IWSG: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 ~ Turn Me On, Don't Turn Me Off!

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.






To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are Janet Alcorn, 

SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!

I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.

I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.

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Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.

This month's featured question is: 

What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books? 

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Aloha Everyone!

I hope you have had a happy, healthy, and safe January,

and if you've been hit by nasty winter weather, I hope the worst is well behind you!

We are enjoying ourselves and escaping winter in Honolulu. 

Tropical Bliss!

It's Hard to Believe I've sailed across the Pacific Ocean

Māmala Bay⁩, ‎⁨Honolulu⁩, ⁨Hawaiʻi⁩, ⁨United States

January 22, 2024

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

So Happy to Be Here!

It's Hard to Believe I've sailed across the Pacific Ocean

Māmala Bay⁩, ‎⁨Honolulu⁩, ⁨Hawaiʻi⁩, ⁨United States

January 25, 2024

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

What turns me off when visiting an author's website?

I've visited many authors' websites over the years that I've belonged to the IWSG,

and I'm not just referring to the websites of fellow members.

I have some definite likes and dislikes.

First I like a website that is easy to access and navigate.

I can get frustrated quickly when I have trouble getting to a site,

locating what I want to know, or leaving a comment.

I know this can result from problems with a platform,

and it can result from my lack of technical knowledge.

And I'm sure that some people have been frustrated by my site over the years,

but I work hard to make my website reader friendly.

I appreciate it when other writers do so too.

mycodelesswebsite

If I'm visiting an author's website to see something on his or her blog, 

I like to be able to find that blog without wading through a tangle of book information

or navigating past popup boxes of newsletter or post notification offers.

I don't mind seeing images of an author's book's

or links to find out more about those books.

Rather, I want to be able to find out what I'm looking for easily.

Trust me, if I want to know more about an author's books, I will find the information.

makeameme

Next, I like a website that is visually effective.

By that I mean a pleasing layout, a readable font, and interesting images or graphics.

If a site looks cluttered, disjointed, or is difficult to read, it turns me off.

I find lots of mistakes in spelling and grammar off-putting, but I can overlook some.

The internet is comprised of people all over the world, 

with different backgrounds, native languages, educations, and ages.

Language norms are in flux, and new acronyms and words are created frequently.

And who hasn't been the victim of auto-correct?

So I'm pretty forgiving to a point.

munofore.com

Next, I like interesting, accurate content, either original or sourced and acknowledged.

What I really dislike is text taken word for word from another source

and passed off as the author's own words.

I see this over and over, not just from writers, but across the blogging world.

The same text is used repeatedly and is sometimes incorrect.

I am constantly researching things in a quest for accuracy, so I see a lot.

I am amazed at how much blatant plagiarism there is.

forms.app

I appreciate websites with a positive tone.

I don't mind reading about struggles or difficult situations, 

but I don't like whining repeatedly about unimportant things.

I know I've shared negative things, so I'm guilty of this,

but I do try to strike a positive tone as much as possible.

cheeseburger.com

Finally, I like learning something about an author as a person,

especially authors and writers who are IWSG members.

I like to connect with people and make them feel that I hear them.

If it weren't for the connections and friendships I've made with people online, 

I would have stopped blogging years ago.

I'm looking forward to seeing how other IWSG members respond to this month's question,

because if I can learn something to improve my website, I will do it!

In My Happy Place

Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Mall

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

February 6, 2024

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

And My Guy Who Gave Up His Afternoon to Indulge Me 

Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Mall

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

February 6, 2024

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Have a creative and fulfilling February!

Enjoy IWSG Day!  And a big thank you to the co-hosts!   

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be on Friday, February 15th. 🤞