When's the best time to create your author website?
Short answer: right now.
Okay, longer answer… There are so many benefits to having a website as an emerging author, and the only downside is that there’s a cost associated with setting it up and maintaining it—but even that’s minimal.
We live in a digital age, where having an online presence as a creative is effectively essential. Your website is where readers find you, where industry professionals can get a sense of who you are beyond the page, and where you get to control the narrative about your author journey. And while it’s not quite as simple as “online presence = visibility,” it is as simple as “no online presence = invisibility.” Social media is one way to curate an online presence, but it’s susceptible to the whims and vagaries of algorithm changes and you have very little control over who (if anyone) sees the content you share. A website, on the other hand, is your fully customised calling card, and it’s never too early to create one.
Maybe you’re thinking, “But I haven’t published anything yet,” or “What would I even put on a website right now?” Imposter Syndrome does love to sneak in here and whisper all kinds of doubts. But we’re not at home to Imposter Syndrome, so I’m going to gently push back on those worries and show you why planting your flag online now—even if you’re still working on that first draft—and getting your website up and running is one of the best investments you can make in your writing career.
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“But I haven't got anything to put on an author website!”
No published work? No problem. Really.
This is a common hesitation among emerging authors: the idea that without published work, you haven’t got enough to fill a website. Maybe an author website feels premature at this point—maybe it even feels pointless. But this worry actually mistakes the key purpose behind your website, because it’s not supposed to be a portfolio of accomplishments. I mean, it can be. But that’s a vast oversimplification of what an author website exists to do.
At its core, an author website is a kind of personal hub. It’s a place where you can share who you are as a writer and begin building connections with readers, industry professionals, and fellow authors. Early-stage writers often underestimate the value of simply telling their story: why they write, what inspires them, and what projects they’re passionate about. You’re going to need to think carefully about these questions when it comes time to write a query letter anyway, so it makes sense to get a head start on it now.
Some simple content ideas if you’re just starting out:
- Author bio: highlight your writing journey so far. Talk about the books and authors that inspire you, the reason you write, projects you’re passionate about. A few interesting facts about you (they don’t have to be writing related) gives visitors a sense of who you are as a writer and as a person.
- Blog posts: Google loves to see websites with constantly updated content. Share your milestones, share your writing process, share your highs and lows, your successes, the moments where you step out of your comfort zone. You’re very unlikely to see hundreds of views, but that’s not the point—the point is to reflect on your journey, share it with others, and help the crawler bots see that your website isn’t static and forgotten.
- A newsletter sign-up: never hurts to think ahead, and building an audience from Day 1 shows that you’re serious about your writing. You’ll have to invest a little bit of effort into keeping in touch with your list, but it doesn’t have to be anything fancy—this could easily be an extension of your blog.
The key is to view your website as a living space that evolves alongside your career. It doesn’t have to be packed with polished excerpts or published credits right away—it’s a foundation upon which you can build over time.
Building confidence and claiming your space
But starting your author website early isn’t just about having a place on the internet—it’s also a powerful way to make your author identity feel real. Putting yourself out there, attaching the word “author” to your internet presence, helps quiet that voice of self-doubt that loves to tell you you’re not “ready” or “worthy” yet.
Having this space early on can actually motivate you to keep going. It turns your writing dreams into something tangible, something visible—not just ideas floating around in your head. Plus, it’s a handy reminder for yourself that you’re serious about your craft. Every time you update or tweak your site, it’s a small win worth celebrating. You might be surprised by how empowering it feels.
And when publication day comes (which it will), you’ll already have your little corner of the web carved out, ready and waiting.
“Starting your author website early isn’t just about having a place on the internet—it’s also a powerful way to make your author identity feel real.”
Practical benefits of starting early
Not to minimise the importance of mindset, but getting your author website up and running early comes with some other pretty handy perks as well. SEO—Search Engine Optimisation—is how you tell search engines like Google you exist, and that they should send people your way. It’s not known, usually, for its speedy returns: an SEO strategy looks at gradually raising the profile of a website over months or even years. If that feels overwhelming, don’t panic: we’re not worrying about SEO for now, other than to note that the longer your website is in play, the more time you have to move that needle—and, as long as you update your website semi-regularly and keep the content fresh (which you’d be doing as new wins come your way anyway), you’ll be planting seeds that will have started to germinate long before you need to start thinking more strategically about increasing your visibility.
Your website also acts as a central hub for everything related to your writing life. Social media profiles, newsletters, or upcoming events, competition wins, readings, any other writing news… you can link it all back to one place. This makes things simpler not only for your audience but also for you—it’s your personal command center.
Another bonus is flexibility. Starting early means you don’t have to get everything perfect right away. You can begin with something simple and let your site evolve naturally as your career grows and changes. Maybe today it’s just a bio and a “coming soon” note about your project; next year, it could be a full blog, sample chapters, or even an online store.
The key is that by starting early, you’re giving yourself room to experiment without pressure—and that’s a wonderful thing in the sometimes overwhelming world of author marketing.
Other common concerns about setting up your author website
While you can know objectively that there are many good reasons to dive in and set up an author website… we’re only human. Some worries still pop up. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common concerns and try to gently ease those fears.
“I’m not tech-savvy.”
The thought of building a website can feel overwhelming if you’re not comfortable with technology. The good news is that creating a basic author site today is easier than ever, thanks to user-friendly platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. You don’t need to know any coding or design skills to get started. (Believe me, I have none—I once managed to crash a colleague’s computer over the phone, so if I can build a functional website from scratch, I promise you that anybody can. I’ve got a detailed step-by-step guide for anyone who needs it, aimed at folks with my level of expertise and knowledge—it’s basically the exact steps I took to create this website, which I built entirely on my own.)
“What if my style or genre changes?”
Writers evolve. Your interests might shift from fantasy to literary fiction or from poetry to memoir—and that’s perfectly normal. Your website will reflect the author that you are right now but if that changes, your website can easily change to match. The beauty of starting early is that your site can grow with you. It doesn’t have to be set in stone from day one. It’s a living document—flexible and adaptable, not a rigid showcase that locks you in for the rest of your writing career.
“I’m worried about privacy.”
It’s sensible to be concerned about protecting yourself online, but remember that your website is your space—you control what goes up and how much you share. You don’t have to reveal everything about yourself if you’re not comfortable doing so. A professional bio and project updates are enough to start with; personal details can come later if and when you want them to.
Most domain registries offer various settings that allow you to protect your privacy and restrict how much personal information is available to searchers. I use GoDaddy as my domain registry and I’ve signed up for their enhanced privacy settings, which hides my contact information in the WHOIS directory. It’s probably more protection than I need, but it makes me feel more comfortable, and my peace of mind is valuable. So is yours.
“What if people don’t take me seriously—or make fun of me?”
This fear is more common than you might think. Putting yourself out there as an author before you have a shelf full of published books can feel like you’re giving yourself airs and graces, but that’s the Imposter Syndrome talking. It’s telling you that your friends, family, or even strangers are going to question your “right” to call yourself an author—but it’s almost certainly telling you lies.
Here’s the truth: your identity as a writer is yours to own, regardless of how many books you’ve published or awards you’ve won. You write, therefore you are a writer. The rest is just adjectives. Building your website is part of the process of claiming that identity. It’s an act of confidence and commitment. Having a website shows you’re serious about your craft.
Remember, most people aren’t scrutinising your website as harshly as Imposter Syndrome makes you believe. Those doubts in your head are much louder than any real-world criticism. Your website is for you first and foremost—a place to nurture your writing journey and share it on your terms.
If anyone does react negatively, remind yourself that their opinions don’t define your worth or your future as an author. You’re building something meaningful, step by step, and that takes courage.
The first step toward your writing future
Starting your author website early isn’t just a practical move—it’s a declaration. It’s your announcement to yourself that you’re ready to take your writing seriously. You’re ready to step into the community of authors (we’re mostly very nice, I promise). You’re ready to begin shaping your own story beyond the page.
This is not about rushing ahead or pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s about embracing where you are right now and giving yourself permission to grow. The early days of your website can be as simple as sharing what inspires you or what you’re working on—small steps that build momentum over time.
So… jump in. Claim your space with kindness toward yourself and excitement for what’s ahead. Your future readers (and, more importantly, you) will be glad you did.
What’s stopping you from creating your own author website? Let me know in the comments!
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