Ever since I got serious about writing I’ve become more comfortable with self-promotion than I ever thought possible.
Which is good because the modern publishing world expects authors to handle much of their own publicity, especially online. Kristen Lamb’s book really pushed home the need for a blog separate from social media because I own all the content. To my surprise there’s an audience for my blatherings so not only is this necessary but if done right it’s fun…
Except for one bit. And Lamb’s not the only one making the recommendation:
Because apparently my own house is out of order I’m gonna say it here. If you’re a writer you need to have a website. Here’s what goes on it:
Your name
Your beautiful face
A list of books you done wroted
A bio, shorter is better
An email contact form
Newsletter signupTHAT’S IT
— dongwon (@dongwon) March 29, 2018
Did you catch it?
I blog under my real name. A whimsical bio follows every post. You can subscribe by email. I’m still sorting out a secure contact form. I’ll list my books as they come out and publish a newsletter once I’ve got bona-fide hardcore news.
I can’t bring myself to post an author photo.
Yeah, part of it is vanity. I’ve never met a camera that likes me. My greater concern is privacy though. Like every woman online I’ve had my share of unwanted attention but that was back in the days of IRC chatrooms and Livejournal: nowhere near the speed and fury and transparency of Twitter, Facebook, and the like. Social media platforms don’t permit aliases and industry experts don’t recommend them. Even blogging under my real name was a psychological hurdle it took me a year to jump. Having my face out there as well feels like I’m painting a big red target on my back.
The early text-based internet spoiled me in another way as well. Under an alias people judged me not for what I looked like but by what I wrote and how well I wrote it. My name and appearance didn’t matter if I gave good brain.
Including a photo will end that neutrality. I fear that once my face is out there reactions will devolve to what I look like to the exclusion of all else.
Note I say “once.” Author photos are part of the game and I’ll have to get a proper headshot and post it at some point, especially if I take the traditional publishing route. But I’m just not There yet. Bear with me.
Of course, I”m not a writer … merely a reader of writing. But I would say that no author needs to put their face on public view, whether blog or book jacket, if they’re uncomfortable with doing so … it’s a perfectly valid safety/privacy thing not to do so. And while curiosity is in all of us, when it comes right down to it I’m really more interested in a writer’s words than their current haircut. I’ve seen lots of alternative approaches used … childhood school photos, back of author’s head, author’s cat/dog/other pet, etc. One of my alltime favourites is the author photo Adam Warren has used on every one of his “Empowered” books: http://www.thecomicarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AW_profile.jpg (creative and memorable … I’d recognize that post-it anywhere!)