Frequently Asked Questions about Walsall Writers' Hub:
WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THE HUB?
The basic aims of Walsall Writers' Hub are as follows:
1. To build up exposure for Walsall writers on Google and other search engines, making them easier to discover.
2. To disseminate news about Walsall writers, their work and activities.
3. To offer publishers and readers a single place where they can find out about Walsall writers and where they can find links to individual writers websites or email addresses.
4. To offer Walsall writers the opportunity to contact and network with fellow local writers via the links on the Hub.
WHO CAN JOIN?
There is no demarcation between professional or amateur, published or unpublished writers, or type of writing - all are welcome to join the Hub. The only qualification for membership is that the writer should be born in, be from, or be living or working in the Walsall Metropolitan Borough (see map). This is for two reasons - to focus on helping to support and raise the profile of local writers, and to keep the project manageable.
WHO IS ALREADY A MEMBER?
If you check out the Hub's Writers page here - you will see that we already have several established local writers as members. Some who have websites have these linked, others who do not yet have sites or don't want them have their email addresses linked.
WHAT ABOUT A WEBSITE?
Writers who are thinking about setting up their own websites can if they wish take advantage of advice we can offer about using webs.com (formerly freewebs), which is the system on which the Hub is based. This system requires no software other than your web browser and ideally some way of editing images. Sites are edited online using templates and at the basic level are free of charge, being supported by advertising. More ambitious and advertising-free sites can be created using different levels of paid subscription to webs.com. The Hub is based on the basic free site level, which is adequate for many uses. Walsall Writers' Hub has no connection with webs.com except as a satisfied user - caveat emptor!
WHAT ABOUT EMAIL?
We often advise writers venturing out onto the web to use Googlemail, which is a free web-based email system and has anti-virus and anti-spam features built-in. There are obvious advantages to having a dedicated email address for professional use, and this also enables you to keep your home email as private as you may want it to be.
WHAT CAN I DO TO BENEFIT FROM WALSALL WRITERS' HUB?
To benefit from Walsall Writers' Hub, and in turn support fellow writers, you can:
1. Join up, free of charge, and request a link to either a website or email address.
2. Submit brief news about yourself, your work, publications, events and activities you are involved in. The more news, the more exposure writers will get on the search engines.
3. Consider if you want your own website and ask for free advice if you would like to use webs.com.
4. Spread the word about the Hub via any news outlets, magazines, or publishers you may be talking to, via websites and forums, or by mentioning the Hub to fellow writers and other contacts. Word of mouth is an essential supplement to search engines - and word will get around!
HOW WILL THE HUB DEVELOP?
Over time Walsall Writers' Hub should become even more well-recognised as a place to connect with Walsall writers. We are contacting writing magazines to raise the Hub's profile in the print media. Also, it should be possible in due course to add individual pages about writers, where brief info, cv and list of work can be published. We may also add a discussion forum.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
At the moment, nothing but time - our time to set it all up and keep plugging away at the search engines etc, your time to provide relevant info and spread the word. The free level of webs.com is supported by advertising (for which we don't get a penny!) so at this stage there is nothing to pay.
WHAT THE HUB ISN'T
It's not a magazine, and does not aim to publish members' work online. It is also not a writing group in the 'real world' - we highly recommend Walsall Writers' Circle for this kind of regular 1-2-1 support in person.
HOW CAN I CONTACT THE HUB OR JOIN?
Use the Contact page link to submit a message, or email direct to Stuart Williams via: walsallwritershub@googlemail.com
