told that I need to expose more of myself (not physically of course, there are laws about that sort of thing Laughing

), so that people will be encouraged to read my book by getting to know what a witty and charming individual I am. The trouble I'm having is finding a balance. How much information is too much? And how much is not enough?

If you read someone like Stephen King's web site, there's information about his entire history, his family, etc., whereas other author sites say very little at all.

I don't want to be distant, but I don't want to end up writing posts in my blog about what I had for dinner either. Although, if I'd written a cookery book I suppose I would want to do that. Horses for courses and all that.

How much of yourselves do you expose? Question

_________________
Utamaro Revealed: A Guide to Subjects, Themes & Motifs
The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy
http://www.ginacolliasuzuki.com
http://www.blog.utamarorevealed.com
http://dieneighbour.blogspot.com

Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 2321 Location : UK

Hi Gina,

I don't think it really matters and whatever you do will suit some people and not others. What is important is that you should be visible and easy to find. People on the 'net won't be searching for "Gina Collia-Suzuki" or "Utamaro Revealed" so you have to put information on the web that links in to your name and your book.

Basically, write what you want and build a readership. It's hard work, long hours and doesn't always pay off but if you don't do it you'll always wonder if you should have done.

_________________
Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:40 pm

King's a celebrity..everybody wants to know all about him. You, apparently, are not.

I'd stick with a basic bio thing but you might consider putting up some short excerpts or short work along with a little introduction, explaining why some circumstance of your life prompted, enabled, or informed that piece of literature.
_________________

Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 2321 Location : UK

... you'll find a more detailed explanation on lin's blog:

http://linrobinson.com/authorblog.php

Now, you see the advantages of joining a forum. I've advertised both you and lin on one thread. I cited you, quoted the title of your book and added a link to lin's blog.

At the moment, there's a Yahoo! bot on the forum and soon Google and MSN bots will drop by, and then this thread will be on all these search engine sites.

_________________
Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:27 pm

This forum is invaluable, Gina. Use it as much as you can. In order to get known, I am on this forum, have a website, joined Author's Den, have site on Wordpress, and have included my websites in my signature that goes out with all my email.

In my opinion, whatever I do helps me to get my name out there to potential readers. I do as much as my time constraints allow.

I am also working on a follow up novel to my first.

You say horses for courses. Does that mean you use horse meat when you cook? Just joking, it struck me as funny, following on the remark about a cookbook. Laughing

_________________
Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:55 pm

I don't tell much at all. JoElle is my pen name, not my real name. I don't mention exactly where I live on my website or MySpace. I don't tell anything about my family. I don't want strangers knowing anything about me.

I do tell more about myself in the forums. Most everyone here knows that I drive a truck with my husband, my son is in the military, and I have a couple of grandsons.

There are a few other things I reveal on my website, but they are not important (favorite actor, favorite flower, and stuff like that).

I just don't want to attract too much attention. Which maybe isn't the smartest thing if I want my books to sell, huh?

Go with what you are comfortable with, I guess.

Eating horses??? LOL Zada!!
I tried iguana once. Taste like pork.

_________________
~ JoElle ~
http://www.joellemartin.com

Three Star Member Age : 39 Joined : 03 Oct 2008 Posts : 96

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:54 pm

You'll have to say something a lot worse than bum to ruin your reputation around here, Gina.
You have received some good advice. I will say this, most professional writers I know work hard to get their names known. For most that seems to come easy as they are outgoing by nature and enjoy socializing. Not all are that way, of course.
_________________
Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America
www.dickstodghill.com

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:27 pm

What you have provided on your website is a generous excerpt of your book which nicely shows the reader/purchaser how wonderful it is rather than telling them. When I don't have the book in hand to browse the only way I can tell if I'd like to buy it is by the excerpts/samples provided by the author's website or on a seller's website like Amazon. Because your book is non-fiction some background info is very helpful--which you have also given. I just know there are some good reads out there I've missed but I've learned not to judge a book by its blurb.
Wishing you luck with your lovely and intriguing book.
_________________
"Once upon a time in the Land of LA, a nice enough journalist kind of guy was minding his own store when this jester appeared, ambushed him with the bauble of Art and transported him wicky-wacky to the underbelly of human passion and vice." Max Thisbee DIAMOND NEEDLES
http://www.diamondneedles.net

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:05 pm

I think that one of the most important things that we can do to get our names "out there" is to be out there, and it is a lot of work. I find that I get the best results from doing things in person (speaking wherever I can, attending group functions/conferences, and just generally hanging around with readers in my target market. This approach has provided me with a lot more results than on-line efforts have produced, although I have the on-line stuff set up to back me up.
sunny

_________________
Pam Robertson

http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:57 am

Gina,

You might check out the website of one of my friends. She teaches web design for writers. Nice lady with lots of good ideas and suggestions.
http://www.sky-bolt.com/writers/

Her name is Ginny Stibolt.

Rhett
_________________
Southern fiction with a madhatter twist...
www.rhettdevane.com

Three Star Member Age : 39 Joined : 03 Oct 2008 Posts : 96

Subject: Re: How much is too much? Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:13 am

Gina you might want to consider working the thing that you absolutely love in addition to something else that you're almost as passionate but will give you that "in" that you need. Best of luck!

_________________
Pam Robertson

http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com