When writing, always try to be brief. Unnecessary words are a lazy person’s habit, waste effort of writers and reader and muddy thinking and decision making. Here are some tips:

•Make first paragraph clearly state purpose answering in a general way who, what, when, where and why. Let reader know what you want him/her to do.

•Discuss only one subject in each paragraph, same subject that topic sentence introduces.

•Never say in a paragraph what you can say in a sentence. Never say in a sentence what you can say with a word. Never say in a long word what you can say in a short word with same meaning.

•Where data can stand on its own without explanation let it.

If you think that is a little odd coming from someone that designs web sites and who has just released Free & Easy Web Design, a workshop for writers and publishers then read on!

The trouble with that question is word NEED. Need indicates something you cannot do without, such as a daily meal, air to breath, clothes for warmth etc. You don't NEED a web site to continue your existence on this mortal coil (or, at moment anyway, your writing career).

So, let's re-phrase question:

"Will a web site really do anything for my writing or for me?" Put this way, answer becomes a resounding YES!

But let's not get too carried away just yet! It is as well to ask yourself a few questions before you start looking for a home in ether.

1. Do you regularly send out query letters and submissions, offer writing services such as copy writing, critiquing etc? If so a web site should definitely form part of your marketing arsenal.

You should view it in same way that you view any off-line promotional material such as letterheads, business cards or information sheets. It should contain a brief biography with contact details and samples of type of work you do. It should also list any prizes that you may have won in writing competitions and if applicable, photographs of magazines in which you have been published. You can see some good examples of personal writing sites at www.writelink.co.uk choose Writers from left-hand menu.

Having this kind of site becomes even more important if you are already, or intend writing for web. As editor of WriteLink I spend quite a lot of my time flashing from one site to another and find it quite irritating when someone approaches me with an idea and they don't have a web site containing examples of their work. The off-line world is just too slow for on-line editors!

2. Do you write a little poetry or a few short stories, mainly for your own pleasure? If this is you and you don't intend to take your writing any further, then a web site should figure much lower on your list of priorities. If you like idea of sharing your work with your friends and family, only consider this option if you have cash or time to spare. Otherwise there are plenty of sites on web that will allow you to show case your work on their sites. www.AbcTales.com is a good choice, but there are lots of others.

3. Do you have a book to promote? Selling and promoting on-line is a very cheap and effective method of selling your book, but you need to get things right from start. This means you definitely should set up a site for your book. The site in itself is not enough to generate sales, but it is an essential part of whole marketing package that should include both on and off-line promotion. For more ideas on book promotion see The WriteLink to Promoting & Selling Your Book at www.thebookblurb.co.uk This one's free!