Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Ask, And Ye Shall Be Answered

So, I've been tossing around the idea of whether I need a website. Well, maybe not need, so much as, would it be beneficial to have one? A fellow author, and friend, advised me, yes.

She believes the fact she had a website--despite the lack of a book contract at the time--played a part in her securing a contract with Entangled Publishing. To paraphrase our delightful conversation over coffee in which she divulged some of her long journey to publication, she believed that having a web presence via Facebook, Twitter, blog and a website helped legitimize her intent; it verified to the editor--who no doubt did a web search before contacting her regarding her submission--her seriousness in developing a career as a novelist. Personally, I believe her talent played a larger part in her success, but she has a point.

There are a lot of wannabes out there. And serious players. What sets them apart is one thing: action.

Words on paper. Finished manuscripts. Revisions. Query letters written. And mailed. Rejections received. And sobbed over. More words on paper. More manuscripts. More revisions. More queries. More rejections. And somewhere in this exhilarating, tedious, bewildering, circuitous--and productive--process, a blog, Twitter, Facebook, and maybe, just maybe, a website. With a real URL. Like my friend's:

http://www.roxannesnopek.ca


So, in recent weeks, between writing/revising stints, and life, I have contemplated the next step--a website. Host sites, domain names, reviews...I've read, researched, scribbled and scratched. But, overwhelmed by the concept of creating more than an imaginary world replete with oh-so-realistic characters, I dithered. And dallied. And then I did as I often do when stumped--or stuck on the fence--I asked for a sign. And boy, did I get one.

Another author friend wrote this . And I swear, she wrote it for me. Or at least, Someone or Something, inspired me to go online. While there, I got to considering a website again; I decided to review my blog with an eye to how it might be improved; I spied my blog roll and seeing Vicki Pettersson had posted for the first time in a long time, I decided to click through to read her post. And it happened to be about the very thing I was thinking about seconds before! (yes, this is where you shiver and hear the X-Files theme music). How cool is that?

And reaffirming.

Once more I am reminded that I am but a vessel, a physical entity housing a soul connected. All our dreams, all our wishes, all our desires...they're there, waiting for us--when we're ready. We need only ask.

And act.

God gives every bird its food, but he does not throw it into the nest. ~Josiah G. Holland


Deborah


**Have you had a similar experience, or have ideas on the theme? Please share in the comments!**





3 comments:

Unknown said...

Glad you found your sign! I look forward to seeing your website! [g]

Deborah Small said...

Thanks, Lara! I am excited to begin this new adventure! :)

Linda G. said...

I'm a big believer in signs. Go for it! :)