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12 benefits of having an author website

Charlotte Duckworth — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:08:24 +0000

You’ll be surprised at the number of authors I talk to who say they don’t think author websites are necessary.

‘I’m focusing on social media,’ they say. ‘Readers can find me on Facebook if they want to.’

I get it - authors are busy people and social media seems like the easiest option. The audiences are already there (well, some of them at least - more on that later!) and the barriers-to-entry are basically non-existent.

But if Musk’s purchase of Twitter and Trump’s temporary TikTok ban have taught us anything, it’s that the grounds these platforms are built on are incredibly shaky.

The truth is that relying on social media to be your main online presence is like building your house on someone else’s land. You never know when it might be sold from underneath you.

Unlike your author website, which is yours and yours alone!

So, let’s talk through the many benefits of having your own author website:

1. It gives you total creative control

I always say to think of your author website as your online home. Social media, email newsletters, podcasts, and guest posts - all of these things should lead people to it.

When readers land on your site, they should be able to:

Understand who you are and what you write
Discover your books easily and find out how to buy them (with just one click!)
Sign up to hear from you again
Find events, launches, or news about your upcoming books

All of that stuff is crucial from a marketing perspective.

As we know, these days even traditional publishers do very limited marketing for their authors - unless you are one of the rare ‘superlead’ titles.

It’s becoming more and more incumbent on authors to pick up some of the marketing slack. I don’t like it, and I don’t think it’s fair, but unfortunately I don’t make the rules.

And of course, if you are self-published, then your own marketing is the thing that will make or break your book.

2. It offers you a direct connection with readers

Having a website allows you to establish a direct line of communication with your audience. Social media and third-party platforms often act as middlemen, filtering how and when your audience sees your content - or trying to get you to pay up to have your posts shown to your fans.

With a website, readers can visit whenever they want to learn more about you, read your latest updates, and even contact you directly via a contact form or email.

Additionally, having a blog on your site allows you to share personal insights, writing tips, book recommendations, or behind-the-scenes details about your books.

This fosters a deeper connection between you and your readers, encouraging them to return to your site regularly and remember you when they’re looking for a new book.

Watch my FREE training on how to build your own author website →

3. It’s a hub for all your writing-related projects

We all know that most authors don’t earn that much money from their books alone, which means that diversifying - whether that’s writing in different genres, or offering writing-related services - is the name of the game.

Your website serves as a one-stop hub where readers can find everything they need - links to your books and upcoming events as well as information about any other services you provide, such as mentoring or manuscript appraisals.

Instead of sending people to multiple places, you can direct them to your website where they can easily explore everything you offer in one professional online ‘home’.

4. It boosts your credibility and professionalism

This is one I’m particularly passionate about!

Imagine a film or TV agent searching for more information about you and finding nothing but scattered social media profiles.

Now imagine they find a well-designed, content-rich website instead.

Which scenario makes a better impression?

A professional website signals to publishers, agents, journalists, and potential collaborators that you take your writing career seriously.

It’s like having a polished resume available 24/7.

True story: I have had multiple film agents get in touch with me through my author website to enquire about optioning the rights to my novels!

5. It’s important for Search Engine Visibility (SEO) and discoverability

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial factor in modern marketing.

When someone Googles your name or book title, your website should ideally be the first result.

Having an SEO-optimised website with relevant keywords, blog posts, and updated content ensures that readers, journalists, and industry professionals can easily find you online.

A website also allows you to rank for specific search queries, such as ‘best mystery novelists of 2026’ or ‘historical fiction writers with strong female leads.’

If you have the time and energy, maintaining an active blog and using strategic keywords can hugely boost your visibility and make it easier for new readers to discover your work.

Should I have a blog on my author website? →

On a budget but need an author website?
The DIY Author Website Course is just for you! →

6. It’s crucial for building your email list

One of the most powerful marketing tools for authors is an email list, and a website is the perfect place to build one.

Unlike social media, where algorithm changes can reduce the number of people who see your posts in an instant, an email list gives you direct access to your readers.

By offering a free short story, bonus content, or exclusive updates in exchange for an email subscription, you can grow a dedicated fan base that’s eager to hear from you whenever you have a new book or event.

Why every author should set up a mailing list →

7. It offers opportunities for monetization

Many authors don’t realize that a website can also be a source of income!

Beyond book sales, you can offer premium content, writing courses, personalised coaching, or even sell signed copies directly to fans.

You can also monetise your blog through ads, affiliate links, or Patreon-like memberships where readers can support you financially in exchange for exclusive perks.

How to make money from your author website →

8. It’s your place to showcase reviews, testimonials, and media features

Think of it like your personal trophy cabinet!

A website is the perfect place to highlight glowing reviews, testimonials, and media features.

If a blogger or journalist has written about your book, you can link to their article.

If readers have left positive reviews, you can showcase them in a dedicated testimonial section. This not only boosts credibility but also serves as social proof for potential readers who may be considering your book.

9. It’s the best place to advertise events and speaking engagements

If you do book signings, readings, or speaking engagements, your website is the perfect place to list these events.

A well-organised event calendar keeps your readers informed about upcoming appearances and allows them to plan ahead to meet you in person.

How to add an Events calendar to your Squarespace author website →

10. It’s independent from social media

As we already discussed, social media platforms are constantly evolving, and relying solely on them can be risky. Algorithms can change, platforms can decline in popularity, and accounts can even be suspended without warning.

There’s also the small matter that many authors overlook - and that is that not all readers use social media!

Especially if your readership skews towards the older generations, you may find that your readers aren’t active on these platforms.

However, most readers these days know how to use the internet, and pretty much everyone has an email address to receive your author newsletter!

A website ensures that you always have a stable, independent presence online that is unaffected by the shifting landscape of social media.

11. It can help sell books!

This sounds a bit obvious but still - your website can serve as a strategic marketing tool, helping you promote book launches, giveaways, or limited-time discounts.

By integrating an online store on your author website, you can even sell signed copies, merchandise, or bundle deals directly to fans, increasing your profits and strengthening your reader relationships!

How to set up a store on your Squarespace website →

12. It’s your digital legacy

Unlike social media profiles, which can be deleted or forgotten, a well-maintained website is a long-term asset.

It serves as a permanent record of your work and career, preserving your digital legacy for future readers.

Whether you're actively publishing or taking a break from writing, your website remains a home base for your literary presence - your own little corner of the internet.

But what if I’m not published yet?

If you’re yet to snag that elusive book deal, or you haven’t quite taken the plunge into self-publishing yet, that doesn’t mean that an author website is unnecessary.

When should I launch my author website? →

Here are a few advantages of setting up your site BEFORE you get published:

It makes you look professional - I’m a mindset junkie and having your author website up and running tells the world - and more importantly, you - that you are taking this writing game seriously! And as if to prove this point even more strongly - I actually got my agent through my website. I had submitted to a bunch of agents and one of them had passed my MS on to my agent, who then found my website and got in touch with me through the Contact form. I genuinely thought it was a scam to start! But it wasn’t, and she’s still my agent 15 years, and eight book deals later…
It helps establish your SEO. Not the most exciting reason admittedly, but Google likes websites that have been around for a long time. The longer your site has been up and running, the more likely it is to rank in Google search, and the higher domain authority it will have.
It means one less thing to do when you DO publish! Trust me, when you do finally come to publish your book, you’ll be surprised by the sheer number of Things To Do that come along with it. Having your author website already up and running is one less thing on the list!

Conclusion

OK, so hopefully I have persuaded you to take the plunge and set up your author website!

When it comes to the actual building of the site, you have a few options available to you:

Pay a website designer (like me) - clearly the most expensive option, but will often work out to be the quickest and easiest. Take a look at my services here.
Buy a template and customise it - a sort of halfway-house between DIYing your site and paying someone else to design it for you, template shops are all the rage in the website world. Christy Price has a template just for authors.
DIY the whole thing from scratch! - I am actually a huge fan of authors building their own websites - which is why I launched the DIY Author Website Course. I know how tight money can be - especially when you are just starting out. And there’s something hugely empowering about building your own website!

Want me to build you a website?

My streamlined yet personal approach, perfected over the past 6 years of building websites for ambitious authors just like you, means I can create your dream author website without overwhelming you with tech jargon or confusing decisions, supporting you throughout the whole process and gently guiding you with my expertise.

Find out more, then get in touch. I would love to hear from you!

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

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What is responsive web design, and why does it matter for your author website?

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Did you know most people will visit your author website on their phone?

So it’s super important that your author website looks just as good on mobile as it does on desktop!

In today’s post, I explain what ‘responsive web design’ really means, and how to make sure your site looks fantastic no matter what size screen readers are viewing it on.

Why responsive web design is a good thing

We’ve all had the experience of visiting a website on our phone, only to find the text so teeny tiny it’s impossible to read, or the images too small to make sense of… Or we’ve tried to pinch and zoom in only to have the whole website slide around frustratingly underneath our fingers.

Responsive websites make sure that these things don’t happen.

A responsive, mobile-friendly author website helps you:

Make a strong first impression
Keep readers on your site for longer
Make it easy for people to find your books
Encourage newsletter sign-ups

They are critical to ensuring a good user experience and making sure people looking at your site on a mobile or iPad don’t just click off in frustration.

(Also: having a non-responsive website these days makes your site look like a proper dinosaur, and makes people think it’s unlikely to be up to date. All of this is BAD, basically.)

All Squarespace websites are responsive! 🥳

It’s one of the reasons the platform is so great – and one of the reasons I love it.

But let’s start with explaining exactly what that means…

What is responsive web design?

Responsive websites are sites that automatically ‘respond’ (ha) to the device they are being viewed on.

This means that if you look at the website on an iPhone, it will resize automatically, in order to display the content in the best possible way on the screen, making sure that it’s user friendly (easy to read and navigate) and that the person viewing the site has a good user experience.

Instead of creating separate versions of your site for desktop and mobile, a responsive website reshapes itself automatically. Text resizes, images scale, and layouts shift so everything still looks clean and easy to use.

Here’s how Squarespace explains it:

“Squarespace’s built-in responsive design resizes your content and images to fit different devices and screen widths. With responsive design, visitors can automatically view your site in many ways, so you don’t need to create and maintain separate sites for every potential device, browser, and display width”

Want me to build you a website?

Find out more, then get in touch. I would love to hear from you!

What responsive web design means for your site

This means that any content you add to your website – text, images, buttons and other elements – will automatically resize depending on the size of the screen they are being viewed on.

What this also means is that on a small laptop screen your site will look (slightly) different than on a large desktop. And it will look even more different on a mobile phone.

Sometimes when I send websites to clients for their feedback, I get comments back such as: ‘Can we make sure the title of my novel doesn’t break over two lines in the header?’ and ‘I can’t see the whole of the banner image when I look at my site on mobile – can you fix it?’

These are the limitations of responsive website design.

BUT! The upside is that on all screens the site will be attractive and easy to use.

The most noticeable example of this is the amount of space there will be around certain elements.

Here’s an example from my own author website:

On my laptop, the banner image appears with a blurb at the top, the picture of the cover of my book on the right, and then the tagline on the left, along with the button below (my call to action encouraging users to click through to buy the book).

However, when you view my site on a mobile, you get quite a different image.

Here, you get the image of the book first, with the quote below, and the button below that.

This is responsive design in action!

It means that all the important elements for my homepage banner – the book cover, the quote, and the call to action – are still easily visible on a mobile phone, and visitors to the site know what to do.

You also might find that any text on your site breaks over different lines depending on the size of the screen, as it resizes in order to make sure it’s easy for people to read.

This can be frustrating – for example if you don’t want to have the title of your book breaking over two lines, as one of my clients once asked me about – but it’s the price you have to pay in order to ensure your site looks smart on mobile, and is a much better compromise than tiny text that no one can read.

Unfortunately, you can’t just put in a paragraph return to try to force certain words onto certain lines.

If you do that, when the screen resizes and the words all move around, these breaks can look odd, leaving strange gaps.

How responsive design helps your SEO

Responsive design isn’t just about how your website looks, it also affects how it performs in search results.

One of the biggest benefits is that your text is built into the page itself, rather than embedded in images.

This means search engines like Google can actually read and understand your content, which is essential if you want your author website to show up in search results.

How to get your author website to rank on Google | SEO tips →

It’s also worth knowing that Google uses mobile-first indexing.

This means it primarily looks at the mobile version of your website when deciding how to rank it.

If your site doesn’t work well on a phone, it can directly affect your visibility.

Best practice tips for images

So how do we make sure our website looks good on all devices?

The most important thing to consider when building a responsive site (on Squarespace or another platform) are the images. And most specifically the banner or background images.

You need to choose an image that will look good on as many size screens as possible.

It also helps to choose images that are roughly the same shape as the space in which they’ll appear – for example, using a landscape (or wide) image for a banner.

However, do think carefully about your image and choose one that will still work even when cropped. Abstract patterns and images without any text, or borders, work best for banner images.

It can be tempting to design beautiful graphics with text inside them, especially for things like book blurbs or announcements.

But, as I mentioned, from an SEO point of view, this can hold you back.

Search engines can’t read text inside images in the same way they can read normal website text. So if something is important, like your book description or key information about your work, it’s always better to include it as real text on the page.

Consider the cropping

Also, bear in mind that if you use a full-width banner image of a person, it’s important that a specific area of the image (their face) isn’t cropped out.

So make sure you add a wide bleed area around all four edges of the image so that the important part of the image appears no matter what size the screen is.

This way, when it’s cropped, the their face will still appear in the centre, and won’t be cut off.

Best practice tips for text

As mentioned above, text on a responsive website resizes automatically to fit the screen. Because of this, you won’t always be able to ‘shape’ the text in the way you might like.

You can use Spacer blocks or Fluid Engine in Squarespace to add padding around text blocks, and of course you can use left, right and centre alignment so you have some control over how text appears.

More information about Fluid Engine →

As I said above, it’s best to add all text on your website directly on the page, rather than using images with text you have overlaid onto them (for example in Canva).

This will avoid cropping issues and it also means that search engines can ‘read’ the text, which helps with your SEO.

🚨 NB: Text that’s part of the actual image itself is unreadable by Google and other search engines.

How to make your author website mobile-friendly

Even with a responsive template, there are a few simple things you can do to improve the mobile experience:

Keep paragraphs short and easy to scan
Avoid putting important text inside images
Make sure your font size is large enough to read comfortably
Check spacing so nothing feels cramped
Test your site on your own phone regularly

Small tweaks like these make your site feel much more professional and easier to use.

Last but not least

When you’re working on your site, make sure you regularly check how it looks on different devices.

There are several tools you can use to do this (there are Chrome plugins that do this, and you can also use Chrome’s own built-in Developer Tools).

Squarespace also offers a very clever ‘device’ view in the back end of its system, which means as you are making changes, you can switch views to see how they are reflected on mobile.

You can find out more about this here →

But a foolproof way to make sure your site looks good on mobile is to keep your mobile phone close to hand and regularly refresh your website on your mobile phone browser so that you can see how it’s all looking.

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

FAQs about responsive author websites

What does “mobile-friendly” actually mean for an author website?

A mobile-friendly author website is one that’s easy to read and use on a phone. That means text is large enough to read without zooming in, buttons are easy to tap, and pages load quickly.

It should feel just as simple to browse your books or sign up to your newsletter on a phone as it does on a laptop.

Do I need a separate mobile version of my website?

No, not if your website is responsive.

Responsive web design means your site automatically adapts to different screen sizes, so you don’t need to create a separate mobile version. Most modern platforms, including Squarespace, handle this for you.

How do I check if my author website is responsive?

The easiest way is to open your website on your phone and have a proper look around.

Check that:

the text is easy to read
nothing is cut off
images resize properly
buttons are easy to tap

You can also resize your browser window on desktop to see how your layout adjusts.

Does responsive design really affect SEO?

Yes, it does.

Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites, and if your site is difficult to use on a phone, it can impact your rankings. Responsive design also ensures your text is readable by search engines, which helps them understand what your site is about.

If you want to improve this further, my post How to get your author website to rank on Google | SEO tips goes into more detail →

What’s the biggest mistake authors make with mobile design?

One of the most common issues is putting too much information into images instead of using real text.

It might look nice visually, but it can make your site harder to read on smaller screens and limits what search engines can understand.

Can I fix mobile issues on my existing website?

In most cases, yes.

If you’re using a platform like Squarespace, your site is already responsive, so it’s usually a case of improving layout, spacing, and content rather than starting from scratch.

If you’re unsure where to begin check out my 5 expert tips for your DIY author website →

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Top tips for taking your own author headshot

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good author headshot! So many authors I work with absolutely hate having their photos taken but you will need a decent picture of yourself to use on your author website, social media platforms and probably on your book jacket too.

I totally get it – I’m an introvert and I hate having my photograph taken too. A while ago I paid an amazing photographer Hannah Macgregor to do a whole afternoon shooting me in various different outfits and by the end of it – despite the fact that Hannah was amazing and lovely - I was absolutely exhausted.

One of my professional headshots, taken by Hannah Macgregor

Plus my face had kind of frozen into this bizarre rictus grin. LOL.

(It did make me wonder why on earth celebrities like getting dressed up and posing but hey, there’s a reason I’m a writer and it’s because I like the fact I can work in my pyjamas, from my bed, with my hair scraped up and my face make-up free…

Sidenote: I do not recommend working from bed! Fast-track to back problems…)

Still, Hannah did an amazing job (you can see some of the pics here →) and if you can afford a professional photographer then it’s absolutely well worth the money.

I feel this way about anyone who offers a professional service – website designers included!

However, when you’re starting out as a writer it’s perfectly possible that you don’t have the budget for these things, but luckily with a bit of time and research, you can do a pretty good DIY job.

Why your headshot matters

Having a really professional looking headshot will make such a huge difference to your author website.

So many authors try to get away with wonky selfies or pictures of them at weddings with the other people cropped out. But please don’t do this - it just makes you look really amateur.

I’m a huge believer that little things like this make a massive difference to your mindset as an author. Being an author is a job, just as valid as any other, and treating it with the respect it deserves is so important.

But what if you’re just starting out in your author career and don’t have the budget for a professional headshot photographer?

Don’t despair! Smartphones may be one of the biggest evils of the world but they are also very handy when it comes to photography.

My own author headshot

Excuse the narcissism, but here are a few headshots my partner took of me using my iPhone a few years ago.

I needed a headshot urgently, as my publishers wanted to announce my book deal, and I hadn’t done my shoot with Hannah yet.

I had some old pictures from when I got my debut deal, but not only had I aged a LOT since then (parenting a toddler will do that to you), my hair was completely different.

In a panic, I asked my other half if he would mind taking some quick photos of me using my phone, to see if they might do.

And the results were actually some of my favourite pics of me I’d ever seen!

Not bad right?

My current headshot

Certainly good enough to pass the discerning eyes at my publishing house, as they have been used on their websites and on my book covers.

(Cue amusing moment when my editor asked me who to credit the photograph to – I said, not to worry, my other half took them, but she said they had a field they had to fill in online with any image they used, so lo and behold, Oliver Darley is now a credited photographer 😂).

Those pictures were taken a few years ago, and since then my hair has grown, so I asked him if he’d take another of me for the announcement about my most recent novel, Connie.

Again, I think my other half did a pretty good job!

OK, so assuming you have a smartphone or at least access to one, and a willing relation, friend or neighbour, here’s how to get a professional author headshot without spending a penny.

“smartphones may be one of the biggest evils of the world but they are also very handy when it comes to photography”

Make the most of the tech

As every camera phone is different, it’s tricky to go into detail here about which settings to use to take the best photo, but do make sure you check out what features your phone offers before you start snapping away.

We used the iPhone’s Portrait Mode to take the ones above, as this subtly blurs the background.

Before you start, take a few minutes to Google the phone you’re using and make sure you are making the most of the technology available - many of the latest phones have specific modes and clever features for taking headshots that can give really professional results.

Don’t be tempted to do a selfie

Save the selfies for social media

I know it’s a time-saver, and I have posted many a selfie on my social media, but honestly, for your headshots, you want to either use a tripod or have someone else on the other side of the camera/phone.

One reason is that the forward-facing camera on your iPhone or Android won’t be as good quality as the one on the back, but also it’s really tricky to take a selfie without at least some part of your arm showing or your body being at an angle to the camera.

A headshot should be taken straight-on, with your upper chest, neck and shoulders in the frame too. Your shoulders need to be relaxed and set back.

It’s much easier to get this angle right if you have someone behind the camera. If it’s someone you love and trust, it’s also much more enjoyable.

Weirdly, I always seem to prefer photos of me that either my daughter or my other half have taken, and my sister (who’s also a professional photographer) told me this is because you’re the most natural around the people you love.

So, try to get a loved one to help you with this.

But if not, a tripod set up at the right height will work too. Make sure the lens is at your eye-level and that the phone isn’t tilted up or down.

Practice makes perfect

I know it’s super cringey, but before you start taking pictures, spend a little time practicing your poses in the mirror.

We all look at our faces all the time, but they’re generally moving about as we do so. It can be quite a surprise when we see what we look like when our face is in a neutral expression (OK, yes, I confess to being the Queen of the Resting Bitch Face – fellow sufferers, I sympathise!)

Think about what kind of atmosphere you want to achieve in the photograph. A lot of this will depend on the genre you write, and your ideal readers.

If you write thrillers, you might want to look a little bit more serious and thoughtful. If you write uplifting women’s fiction, perhaps you want to look more friendly and approachable.

This will really depend on the kind of books you write, and if you’re not at all sure, then take a look at the headshots for other authors in your genre, and see which styles appeal to you the most.

Then, spend some time getting comfortable with your own face, by practising different poses in the mirror.

This will make you less nervous when you come to take the pictures.

One tip that works for me when my smile starts to look too fixed is to look away from the camera briefly and then turn my head back quickly and smile as the photo is taken.

I find it opens up my face somehow and always looks a lot more natural than standing there frozen like a statue.

Get the lighting right

So, my sister Sophie Duckworth is a photographer, as I mentioned, and one thing she’s always banging on about (at every family event when someone pulls out a phone to take a pic!) is the lighting.

Great lighting is SO important.

It’s also a little bit technical, so I asked her for her tips on this, and here’s what she said:

‘You want to aim for natural diffused light. Natural light is so much more flattering than artificial light. Aim to stand a little bit back – perhaps one foot away – from a window or open door. You don’t want to be front of it as if it’s very sunny or bright outside you will naturally squint. So step back from it. You want the light to hit your face without being too bright or strong,’ she says.

‘Make sure you avoid shadows and turn off any spotlights or overhead lighting that can create even subtle shadows across your face. Unless you’re really young with perfect skin, side-on lighting tends not to be hugely flattering as it accentuates every wrinkle, so make sure the light source is directly facing you.’

‘Look ‘past’ the camera, look up slightly and make sure you have good eye contact with the lens. Keep the background neutral and uncluttered.’

Consider how you present yourself

Obviously the way you choose to present yourself in your pictures is entirely personal. But I actually think that putting on loads of make up when you don’t usually wear it, or curling your hair when it’s usually straight, is a bad idea.

Your headshot needs to look like you, so that when people see you in real life, they don’t gasp in shock at how different you look. 😆

You basically want to look like yourself on your Best Day. So clean, brushed hair, neatly styled so that it doesn’t obscure your face is important, but don’t feel you have to pay someone to come in and do an expensive updo or make up for you beforehand.

From my own experience, I tend to wear slightly more make-up than on a normal day in photos and videos, but I try to keep it as natural looking as possible, so that it’s my face people notice, and not the lipstick!

If you wear glasses, then take some pics with them on and some without them, and see which you prefer.

Change outfits if you can

Clothing wise, again, I think it’s so important to wear something you feel comfortable in.

There’s a general rule that wearing a plain white or black top doesn’t work too well on camera, and that you should avoid busy patterns too as they can be distracting.

I think a nice solid block of colour that complements your skin tone and eyes is always a good bet.

But it’s also a good idea to try multiple outfits as again, you can never quite tell what will look best until the picture has been taken.

Take loads of pictures

Again, speaking from experience, take tons of pictures! Take as many pictures as your poor long-suffering friend/partner will let you, or as many as your poor aching face can bear.

The weirdest thing is that when you take multiple photos, even if they’re all technically of you in the same position, there will be microscopic subtle differences in each picture which can completely alter the overall impression of the photograph.

Take as many as you can! The more options the better!

I’ve had photoshoots in the past where I’ve ended up with 200 images and only liked two or three.

I remember having a shoot when I was working in magazines and the photographer took at least 60 pictures of me, and I only liked one! One!

My first ever professional headshot!

You can see it here – look at my young innocent face!

So yes, the more choice you have, the better chance you will land on that perfect author headshot (and the good news is, you really only need one).

Pick the photo YOU like the best

This is my biggest tip! Your author headshot is going to follow you around the internet and so you want to choose the one that you are happiest with.

Of course, it’s good to solicit opinions from friends or people at your publisher, but at the end of the day, it’s much more important that YOU are happy with the photo, that you feel completely comfortable with it and that you feel it represents you best.

After all, you are going to be seeing it a lot!

And if you’d like someone to walk you step-by-step through building your author website, then the DIY Author Website Course is just for you →

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5 things you CAN control as a traditionally published author

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:18 +0000

Most of my author friends are, like me, traditionally published, and one theme that comes up again and again in conversation is: frustration. And a sense that we don’t have control over our careers.

Published authors often feel at the mercy of the publishing house’s decisions with regards to marketing and sales, as well as staffing changes, budget cuts and shifting priorities.

As the author, when we sign that contract we are essentially ‘selling’ our book to the publisher. Which means they can do what they want with it afterwards!

And sadly, it often feels as though they don’t DO much at all… 🤨

The ONE thing I wish I had known before I got my book deal →

There are a million stories on Substack (the new haven for pissed-off authors to have a whinge) from authors who feel let down by their experience being traditionally published, and it’s always so upsetting and hard to hear.

Upsetting, but also - the brutal truth is that it’s just the way the business works. And your book is just a product - one of many, many other similar products, and the publisher’s primary responsibility is to maximise profit for their shareholders.

But this post isn’t going to be about what you can’t control as a traditionally published author, because, like I said, there’s already more than enough of that on Substack.

Today, I’m going to attempt to be more positive instead, and talk about the things you CAN control.

30 things I’ve learnt from 5 years being published →

1) Your attitude

I’m starting with one of the most difficult things of all, but it’s something that I really do believe is fundamental to get to grips with if you’re going to survive life as a traditionally published author: your attitude.

Your attitude towards publishing, your attitude towards your own success, your attitude towards your fellow authors, your attitude towards your reviews, your sales figures, your writing… it goes on and on.

Being a published author is honestly so bloody hard on your self-esteem and mental health. I don’t think I can accurately describe what it’s like - it’s the sort of thing that you only fully understand when you have to experience it yourself.

When you feel chewed up and spat out by publishing (as sadly, many authors do!), you really have two choices: either fall apart in despair and wallow in bitterness and self-pity, OR brush yourself off and keep going. Remind yourself that you are not alone, that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and that the most successful authors have long and winding careers. Ones which rarely take a linear path. There will ALWAYS be ups and downs and a setback is just that - a setback. NOT the end of your story.

So take some time to grieve whatever ambition has been lost (for the moment), and then get back to what you’re meant to be doing - writing your next book!

Also, remember that you are NOT your book. You are not just one book. Your book is an entirely separate thing from you - it’s something you’ve created, but it’s just ONE thing.

There will be many more things you create and each one is its own opportunity to create the kind of success you’ve been hoping for.

It’s also good to remember that what you see on social media from other authors is rarely the complete picture.

I think cultivating and maintaining a positive mindset is one of THE most difficult aspects of the job, in a similar way to most creative industries. My partner is a professional singer-songwriter and it’s just the same in his work: endless knockbacks and disappointments.

But you have to find ways to adjust, and to cope, otherwise you may as well give up.

If you are looking for some help with your mindset, then I’d really recommend checking out Sophie Hannah’s Dream Author coaching programme.

Her advice on dealing with the ups and downs of author life is excellent.

2) Your relationship with readers

I am quite evangelical about building a direct relationship with your readers. I think this connection is the most powerful thing you have and can truly make or break your career.

If your readers grow to love and trust and feel as though they ‘know’ you, they will follow you wherever your writing takes you.

But if they don’t really know who you even are, then there’s no loyalty there, no reason for them to remember you if in the future, you move publisher, re-brand, take a break or even decide you’d like to try the self-publishing route.

Many traditionally published authors don’t bother to invest much time in developing their relationship with their readers.

They might do some token social media from time to time, but they don’t think about setting up a newsletter, for example, preferring to leave email marketing to their publisher.

But honestly, especially when it comes to newsletters, I think this is a mistake.

Your publisher is meant to invest in the books they’ve bought from you, but not so much in YOU, as an author. So handing over your newsletter list to them is really risky.

As we’ve already discussed, many things change at publishing houses. Imprints close or get absorbed, editors leave, senior leadership teams evolve and when things like this happen, authors are often negatively affected.

It’s at this point that you may want to start discussing with your agent moving to a new publisher.

But if your existing publisher has built up a mailing list on your behalf of 1000 of your most-dedicated fans, what happens when you leave?

Nothing. You have to leave that mailing list behind, because you don’t ‘own’ the data, or the right to contact those people.

Despite the fact they wanted to hear from you!

So please, don’t offload this stuff to your publisher.

Please treat your writing career like the small, fledgling business it is, and think strategically and professionally about this stuff.

Your relationship with your readers is your most powerful marketing asset - cherish it! Nurture it! Develop it!

Invest time in it and it will pay dividends in the future when / if you choose a different publishing path.

When should I launch my author website? →

3) Your brand / online presence

And on a similar note… one thing I really think authors can take control of is their own online presence or ‘author brand’.

Your publisher - honestly - has almost zero interest in this.

They don’t care what you look like. They don’t care ‘who you are’. They care about your book, its place in the market, and the response it gets from readers (not the response YOU get from readers - an important distinction).

Unless, of course, you get cancelled. Or suddenly become famous. LOL.

Why do you think publishers don’t routinely offer their new authors media training, despite perhaps getting you spots on panels or interviews with newspapers etc?

It’s because they don’t actually care how YOU, the author, are perceived. Especially if you write fiction.

Perhaps in non-fiction, it’s less of an issue, where your own brand is a powerful marketing asset for the publisher - but often when you are offered a non-fiction deal it’s because you have already worked so hard to cultivate your own personal brand.

Author branding is such a huge topic and I can’t do it justice here, but I do think the onus is on you to start thinking about who you are as an author when you get your book deal, and treating your author career like a business.

Which means, among other things, setting up a website and that aforementioned all-important mailing list.

How to build an author website: a step-by-step guide for authors →

Here are a few prompts to get you thinking about your readership and how you can build an online presence that would appeal to them:

What gender is your ideal reader?
What age range do they fall into? (this is an important consideration as many older readers don’t use social media, but they are likely to use email)
What level of education have they achieved?
Do they have children?
How much money do they have?
If they do use social media, what platforms are they most likely to be on?
Which websites do they visit the most?
Where do they shop?
Where do they get their book recommendations from?
Where do they buy their books?
Why do they enjoy your books? What is it about them that they enjoy?
Are your authors in book clubs? Where do they like to read?
Do they read your book for pleasure, business, self-help or something else?
Are they busy people, constantly pressed for time, or do they have time to fill?
What other authors do they enjoy reading? And what do those authors’ websites look like?
What other media do your readers enjoy? Podcasts? Newspapers? Magazines?

Once you’ve got a clearer idea of who your ideal readers are, you can work towards tailoring the content of your author website to appeal specifically to them.

Remember: always, always think about your readers. Without them, your career doesn’t exist!

4) Your literary citizenship

Oh I love this term!

In case you’re not sure what it means, allow me to enlighten you. It basically means supporting your fellow authors and the literary community in general through engagement, reviews, social media support, mentoring and more…

Basically helping out your fellow authors. S’nice, right?

And even though, of course, the aims are usually altruistic, the truth is that this kind of work can really help lift you up when you’re feeling down.

How I deal with professional jealousy as a writer →

Not only because it reminds you that you’re not alone, and that there are many authors out there who may also be struggling with the rollercoaster of publishing, but also because doing stuff to help other people out just feels really good.

On that note, I have to confess that I am not the best at ‘conventional’ literary citizenship.

I am a really slow reader, which means even though I get sent tons of proofs, I don’t get the chance to blurb as often as I’d like.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Charlotte Duckworth / Rixon | Author (@charduck)

I actually talked about this on Insta recently!

So I try to be a good literary citizen in other ways. For example, this blog! And my free resources for authors. And my Debut Author Club.

All of these things help me ‘give back’ but also feel part of a community that so desperately needs to exist in order to support everyone in it.

None of this has anything to do with your publisher, or your publishing deal, and everything to do with building a sustainable, positive career as an author.

Becoming a ‘known’ figure within the community will ultimately benefit you in myriad ways as your career progresses.

5) Your writing

I had to save the big, most obvious one until last!

So, the MAIN AND MOST IMPORTANT thing you can control, as a traditionally published author, is your Actual God Damn Writing!

So obvious.

Yet so true.

For those who have not read my blog before, you might not be familiar with my absolute favourite writing mantra which is:

WRITING IS ITS OWN REWARD

Writing was something you did before you got a publishing deal, and unless you are completely insane, you didn’t do it because you thought it was a great way to get rich.

You did it because you loved writing.

And you wanted to create something.

And that’s a beautiful thing. And the main, and most important thing: that no matter how your ‘career’ develops, and no matter what shit publishing throws at you, your writing will always matter most of all.

Your writing offers you endless possibilities. That’s the beauty of it.

No matter how many copies your trad-pubbed novel sells, you can always write another. And another. And another.

You can re-invent yourself, change your name, move genres, switch to non-fiction for a change, self-publish…. The possibilities are endless and the writing is always firmly in your control.

Once you have finished writing a book, no one can take that away from you. That’s YOUR achievement. And it’s a ginormous one, and you did it all by yourself.

Publishing can’t touch that fact. Ever.

So well done, and keep writing.

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5 lessons I've learned about book marketing

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:29 +0000

I was tidying up my Google Drive recently and I found this post! I originally wrote it as a guest post for someone else’s blog but I had a great Q&A session with my Debut Author group last week and a lot of these topics came up… so I thought it was worth a repost here!

I also thought I would preface this post with explaining the difference between marketing and PR, because this is something I find many people are confused by.

I actually used to run my own content marketing agency and when I was a journalist I worked with PRs all the time so I do know the difference but it’s not always obvious.

In Publishing, you often find people talking about Sales, Marketing and Publicity as though they are all the same thing, but, while they are related to one another and should play nicely together, they’re actually completely distinct.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the differences:

1. Different goals:

Marketing is about promoting and selling a product or service. Its main focus is driving revenue - getting interested people to actually buy your book.
PR (Public Relations) is about managing reputation and relationships. Its main focus is building trust, credibility, and awareness for you and your author brand.

2. Different messaging and approach:

Marketing messages are often controlled, direct, and persuasive. We’re talking about ads, email campaigns, sponsored social media posts, and other paid-for promotions.
PR messages are more indirect and earned. The goal is to get others (like journalists or influencers) to talk about your book positively, rather than you promoting yourself directly.

3. Different - but sometimes overlapping - channels:

Marketing: Paid channels mostly - advertisements, sponsored posts, PPC (pay per click) campaigns, email marketing, larger events like festivals, etc.
PR: Earned or owned channels - press releases, media coverage, interviews, thought leadership pieces, social media engagement, press launches.

4. Different measurement:

Marketing: Usually measured in hard metrics - sales, leads, clicks, conversions, ROI (return on investment).
PR: More difficult to track as measured in softer metrics, for example media mentions, author ‘brand’ sentiment, audience reach, reputation, and sometimes engagement.

If you launch a new book:

Marketing would be running Facebook ads, promoting it on your newsletter, and offering pre-order discounts to drive sales.
PR would be sending the book to journalists, getting it reviewed in a magazine, or being interviewed on a podcast to raise awareness and credibility.

In short, marketing says ‘Buy this book,’ while PR says ‘This book is worth taking a look at.’

They often overlap, but the distinction is really about direct sales vs. reputation and awareness.

In my experience, when it comes to books, marketing is a more powerful tool than PR.

While PR is great for raising your own profile as an author, it’s less immediately effective at shifting copies of your book. It’s definitely more of a ‘longer game’ kind of thing.

Some honest thoughts on author publicity →

30 things I’ve learnt from 5 years being published →

OK, so now we’ve cleared that up, here are the top 5 lessons I’ve learned about marketing specifically since becoming a published author!

1 You can’t do everything - pick the things you enjoy

Like many authors, when I first got my book deal I was determined to Do It All. I googled anything and everything around book marketing, set up new social media accounts, built myself a new website, set up a mailing list, got headshots done, started researching digital advertising, and basically gave myself a bit of a mental breakdown.

In short, very quickly I became totally overwhelmed. It took a few conversations with some wiser and more experienced author friends to realise that less is more. As an author, you’re constantly juggling lots of different balls, and it’s inevitable that you’ll drop some if you overload yourself.

The best tip I was given, early on in my career, was to pick the marketing-related things you enjoy doing, and focus on them. So for me, it’s having a good, up-to-date website and dedicated author newsletter. I dip in and out of social media but it’s not my main focus. I set up a Tik Tok account, just in case readers wanted to find me, but I don’t post on it - it directs people to my Instagram, where I focus most of my social media efforts.

Picking the marketing avenues you enjoy will mean that marketing your books doesn’t feel like a chore. And if you enjoy it, you’re far more likely to stick with it.

2 It’s important to engage with readers

I feel quite strongly about this one. But it needs to start with a caveat - I don’t believe authors should respond to negative reviews. Ever. Despite how much you want to!

I’ve managed to resist over the years, except for one occasion - when a reviewer left a one-star review for one my books that hadn’t even been to the copyeditor yet. There was no way the reviewer could have possibly read the book, so I left an unwise and rather sarcastic comment on the review, saying I’d love to borrow their time machine and go into the future.

I later learned that some reviewers will star-mark books they want to read as a way of reminding themselves. Oops.

Anyway, I think reviewers, on the whole, are amazing, and it’s really nice to acknowledge the time they spend reading and reviewing your book. Or even commenting on your social media posts.

I try really hard to respond to all of the comments I get - I think it’s only right, and I know that readers really appreciate it.

3 Amazon / Facebook ads are a dark art

I can’t really say much about this because, nearly eight years on from my first book being released, I STILL don’t understand how Amazon ads work. Or, for that matter, Facebook ads.

If you do want to go down the route of advertising your book then I really strong advise you consult an expert in the field for advice. The landscape is constantly changing, and you can easily spend hundreds of pounds otherwise, without ever seeing a return on your investment.

4 The landscape constantly shifts

And talking of landscapes changing - it’s not just advertising algorithms. The whole digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving, and it can be a real challenge to keep up with the times. BookTok has been a big driver of book sales for a few years now, but I have heard that even that is on the wane now.

Cover reveals used to be a big thing, but now they don’t seem to have the same impact, and some publishers don’t bother doing them at all.

If you have a publisher, I think it’s important to stay in communication with whoever is in charge of marketing your books, and make sure you are both on the same page, and that your efforts are supporting theirs, and vice versa.

And don’t be afraid to ask for their advice - they’re the experts after all!

5 The best marketing you can do is write another book

I talk to many traditionally published authors as I also build author websites, and I always come back to this point: marketing your book is (mostly) your publisher’s job.

The best marketing you can do for your book is to write another one. Honestly. You are a writer, and writing is your job.

Of course, marketing your book is something you can get involved with, but don’t let it be at the expense of writing your next novel!

Download my FREE Debut Author’s Survival Guide →

Am I allowed a bonus lesson!?

I hope so, because I’d like to end on an important point…

It’s OK to take breaks from your marketing efforts!

Writing takes a lot out of you and I think all authors reach a point where they’ve had enough and just want to run away and hide.

So if one day you wake up and realise you feel completely overwhelmed by social media, and just want to be Left Alone, then take a few days off! Or a week! Or however long you need.

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Project Spotlight: geraldineroberts.com

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:00:56 +0000

I LOVE working with historical non-fiction authors - I have so much admiration for the amount of work and research that these writers have to put in.

So it was a true joy to be able to work with bestselling author Geraldine Roberts on the creation of a new website to support her upcoming book.

The Brief

Geraldine is a bestselling historical non-fiction author, whose forthcoming book, The Rebel and the Peacemaker, is being released by Penguin Random House in June.

While Geraldine already had a website, she had built it herself on Wordpress and wasn’t happy with how difficult it was to manage. She also felt it looked quite amateur.

Geraldine wanted a colourful, professional-looking website that was slick but most importantly of all - easy for her to update herself. Low maintenance was the order of the day (and of course, Squarespace ticks all the boxes here!)

Geraldine had a really eye-catching cover for her new book and was keen to incorporate some of the colours from the cover in the website’s design. She also had a wealth of photography from her research that she wanted to include, in order to give the website a flavour of the period.

Most importantly of all though, she didn’t want the website to look too old-fashioned or fussy, as the themes in her books are still resonant today. So I kept the fonts clean and classic, with just a nod to the past, and made use of the amazing artwork and photography in banners throughout the site to add character and delineate different sections.

I really love the finished look - it’s warm, inviting, and reflects the artwork from Geraldine’s book without overpowering it.

Scroll down to see more of Geraldine’s website and find out more about how she found our project…

The Details

Version: Squarespace 7.1

Fonts used: Cormorant Garamond, Lato

View the site: geraldineroberts.com

Geraldine’s Verdict

“I LOVE the website - it is so slick! I’m glad I took the plunge, as I was wasting so much time and energy trying to create a website myself. And I could never have even come close to what Charlotte has produced.”

— GERALDINE ROBERTS

The Post-launch Q&A

How do you feel about your completed website?

I LOVE the website - it is so slick! I am really happy with the feel and functionality, particularly with how good it looks and works on every type of browser – big or small. It has personality and captures the essence of my work as an historian.

Before working with Charlotte Duckworth Studio, when it came to my website I felt …

… uninspired by my bland, homemade site. I tried to revamp it myself, but made little progress due to my limited technical and design skills. Then I came across Charlotte Duckworth Studio, and browsed the portfolio thinking – this is exactly what I need!

What fears or hesitations did you have before deciding to work with Charlotte Duckworth Studio?

Looking through Charlotte’s portfolio, I felt confident that she would do an excellent job. My only hesitation was the expense, and whether it was really necessary. I’m glad I took the plunge, as I was wasting so much time and energy trying to create a website myself. And I could never have even come close to what Charlotte has produced.

How do you expect your new site to change things for you?

I am happy to finally have a professional presence online, where I can direct enquiries, and journalists can gather information about me. The website gives me a platform to write my own bio and blurbs and provide updates through my Instagram feed. This is timely, with the release of my new book, The Rebel and the Peacemaker, which is out in June.

For someone on the fence about working with Charlotte Duckworth Studio, what would you say to them?

I would say do it, it is worth it. It is a one-off expense, that will pay dividends for many years to come. I am not into social media or posting online. I like the fact that the website is complete, and can stay up indefinitely as a means to representing me.

Is there anything you were really hoping would be included in your website design package?

It was perfect for my requirements.

Would you recommend Charlotte Duckworth Studio to a friend who also needed to build an author website?

Yes, absolutely.

Want me to build you a website?

Find out more, then get in touch. I would love to hear from you!

More posts you might like:

10 thriller author websites to inspire you

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:00:31 +0000

Oh, thrillers… the twisty plots, the unreliable narrators, the heart-in-your-mouth pacing. What’s not to love?

And if you write thrillers, your author website should capture that same feeling. A great thriller author website doesn’t just share information about your books.

It creates atmosphere, pulls readers into your world and makes them want to click straight through to the ‘buy it now’ button.

However, many of my thriller author clients come to me not knowing where to start when it comes to designing their website.

And so the first step I always recommend is to start researching other authors in your genre!

Looking at websites for other authors who write in your genre can be incredibly helpful and inspirational.

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

Questions to ask while you’re researching

What first impression does the homepage give?

Does it immediately convey suspense, intrigue, or the tone of the author’s thrillers? How does the hero image, colour palette, or typography make you feel?

How are the books presented and organised?

Are the books easy to find? Is there a clear reading order for series? Do blurbs, covers, and links make you want to click and buy?

What elements create atmosphere or tension?

Look at the visuals, layout, and font choices. How does the design echo the style of the author’s stories? Could you use similar techniques for your own branding?

How does the site encourage reader engagement?

Are there newsletter sign-ups, social links, events, or special content? How do they keep readers coming back?

How easy is it to navigate and explore?

Could you quickly find books, author info, and contact details? What organisational strategies or layouts could you borrow for your own site?

And if you want a head-start on the research side of things, I’ve done some digging myself, and in this post I’ll be sharing ten thriller author websites that work brilliantly.

Top tip: click on the images to be taken directly through to see the live version of the author’s website!

Karin Slaughter’s author website

Visit Karin’s website >

I love Karin’s website - it’s clear, not too fussy and your attention is immediately drawn to the things that she most wants you to notice - namely her latest release and then Season 2 of her Hulu show.

A couple of choice quotes about her writing and a clear newsletter sign-up box finish off the homepage. Even though she’s a prolific author, you’re not overwhelmed.

She also promotes her newsletter right at the top of the page, along with links to her social platforms.

Will Dean’s author website

Visit Will’s website >

OK, so I’m biased because I built this website, but it’s one of my favourites!

Will is again a prolific author who has published multiple books but is also known for living in a remote Swedish woodland. When we worked together he wanted to make the most of his evocative photography and keep the design really simple. The monochrome scheme allows his book covers to star.

John Marrs’ author website

Visit John’s website >

John Marrs has a great personality on social media and so I particularly love that his website opens with a simple headshot, inviting you in. His homepage is a perfect example of ‘less is more’ - the links to find out more about his books are all clear, all the information you could want is there, but there’s nothing cluttered or fussy.

I also love that he has a shop where fans can buy merch as well as signed editions of his books!

Andrea Mara’s author website

Visit Andrea’s website >

I love Andrea’s website. Again, it’s clean and simple but offers plenty of information, including a news page and links to Andrea’s freelance journalism.

The design is unobtrusive, meaning that it will work nicely with any cover design.

Peter James’ author website

Visit Peter’s website >

Bold, brash and unapologetic are the words I’d use to describe Peter James’ author website. It sits brilliantly behind his covers which are similarly in-your-face (this is meant as a compliment!). I love the prominent navigation link to his YouTube channel which offers a ton of extra content for fans to enjoy.

Sophie Hannah’s author website

Visit Sophie’s website >

Sophie is another prolific, well-established author and I love the sunny yellow she’s using for her author website - but also how the background colours change as you scroll down, delineating each section about each book / TV show / element.

She also has a fab Events page which is up-to-date - hurrah!

Ruth Ware’s author website

Visit Ruth’s website >

Ruth Ware’s author website is one that I see a lot when I ask clients for their ‘inspiration sites’. They love the moody, atmospheric feel and the evocative backgrounds. I also think the fonts and accent colours on this site are super pleasing.

My author website! 😆

Visit my website >

Feel free to scroll on by but I am actually really proud of my author website! As you can imagine, it’s gone through tons of different iterations over the years, but I’m currently promoting my latest thriller, Connie, and I really love the lightning bolt behind the homepage banner - click the link to take a look and see what you think 😉

Linwood Barclay’s author website

Visit Linwood’s website >

Linwood Barclay is another hugely successful author and his website isn’t the fanciest or prettiest but it is SO well put together and clear that I love it. It’s the perfect example that you don’t have to go overboard on the design front to end up with an effective author website - it does the job, looks incredibly professional and allows the books to shine.

Cara Hunter’s author website

Visit Cara’s website >

I’m finishing my top ten with my absolute favourite thriller author website - Cara Hunter’s. I love the moving elements, the use of shape and textured backgrounds - it all just works so well. I also love that Cara has a page of recommendations for books, TV shows and podcasts that her readers might enjoy too.

Thriller author website - honourable mentions!

I looked at a lot of websites in order to pull this post together - and here are a few I’d also like to mention because they are all impressive too.

I have to shamefully link to quite a few of my own designs because in doing the research I tried to be humble folks, but I honestly do think mine are some of the best! :) Enjoy!

*Marion Todd’s author website >

AJ Finn’s author website >

CL Taylor’s author website >

*Emma Christie’s author website >

Harlan Coben’s author website >

*Sarah Vaughan’s author website >

Sandie Jones’ author website >

Alice Feeney’s author website >

*my own designs

Want to build your own thriller author website?

If the above designs have inspired you to start that long-put-off task of building an author website you can be proud of, then first of all - hurray! And second of all… let’s break down five essential things every thriller author website needs…

Five essential elements every thriller author website needs

A TRULY great thriller author website should give readers the same sense of intrigue, tension, and excitement that they find in your novels.

Here are five essential elements to include:

1. A gripping homepage

Your homepage is the first thing readers see, and for all authors, first impressions matter. Think of it like the opening scene of your book - it sets the tone. Use a bold hero image, striking cover art, or an atmospheric illustration that immediately conveys the suspenseful mood of your work.

Having said all that, don’t go overboard! Keep your homepage clean and focused. Highlight your latest release, a short tagline that captures your style, and a clear call-to-action, such as ‘Buy the Book’ or ‘Sign up to the Newsletter’ (although I advise calling it something more exciting than that).

A homepage that feels dynamic and suspenseful can draw readers in, just like a first chapter hooks a reader.

2. Clear and organised book pages

Thriller readers love to dive into series and follow characters across multiple books. Your website should make this easy. Include:

Dedicated book pages with cover images
Series reading order if applicable
Short, compelling blurbs
Links to purchase or download

Visual hierarchy is key. Don’t let your books get lost in clutter. Each book should feel like a mini thriller experience, encouraging readers to click, explore, and buy.

3. Atmosphere through design

Thrillers are all about tension, pacing, and mood. So (although you don’t have to!) if you’re feeling creative, you can always echo that in your website’s design:

Colour palette: Dark tones, moody backgrounds, or pops of red can signal suspense
Typography: Bold, modern fonts for headlines; readable text for body copy
Imagery: Subtle textures, shadowy photography, or cover art-inspired visuals

A well-curated design makes your site feel like it belongs in the same universe as your books, creating an immersive experience for your readers.

4. A strong newsletter presence

Your mailing list is one of your most powerful tools as an author. It’s how you communicate directly with your readers, build excitement for upcoming releases, and maintain a loyal fan base.

Make sure:

Newsletter sign-ups are prominent (consider a homepage banner or pop-up, or mention it above your main navigation)
You offer something enticing, like early access to chapters, exclusive short stories, or behind-the-scenes insights
The tone of your newsletter reflects your books: suspenseful, intriguing, and personal

Why every author should set up a mailing list →

5. Easy navigation and reader-friendly layout

Nothing breaks tension faster than frustration - in books and on websites! If readers can’t find the information they’re after on your website easily, they’re likely to leave.

Keep your navigation simple and intuitive:

Have a max of six items in your navigation, eg Books, About, News/Events, Contact, Newsletter
Keep a consistent layout across pages
Make sure your images load quickly, and that you have responsive design for mobile readers (all Squarespace websites are automatically responsive)

The easier it is to explore your site, the more likely readers are to stick around and engage with your work.

Find out more info on mobile view →

Bonus tip: Integrate your author brand

Every thriller author has a unique style, whether it’s domestic noir, psychological suspense, or high-octane action. Make sure your author brand comes through on your website.

Again, not to blow my own trumpet, but I think my own author website is a good example of this.

From the tone of your copy to your visual choices, every element should reinforce what makes your thrillers distinct.

Final thoughts

With these five elements, your website can do more than display your books. It can pull readers into your world, build excitement, but most importantly of all, turn casual visitors into loyal fans.

A strong thriller author website is the ultimate tool for connecting your stories with the people who will love them most.

Need help building your thriller author website?

If you would like me to build you a website, then please do get in touch now!

I only work with one client at a time and I only take on two clients each month, to make sure I can give them my undivided love and attention, so my slots do go quite quickly.

Whether you’re just starting out or need a full redesign, I help thriller authors create custom Squarespace sites that convert readers into fans.

Get in touch here or check out my portfolio.

Discover my website design services for authors here →

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5 things you must do when you get your first book deal

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:00:48 +0000

I want to start this article off by saying that if you have been offered a traditional publishing deal for your book, then this is a MASSIVE DEAL.

It is getting harder and harder to get published - the landscape is changing dramatically with every year and publishers have become more and more risk adverse. So getting a book deal is an incredible achievement - even more impressive than when I got my first deal in 2017.

So you should be very proud. But… you may also be feeling rather overwhelmed.

Working towards a huge goal like this takes a long time and if you're anything like me, it often means you haven’t thought much about the ‘other side’.

IE: what happens next.

So today, I thought I’d run through 5 things you must do after getting that exciting, life-changing email.

30 things I’ve learnt from 5 years being published →

1) Celebrate

I’m going to start with the most obvious one. But I don’t mean to be facetious. The truth is that the run up to getting that email with news of an offer is often fraught, stressful and can test even the most stable person’s sanity.

Is there actually anything worse than being on submission to publishers? It is the most hideous process! I’ve had eight novels published and I still find it completely draining.

So when you finally hear that someone actually wants to buy your book, you are often so exhausted by it all that it’s hard to feel anything but numb relief.

Or at least, that’s how it was for me.

Looking back now, with my years of experience, I can safely say that being offered a book deal is one of the highest highs of the whole process of being published. Not to say that it’s always downhill from then on, but getting an offer is almost certainly the highest point of the rollercoaster and although the rollercoaster will go back up again, it’s important to make the most of the view from the top every time you get there.

I don’t want to sound negative but I do think it’s important to be realistic about what being published is truly like, because there are often disappointments involved. However, when you get that first book deal, anything is possible. Your book hasn’t been tested by the market yet, it hasn’t been deemed unworthy of shelf space in a supermarket, or been pulled to pieces by frustrated-writers-turned-reviewers on Netgalley.

So please, for the love of god, make sure you celebrate!

It doesn’t matter if you’re completely burnt out by the submission process, you absolutely must make a fuss of yourself. Go for dinner. Go on holiday. Buy a huge cake. Treat yourself to something you’ve wanted for ages. Do whatever you usually do when you celebrate something, and take tons of photos.

It is a HUGE thing to get a book deal, and it needs to be celebrated in the same way as any endeavour that someone has worked long and hard for.

I’ve always been guilty of not living in the moment, and always looking ahead to the next thing to tick off the to-do list. I’m trying to work on it! And looking back, I wish I had celebrated my first book deal more. So don’t be like me!

2) Get your online presence in order

OK, so once you’ve got the fun stuff out of the way, it’s time to start reframing the way you look at yourself.
It’s time to start seeing yourself as An Author. And treating being An Author as you would any other new job.

Being an author is like being the CEO of your own business. But often, new authors don’t see it that way.

The issue is that writing a book is often something that’s done ‘around the edges’ of the rest of a life, and for a long time has to be treated like a hobby.

But once you get a book deal, it’s important to shift your mindset and start treating it like a(nother) job.

This means, you have to do start-up stuff, in the same way you would if you were launching any other kind of business.

As soon as your deal is announced, there will be people In The Industry (because it’s a job, see?!) looking you up online.

What will they find when they do?

If it’s nothing but an out-of-date Facebook page then it’s time to up your game!

Ideally, here’s what you need to have in place when your debut book deal is announced:

A simple, clear author website with contact details for all your professional contacts (agent, publicist etc)
An up-to-date author bio
A professional headshot
A mailing list sign up
Public social media accounts in your author name (if you want to use social media)

None of this has to be flashy or complicated. You just need to have the basics so that people who are interested in you / your book can find out what they need to know easily.

And if you want help with your author website then you’re in the right place!

I know I’m biased but the earlier you get this stuff sorted, the better. Time and time again I get contacted by authors who want a website for their debut that’s coming out next month, and I have to turn them down because I’m fully booked.

The run up to publication is a hectic time, so the sooner you can get your online presence sorted, the less work you will have on your plate in that busy period. Your future self will thank you for it.

It also takes time for the SEO of new websites to establish, so the earlier you get your website up and running, the more chance you have of it appearing if someone Googles you.

When should I launch my author website? →

As for social media, this is personal preference but IMHO, you do want to be using at least one platform in a professional capacity. I am not an expert but I have done a few interviews with social media experts that you can read by clicking the links below:

Instagram for authors: interview with Nicola Washington →

Marketing for authors - top tips from Katie Sadler →

At the very least, it’s worth setting up professional accounts on the major platforms - using your professional headshot for continuity - even if you don’t intend to use social media.

This way you have at least ‘claimed’ those accounts / usernames should you wish to invest time on the platforms in the future.

3) Get involved with the author community

This point was originally called ‘network’ but it’s such a horrible word I decided to change it!

Still, whatever you want to call it, getting out there and meeting other authors is crucially important, if you want to stay sane in this business.

My author mates are the only ones who truly understand what the aforementioned rollercoaster ride is like, and I don’t think I’d survive this crazy career if I didn’t have them to talk to.

So please get out there and meet as many authors as you can! Even better if they are debuting at the same time as you.

Go to as many events as possible - yes it’s utterly terrifying turning up to a book launch not knowing anyone but I PROMISE you it will be OK and someone kind will take pity on you. And before you know it you’ll have made your first author friend.

If you don’t know any other authors or you haven’t been invited to any events, ask your agent or editor if they can pair you up with someone – most authors would be more than happy to chat to you!

4) Get an accountant

I have been self employed for fifteen years and yet I still only understand the very basics when it comes to tax.

Luckily, I have a great accountant.

Many authors I build websites for have never been self-employed before and understandably don’t know much about tax, either. Which is why it’s REALLY worth getting an accountant.

A good accountant should always save you money, but they will also help advise you on how to set everything up correctly, ensure you keep accurate records and basically hold your hand through your first tax return as an author.

They are worth their weight in gold! Especially if you have to do VAT returns too (if you earn over a certain threshold, you will have to register for VAT).

As an author, you can choose to set up a limited company or become a sole trader. There are pros and cons to both of these routes. There are also certain things that authors can take advantage of - such as ‘creative averaging’ (I’m not going to attempt to explain this here, please Google!).

Again, this is where a really good accountant can make everything a lot less stressful.

However, when it comes to finding an accountant, it’s important to do your research. Also, bear in mind that accountants can vary hugely in cost but more expensive doesn’t always mean better.

I would always seek a recommendation from a trusted friend or relative when it comes to finding an accountant. Also, make sure that they understand the nature of authors’ incomes, that they can vary drastically from one year to another, and that they have experience dealing with similar clients.

5) Keep writing

OK, last up. Again, something that might sound obvious but from experience I know that many authors are so caught up in the excitement / stress / admin involved in their first book deal that they put writing their next book on the back burner.

Please don’t do this!

Not only will writing a new book give you something to focus on and keep you sane throughout your debut journey, you’ll also be so thankful to have the next book underway when your debut comes out and you are stupidly busy promoting it while on a deadline for book 2.

Writing is HONESTLY one of the only things we traditionally published authors have control over. It’s our domain. Our thing. The thing we do best.

So you must keep writing. Keep up the momentum and try to separate what’s going on with your first book (reviews, cover reveals, sales slots) from your work in progress, because every book is unique and if your first book doesn’t end up being the mega seller you’d hoped for, there’s every chance your second book might.

You are a writer and it’s your job to keep writing, no matter what happens to the output of your efforts.

I also think that publishers appreciate authors who are able to continue writing and behave in a professional way throughout their debut year - not getting too emotional (even though god knows it’s the most exposing, excruciating thing to have a book published!) when things don’t work out as hoped. It shows that you take your writing seriously and that you treat it as a job.

I do honestly think it makes a difference to your chances of remaining published if you can take bad news on the chin and always look ahead to the next book.

Also, as I always say, the writing really is the best bit about it all - you got into this business because you loved writing, and it’s important to remember that!

6) Bonus tip! Download my Debut Authors’ Survival Guide

If you found this post helpful, then you will find tons more advice and solidarity in my Debut Authors’ Survival Guide, which I wrote alongside fellow author Caroline Hulse a few years ago.

In it, we cover everything we wished we’d known when we first got our book deals.

Download my FREE Debut Author’s Survival Guide →

I hope you find it helpful, and I’m sending you huge congratulations on achieving something that so many people want to do, but so few people do! ❤️

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6 ways your author website can support your marketing

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:00:03 +0000

If you’re an author, it’s tempting to think of your website as a static thing. You build it once then leave it. A bio, a list of books, a contact page, job done!

But in reality, your author website should be one of the hardest‑working parts of your marketing toolkit.

As I have said repeatedly, social media platforms come and go, and algorithms change overnight. Your website, though, is the one place you fully own and control.

When it’s set up well, it can be a central hub that ties together your mailing list, events, and promotes your new books in a way that feels joined‑up and makes your life easier.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through six ways you can squeeze the most out of your author website, so that it works as hard for you as you did to get the damn thing live!

Why your author website is the ideal marketing hub

I always say to think of your author website as your online home. Social media, email newsletters, podcasts, and guest posts - all of these things should lead people to it.

When readers land on your site, they should be able to:

Understand who you are and what you write
Discover your books easily and find out how to buy them (with just one click!)
Sign up to hear from you again
Find events, launches, or news about your upcoming books

All of that stuff is crucial from a marketing perspective.

As we know, these days even traditional publishers do very limited marketing for their authors - unless you are one of the rare ‘superlead’ titles.

It’s becoming more and more incumbent on authors to pick up some of the marketing slack. I don’t like it, and I don’t think it’s fair, but unfortunately I don’t make the rules.

And of course, if you are self-published, then your own marketing is the thing that will make or break your book.

Here are the ways you can use your author website to support your efforts:

Grow your mailing list

I do honestly think that authors are becoming more and more aware of just how important having your own mailing list is.

I’m in quite a few Facebook groups and every week there are new posts asking for advice on this topic.

As you probably know, I’m evangelical that all authors should start building their own lists.

Why every author should set up a mailing list →

Your mailing list is still one of the most powerful tools you have as an author.

Unlike social media followers, your mailing list gives you direct access into people’s inboxes, where they are FAR more likely to see your messages.

Your website should make joining your mailing list feel natural and worthwhile.

Where to place sign‑up forms

Good places to include sign‑up forms include:

Your homepage, ideally above the fold
A dedicated newsletter or “freebie” page
At the end of blog posts
In your footer so that it appears on every single page no matter what
A subtle pop‑up for new visitors

Should I add a pop-up to my Squarespace author website? →

You don’t need all of these, but you do need at least one clear, visible invitation.

What I love most about Squarespace is how easy it makes it to integrate your newsletter within your website. The sign-up boxes are all built-in, it’s just a question of dropping them into the page, and you can manage your mailing lists and send newsletters directly from inside your Squarespace account.

Why I use Squarespace (not Mailchimp!) for my author newsletter →

What to offer readers

People are far more likely to sign up if there’s a clear benefit. Popular options include:

A free chapter or short story
A behind‑the‑scenes essay or deleted scene
Early access to announcements or cover reveals
A reader‑only newsletter with extra content

Be specific. ‘Join my newsletter’ is not just vague, it’s completely unappealing!

‘Get a free chapter and exclusive early updates’ gives readers a reason to act.

From an SEO perspective, dedicated landing pages for your mailing list can also rank for searches like ‘[your name] author newsletter’ or ‘free chapter from [your name] author.’

2. Promote your author events

Events are easy to promote on social media and then forget about, which is why your website should be the permanent record!

Whether you’re doing in‑person book signings, festival appearances, school visits, or online events like Q&As and launches, your website can handle it all.

I feel like this is one of the areas that gets most neglected by authors (I am also guilty of this, although in my defence, I don’t do a lot of events!)

Creating an events section

The easiest way to address this is with a simple list of appearances that you update regularly.

Make sure you include all the important information - times, dates and click-through links for readers wanting to book a spot or buy a ticket.

Again, Squarespace has Events functionality built-into the platform, making it all very straightforward.

How to add an Events calendar to your Squarespace author website →

Using events to build trust

Including past events matters too!

Photos, short write‑ups, or testimonials help new visitors see that you’re active and engaged and also provide a nice record of what you’ve been up to. Writing about a past event always makes a good topic for your blog too.

And including past events is especially useful for authors offering talks, workshops, or school visits as it gives people an idea of what to expect, providing content you can link back to later when promoting similar events.

Watch my FREE training on how to build your own author website →

3. Announce your new books

A new book announcement is the perfect reason to direct people to your author website!

Unless you are an extremely prolific author or writing books in a series, ideally, each book should have its own dedicated page on your author website.

For new book announcements, that page becomes the page to link to for everyone who wants to learn more about your upcoming release.

What to include on a new book page

A strong book page usually includes:

The book cover and blurb
Release date and formats
Pre‑order or purchase links
Early reviews or endorsements
Media coverage or blog posts
Links to related events or appearances

This page can be updated over time, shifting from “coming soon” to “out now” to “available in paperback.” That ongoing relevance is great for SEO.

Using your mailing list to drive visits to new book pages

Your mailing list and launch pages should work together.

Encourage readers to sign up for launch updates, bonus material, or post‑launch content.

This turns casual visitors into long‑term readers, not just one‑off buyers.

4. Promote your social media

Make sure you include links to all your various social media platforms on your author website. It sounds obvious but honestly I come across SO many author websites that don’t have them on (even though the author does indeed use social media!).

Linking out clearly (without overdoing it)

At a minimum, your author website should make it easy for visitors to find you on social media. Clear links in your header, footer, or contact page are usually enough.

You don’t need icons everywhere, but you do want them to be obvious.

Think of these links as signposts. A reader who enjoys your books or blog might want a more informal, day-to-day connection with you, and social media is often where that happens.

Using the Instagram block to drive engagement

If Instagram is one of your main platforms, embedding an Instagram block on your website can be surprisingly effective.

Squarespace has this block built-in so it’s easy peasy to add to your author website.

An Instagram block lets visitors:

See recent posts without leaving your site
Get a feel for your tone and personality
Click through to follow you if they like what they see

This works particularly well on homepages, about pages, or blog sidebars.

The ideal scenario is someone arriving via Google to find out more about you or your books, seeing a snapshot of your Insta ‘personality’, enjoying your content, and then deciding to follow you.

From a marketing point of view, this is the perfect cross-pollination opportunity.

Having your latest Insta pics on your homepage can also help make your author website look up to date and show you as a busy author, living your best busy author life!

5. Provide resources for press or media

A press or media page is often overlooked, but it can be one of the most useful marketing assets on your author website.

Your press page should be an easy toolkit for journalists, bloggers, podcasters, and event organisers looking for more information about you.

What to include on a press page

A strong press or media page usually includes:

A short, clear author bio in different lengths, written in the third person so that media can simply copy and paste it
High-resolution author photos
Book covers and blurbs
Press releases or launch announcements
Links to interviews, reviews, or features
Contact details or a press enquiry form

By putting everything in one place, you make it easy for people to write about you without having to chase you for assets.

How a press page supports your marketing

A good press page saves time, but it also builds credibility. When visitors see that you’ve been interviewed, reviewed, or featured elsewhere, it reinforces your authority as an author.

From an SEO perspective, linking out to reputable publications and media appearances can strengthen your site’s trust signals. You can also link back to this page from book launch posts, event pages, and your about page.

If you’re pitching podcasts, festivals, or events, sending people directly to your press page looks professional and helps them say yes faster.

On a budget but need an author website?
The DIY Author Website Course is just for you! →

6. Drive traffic with blog posts

Have I mentioned that I am a HUGE fan of blogging?

After all, you might not be here right now on my website if I hadn’t written this blog post.

Good old fashioned content marketing is, in my opinion, still one of the most underrated ways to get people to find you online.

Blog posts are brilliant for:

Driving search traffic to your site (new people coming from Google)
Linking readers to book pages and mailing list sign‑ups
Supporting new book releases with behind‑the‑scenes content
Answering common questions readers and writers search for
Adding internal and external links to your site, which is really important for SEO

For example, a post about the research behind your novel can link directly to the relevant book’s page, but also to any other resources mentioned on other websites.

A post about an upcoming event can link to the event details and include a newsletter sign up to encourage people to find out first about any future events.

You get the idea! It’s not rocket science ;)

Internal linking like this helps readers navigate your site and also helps search engines understand how your content fits together.

But I don’t have time to write my next book, let alone do all this!

Authors are often juggling many balls alongside their writing - and most authors have another day job to consider. So please don’t worry if you don’t have time to do all of the above!

I often hear from authors that they don’t really know what their author website is ‘for’, so I thought it would be helpful to list a few ways in which you can make your website really work hard for you, and justify its existence.

But just implementing one or two of the above ideas will make a difference.

You can start small:

One clear mailing list sign‑up
One events page
One strong book page per title

The important thing is to have a foundation from which you can build as your career grows.

Instead of chasing every new platform, you’re building something sustainable. A place readers can return to, again and again, to discover your work and stay connected.

That’s what a good author website should do.

And if you don’t know where to start with building an author website, then please do take a look at my online course. Or if you’d prefer to hand the whole thing over completely (I get it, I really do!) then please do get in touch.

I love talking author websites and will be happy to advise, no matter what stage of your career you are at ☺️

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

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Behind the scenes at a writing retreat: interview with Write & Walk

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:37 +0000

Emma Christie

I’m so excited for today’s chat! Emma Christie and I go way back - we share an agent and I also built her author website - and I’ve always admired her energy (and fitness too, this is the woman who walked all the way from Scotland to the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival?!).

When I heard she was launching creative writing retreats in Spain that combined writing with hiking and meditation too, I was intrigued!

So I pinned her down to find out more about it all…

What inspired you to create a retreat that blends walking and writing?

It’s something I’ve been thinking and dreaming about for years, but until now I’ve never made the time to properly sit down and plan it. My fourth book has just been published and I’m now out of contract for the first time in years – so it’s the perfect opportunity. Basically the retreats recreate my lifestyle in many ways: physical activity with creativity, and a place for meditation and sharing as well. Those are the things that work for me and have helped me get through some challenging times – and I hope the writers who come on retreat will feel the same benefits I do.

How do the daily walks enhance the writing process for attendees?

For me, the process of writing books is a bit like making music. The most important part of any song is the pause between the notes. Otherwise it’s just noisy chaos. For me the walks (and the optional meditation sessions) provide those pauses. And it’s there, in my experience, that we often find the answers. And on a purely energetic level, moving your body and getting the blood pumping wakes you up, clears your head and gently draws your eyes and mind away from the screen for a while, so you’ll feel more refreshed when you sit down again. Plus nature is an endless source of inspiration and calm – so doing these walks in spectacular corners of Spain is an added bonus!

What kind of writers benefit most from this retreat?

The retreats are open to all writers, but at the moment I don’t offer any kind of coaching for unpublished writers. It’s definitely something I’ll consider for the future, perhaps inviting published authors to offer workshops and insights. For the moment what I’m offering is six hours of focused writing time every day, in a quiet and beautiful place, with all other the logistics of life taken care of – and with the promise of a beautiful walk either before or after your writing session. Plus you’ll be in the company of other writers who know exactly how it feels to be you! On the trial retreat I had writers at many different stages of their projects – some were starting a new MS, others were editing, one was writing a short story. I don’t think it matters – but if all you want is a desk to endlessly hammer out words from dusk until dawn with moving or interacting with others, then maybe this isn’t the right retreat for you.

Can you describe a typical day on the retreat, from waking up to lights-out?

It’s very simple. We start with an optional meditation session around 7.30am and then it’s time for breakfast with the group. You can have a quick bite and go or a long leisurely breakfast, whatever you prefer. From that point onwards we have two different schedules. Some days we’ll write in the morning and walk in the afternoon, and on other days it’s the other way round, to accommodate different writing schedules.

But for example it might be writing time from 830am to 13.30, then lunch with the group before heading out for a walk (plus a coffee or drink) from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Back to the retreat house and then you’ve got 2.5 more hours free until dinner at 8pm. Most people will write some more then maybe meet for a drink before dinner.

What’s your favourite writing or walking spot from one of the retreat locations, and why?

Impossible to choose as they’re all amazing. I’m planning retreats in three very distinct parts of Spain but they have a few key elements in common: they’re incredibly beautiful, they’re off the beaten track and I have a very personal connection to each of them.

The Alpujarras area -where I’ll hold the first retreat in March - is the first place I ever went hiking in Spain, about twenty years ago. And why did I chose to go there? Because it’s also home to a writer whose books I read as a teenager – and that’s partly what made me want to move to Spain! So that area is really special to me.

I’m hoping to offer another one in the Cabo de Gata natural park where I lived for three years at the very start of my writing career. The books I write there never got published but it was such an inspiring place to live. And it’s there that I first started meditating, fifteen years ago, and that’s been an important part of my writing journey as well.

I’m also hoping to offer a retreat in Catalonia, where I now live. I’ve explored the region endlessly in the past ten years, and regularly lead walking groups along the coast. It’s my home now – and I’m excited about sharing it with other writers.

How does walking together change the group dynamic compared to a traditional, sit-down writing retreat?

Walking shakes things up and is brilliant for group dynamics. There’s no pressure for long conversations but at the same time, it’s a great ice-breaker as you’re all experiencing something new and beautiful at the same time. Walks can be a place for reflection, for laughter, for insights and problem-solving and for sharing a coffee along the way. There are no rules. And if you want to be on your own, pondering plot holes as you walk, of course that’s also an option!

What have you learned from leading these retreats that has surprised you?

I’ve been leading groups in Spain for more than twenty years and honestly, I learn something new every single time. The moment you think you know it all, you’re done for! What surprised me most on the trial retreat was how many people were interested in the meditation sessions. I didn’t expect that at all. And as ever with groups it’s a joy to see how friendships grow over the course of the trip.

What do past participants say is the biggest takeaway or shift they experience?

Many say they feel refreshed and reconnected after the retreat, in addition to getting lots of words down. Other say they were inspired by the beautiful landscapes we travel through – and all said how much they loved sharing the experience with a group of like-minded writers. All in all, they’ve all loved it so far.

For someone thinking about joining a retreat but unsure, what would you say to them?

Call me! Or pop me an email. I’ve had loads of emails from writers asking about the daily schedule and the difficulty of the walks so if you’re concerned about any aspect of the retreat I’m more than happy to advise. Or speak to others who’ve already taken part. Write and Walk is deliberately different to other writing retreats but I believe it’s got just the right balance - time to write, walk, reflect and connect. It’s accessible to anyone with a basic level of fitness, a desire to write and a little sense of adventure.

Anything else you’d like to add?

The website, haha. Visit us at writeandwalk.com or on insta @writeandwalkspain.

Just got a book deal? My FREE Debut Author’s Survival Guide is just for you! →

What’s your favourite writing or walking spot from one of the retreat locations, and why?

How does walking together change the group dynamic compared to a traditional, sit-down writing retreat?

What have you learned from leading these retreats that has surprised you?

What do past participants say is the biggest takeaway or shift they experience?

For someone thinking about joining a retreat but unsure, what would you say to them?

Anything else you’d like to add?

The website, haha. www.writeandwalk.com or on insta @writeandwalkspain

More behind-the-scenes posts:

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How to back up your Squarespace author website

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

I had an email from one of my most recent website clients recently asking me if there was anything she should be doing to back up her new website.

And I realised that this was the first time I’d been asked this question - so I thought it was worth a blog post!

If you have an author website on Squarespace, the good news is that it is actually very stable and secure.

The less good news is that Squarespace does not offer a big shiny button labelled ‘Download a full backup of my site please’. So backing up looks a little different than it does on WordPress.

Honestly, this is not something I lose sleep over. I trust Squarespace!

However, it’s never a bad thing to be cautious.

So in this post I’m going to walk you through sensible, low-stress ways to back up your Squarespace author website so you know you have nothing to fear.

First, what does ‘backing up’ mean on Squarespace?

On a self-hosted site, backing up usually means downloading a copy of the entire site in one go. Files, database, everything. Squarespace does not work like that.

Your site lives on Squarespace’s servers. They handle hosting, security, and their own internal backups. You can’t download the full site in a single file, and you don’t need to.

What you can do is back up the things that matter most to you as an author, such as content you have written, images you have uploaded, your mailing list data and any custom code.

Think of this less as cloning your site and more as keeping a copy of your work.

The most important things to back up on an author website

Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the what. For most authors, the key things worth backing up are:

• Your written content (pages and blog posts)
• Your images and media
• Your email list
• Any custom code
• A record of your site structure and design, including the fonts you’ve used and the hex codes of any colours

Backing up your pages and blog posts

Squarespace lets you export some content, but with limitations.

Exporting blog posts

If you have a blog on your author website, you can export it.

Go to:

Settings → Website > Import & Export Content → Export

Choose WordPress as the export format. You are not actually moving to WordPress. This is just the format Squarespace uses.

This will download an XML file containing:

• Blog posts
• Blog categories
• Blog comments (if you have them)

This is a very good thing to do a few times a year, or whenever you publish something particularly important.

A couple of caveats:

• Images are not neatly packaged. They may be linked, not embedded.
• Static pages are not included.

Still, this is the closest thing Squarespace offers to a traditional export.

Saving static pages

Regular pages like About, Books, Events, Contact do not export in the same way. For these, you have a few practical options.

The simplest is to copy and paste the text into a document.

I know! It sounds basic. It is also very effective.

Create a single folder on your computer called something like “Website content backup” and keep:

• A Google Doc or Word file with page text
• Headings and subheadings
• Any links or call-to-action copy

If you ever needed to rebuild your site, having the words ready to go is 90 percent of the battle.

Backing up images and media

Author websites can be image-heavy: book covers, author photos, event images, graphics created by your publisher etc etc.

Squarespace stores all uploaded files in the Asset Library and you can download a copy of them from here.

Go to:

Website → Assets

From here you can:

• See every file you have uploaded
• Download individual images

There isn’t a bulk download option, which is really annoying. The best workaround is to be proactive.

Whenever you upload:

• Book covers
• Press images
• Promotional graphics

Make sure you also store the original files somewhere sensible. A folder on your computer, Dropbox, Google Drive. Anywhere that is not ‘only on the website’.

If your site has been around for a while, it is worth setting aside half an hour to download the most important images manually and store them safely.

Backing up your mailing list (this is the big one)

Your email list is far more valuable than your website!

If you use Squarespace Email Campaigns, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or any other provider, you should already have access to export options.

Make a habit of exporting your subscriber list every few months.

In Squarespace you can do this by going to:

Contacts

… then clicking on the three dots in the top right hand corner and selecting Export All Contacts

This will download a CSV file of everyone on your mailing list.

If you use a different platform to manage your newsletter, look for a similar instruction such as:

• Export contacts
• Download CSV

And then save that file somewhere secure.

If everything else disappeared tomorrow, you could rebuild your website. Rebuilding an email list from scratch is much harder.

Saving your custom code

If you have added any custom CSS or code snippets, back them up.

Check:

• Website → Pages → Custom Code → Custom CSS
• Settings → Advanced → Code Injection

Copy everything into a plain text file (not Word, as this will corrupt the code) and save it somewhere safe.

Even small tweaks can take hours to recreate if you forget what you did.

Watch my FREE training on how to build your own author website →

Backing up your design and structure

This part is often overlooked.

Your site structure matters. Navigation labels. Page order. Section layouts. Fonts and colours.

Again, there’s no easy way to export this information, so you’ll have to document it instead.

A very simple approach:

• Take screenshots of key pages (I use the Go Full Page extension within Chrome)
• Screenshot your navigation menu
• Make a note of font choices and colour codes

This is especially useful if you ever redesign or accidentally delete something you loved.

Creating duplicates of your site inside Squarespace

There is one more very practical safety net that is well worth knowing about, and it lives entirely inside Squarespace.

You can duplicate an entire site.

This creates a complete copy of your website at that point in time: pages, design, content, everything.

If something goes wrong, you have a snapshot you can refer back to.

I do this for every client once I have finished building their site. Because I am a Squarespace Circle member, the duplicate sites I create last for a full year.

That means I always have a usable backup of my clients’ websites for twelve months after launch, just in case.

If you are building your own site, you can still duplicate it yourself. The difference is that if you are not part of Squarespace Circle, those duplicates only last for two weeks.

That sounds short, but it can still be useful. If you’re about to make big changes, redesign something, or experiment with layout or copy, create a duplicate first.

If you’re worried about the two-week limit, you can simply duplicate the duplicate before it expires. I know it’s slightly ridiculous, but it works.

Think of site duplication as a safety buffer rather than a long-term archive. It’s especially helpful for protecting against accidental deletions or changes you immediately regret.

Using third-party backup tools

There are a few third-party services that claim to back up Squarespace sites by crawling and saving them.

They can be useful as an extra layer of reassurance, but they are not perfect. Most of these tools create a static snapshot of your site rather than a fully editable backup of your content.

That means you would not be able to restore your site inside Squarespace with a single click. You would still need to manually rebuild pages if something went wrong.

Think of third-party backups as a safety net rather than your main strategy. They are fine to use alongside the methods above, but they should not replace saving your content, images, and email list properly.

How often should you back up?

There’s no need to obsess over this!

A sensible schedule for an author website looks like this:

• Blog export: every 3 to 6 months
• Mailing list export: every 1 to 3 months
• Content document update: whenever you make major changes
• Images: store originals as you upload them

Set a recurring reminder if you are the sort of person who forgets until disaster strikes. Which is most of us.

What Squarespace already does for you

It is worth saying this clearly: Squarespace is not fragile.

They handle:

• Server-level backups
• Security updates
• Uptime and infrastructure

If you delete a page accidentally, Squarespace can sometimes restore it if you contact support quickly.

Please don’t worry too much about this stuff!

On a budget but need an author website?
The DIY Author Website Course is just for you! →

The calm takeaway

Backing up your Squarespace author website does not need to be complicated or technical.

There’s no need for plugins. You just need to:

• Save your words
• Save your images
• Save your email list
• Save anything custom you have added

…somewhere safe so you know you have a copy just in case.

Do that, and you will be covered! 😃

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

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My three words for 2026

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Happy new year to you and welcome to 2026! I have just turned 45, which feels like a weird milestone. I turned 40 during covid so it was a bit of a non-event, but 45 really does feel… well, grown-up.

I’m resisting the urge to say old.

I don’t think I do feel that old actually, I just feel… a sense that time is passing and that I need to be more mindful of how I spend my time while I am still relatively fit and healthy.

I mentioned in my previous post that I felt that my daughter turning 10 marked the beginning of a new period in my life too. I guess it makes sense - a decade is a natural reflection point in anyone’s life!

I did the Faber Academy course when my daughter was a one-year-old. It marked me ‘getting back into work’ and gave me a new focus. And then I got my book deal, and I’ve been on the book-deal rollercoaster ever since. Publishing one book a year, give or take.

And it’s been a hell of a ride. But last year I started to wonder what it was all for. Why I was still trying to get book deals. Why I was still sacrificing so much of my life and time in pursuit of this ‘dream’. What my definition of success as a writer was - why I was still trying to get published when I’ve already, well, been published many times over? Eight books is not bad, given that the majority of authors never publish more than two.

Some honest thoughts on success as an author →

I have never questioned why I write, because I love writing and I have genuinely done it since I could form letters with a pen. But I did start to question why I was pursuing publication, when, in all honesty, it’s an incredibly difficult life. The emotional ups and downs take their toll, the financial instability is really wearing, the rejections are brutal and the reviews can feel cruelly personal at times and every year it gets more and more competitive, especially with the impact of AI looming around the corner.

I wondered why I was still trying to run in a race I had already ‘won’ eight times over. What exactly was I trying to achieve?

When my agent wanted to send the last book I finished out on submission, I didn’t feel excited. I felt absolute dread. It felt like a process I was going to have to survive, something I would have to build up my mental stamina for.

I kept asking myself: why was I doing it?

I am still trying to figure out the answer to that question, which makes this quite an unsatisfying thing to write about in a blog post. I want to have some pithy answer, some neat resolution to share with you. But I don’t have one. I’m still mulling it all over. I’m doing what a friend once told me to do: ‘if you don’t know the answer, live with the question’.

And I’m hoping my three words will help me in 2026.

From a web design point of view, everything I did last year worked so well that I don’t have any particular ambitions to change anything about the way I run the business this year.

I will continue blogging weekly and stick to the same schedule of aiming to build two websites per month. Last year, I built 22, but I did have a lot of the summer off.

Interestingly, the words I have chosen for 2026 are more about my own mindset, rather than any huge work-related ambitions:

Community

Wellbeing

Gratitude

Let’s start with Community

AI is looming large, as I said, and my instinct is that people are going to value human interactions more and more in the future.

I have been guilty of living too much of my life online. I spend many, many hours alone behind my computer. I don’t think it’s healthy.

This year, I really want to focus on getting out of my house and meeting more people in real life! I’m super excited to be doing a couple of events this year to promote my books, and I really want to make more of a point to do this kind of thing as much as I am able.

I am also so excited (and a bit terrified!) to be launching something new, with community at its heart, this year: The Debut Author Club.

Find out more about The Debut Authors’ Club →

I often work with debut authors, who want websites as they’ve just secured a book deal. I absolutely love working with debuts, who are so excited and energetic! But they are often also full of questions and can feel a little out of their depth at times.

Because I blog a lot, I get asked a lot of questions by other writers.

And I’ve given the same advice to debuts for years: find your author tribe, find the people that will help you feel less alone on this weird and wonderful journey.

I stand by that advice! But the truth is, it’s actually not that easy to find those people if you’re completely new to the publishing industry.

That was where the idea first formed: of setting up a group for debut authors, where they could meet and support one another.

Anyway, as I have a pretty sizeable audience on my newsletter (nearly 2k people - many of them debuts) it occurred to me that I could be the one to help bring debuts together? Because it's really hard to start something like this when you're new to the industry yourself.

It's something I've been thinking about doing for a few years now and so I'm really excited to have finally taken the leap!

The idea was inspired by the fact that when I got my debut book deal, I only knew two other authors who had a book coming out the same year. We clung to each other throughout that debut year and I realised just how vital it was to have friends going through the same crazy experience. But I always wished there were more of us!

I was also inspired by a group of debuts from 2020 who banded together when Covid happened and all their events etc got cancelled. I watched as they all supported each other and became really firm friends, and I felt a bit envious that I hadn't had the same thing back in 2018.

Anyway, the Debut Authors Club is now up and running! We have 30 members so far, and we’re still accepting applications.

If you’d like to learn more about it, you can find out how to join here →

I’m nervous about the workload of running a club like this, but I also really want to become more involved in the writing community - and be able to give back a bit too.

Download my FREE debut author’s survival guide →

My second word for 2026: wellbeing

This is a slight tweak from my previous word for 2025 and 2024: Health. Health is still at the forefront of my mind, especially now I’m firmly perimenopausal, but I also want to take some time to look after my mental health.

Put simply, I want to have more fun. I want to relax more. I want to get my cortisol levels down, because I spent a lot of 2025 feeling super stressed.

Much of this was to do with family health stuff, but I know I could have handled these issues better if I had been less stressed in general.

I’m hoping that focusing on community will inevitably impact and improve my overall wellbeing too, but it’s something I want to really pay more attention to.

I’m going to continue with the gym, of course. As well as running on Sunday mornings whenever possible. I’d also love to start going to yoga again as I find it really relaxing, but I just need to find a good class near me!

More than anything though, I want to take more time to do the things I enjoy and stop feeling as though I need to be working all the time.

I framed this print a while ago and it still feels prescient now.

I listened to a podcast about toxic productivity and it was so interesting - the person was basically saying if not working is difficult for you, then it’s a sign you’re probably close to burnout, and that not working should be your goal / challenge!

It was really interesting to hear the whole ‘work more, earn more’ philosophy being flipped on its head.

I find it very, very, difficult not to work.

But I’m going to try! Because there’s little point in being rich and miserable, or completely stressed out all the time. What a waste of a life.

I also remember reading that one of the biggest deathbed regrets is ‘working too much’, and I’m mindful of that too, especially while my daughter is still young. I don’t want to have to ignore her so that I can reply to emails.

Having said that, I do love my work. It’s just about improving the balance I think, and making sure that I really do switch off when I’m not meant to be working.

Gratitude

I have saved the most important word to last!

I have so much to be grateful for. SO much. And yet, like others, I’m guilty of taking it all for granted at times.

This year, I want to acknowledge what I have and be thankful for it. I want to take some time to appreciate everything I have, rather than focusing on what I don’t have.

It’s a simple thing but I really hope it will help me. I am intending on listing three things I’m grateful for every day - and actually writing them down, so that at the end of the year I have a record of all the things I’m grateful for.

It’s a bit of a thought experiment but I am really keen to see how it impacts my mental health too.

I’d also like to be a bit more ‘present’ in my own life. I am guilty of spending my entire time looking to and worrying about the future, even though one of my favourite mantras (and I am a BIG fan of mantras) has always been: the only thing that exists is the present.

I want to slow down and appreciate everything around me.

I think as you get older, you naturally gravitate towards finding pleasure in the simpler things. I used to love a fancy handbag, and while I still do, I don’t covet them any longer.

Recently, I was musing to my other half that the sparkly Christmas handwash in the kitchen was bringing me a tiny moment of joy every time I used it (it has glitter in and smells of candied oranges). I appreciate stuff like that more than expensive handbags nowadays.

I really want to hone in on those kind of moments this year. And yes, maybe even try some mindfulness again…

Let’s see. I don’t want to over-promise and under-deliver 😂

That’s it from me - I’m excited for what this new year is going to bring, and I wish you all the best for 2026!

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2025: my work year in review

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

I know I start this post the same way every year but I truly cannot believe that 2025 has almost come to an end! What a year.

At the end of last year, I set out my ‘three words’ for 2025 - three things I wanted to focus on in the year ahead.

I have to confess to not really taking the time to check in with these often enough - in fact, I had basically forgotten what they were 😬 but I’ve just re-read my blog post from January and I’m really pleased to discover that despite this, I have broadly managed to - albeit subconsciously - stay in line with their values.

So, to recap…

My three words for 2025 were: Health, Stability and Optimism.

I’m going to start this blog post with the first one: Health. It was a focus for 2024 too. I read recently that it actually takes 10 years to recover from having a child (!), and given that my daughter recently turned 10, I can actually see how this makes sense.

The truth is, up until recently, I had spent years neglecting my own health.

At the end of last year, I’d finished Couch to 5k and finally run a 5k. But then I hurt my knee. So I had a break. And I didn’t go back to running for about six months.

In that time, my health took another nosedive. I was still going to a weekly bootcamp-style class, and Pilates once a week too, but it wasn’t really enough to make much of a difference.

I was also working like an absolute maniac.

But this summer (the summer my daughter turned 10!), I decided I had to do something about it, and so:

1) I gave myself (almost) the whole summer off;

and

2) I JOINED A GYM

I haven’t belonged to a gym since before my daughter was born. I don’t know why really? I think it was a time thing more than anything else - I had this feeling that whenever my daughter was in childcare or at school I just had to be working which meant I didn’t have time to spend fannying about driving to a gym etc. Realistically, an hour’s gym session would take nearly two hours out of my - already short - working day.

In fact, this is a good point in which to segue into another massive realisation I had this year: my nervous system was shot.

Because over the last ten years, I have become an insane workaholic. I work All The Time.

I am incredibly lucky because I genuinely love my work, but even so, this year I began to realise that there was very little ‘fun’ or ‘relaxation’ in my life. The most I ever did ‘for me’ was go out for dinner with friends from time to time.

Otherwise, every second that I wasn’t with my daughter, I was either writing a book or working on my web design business.

I basically behaved as though I had two full-time jobs, but then tried to fit them both into school hours.

The thought of taking time ‘off’ to go to the gym during the working day seemed impossible. But my body had begun to suffer. I am getting old, and my hormones are less forgiving than they used to be. I knew that I needed to move my body more, and, most importantly, work on my strength.

Anyway, this is SO boring and cliche but in the end, I joined the cheapest and least fancy gym in my town in August, with very low expectations of myself or it.

And yet, I have been at least twice a week ever since!

And - unsurprisingly - I feel so much better. SO MUCH BETTER.

So much better that I have also started running again! I’m only going once a week, on Sunday mornings - but I’ve been doing regular 5ks (at a snail’s pace, but never mind) most weeks ever since September - without injury!

Obviously all that stuff about cross training is true. I am stronger than I have ever been, I have actual muscles on my arms and I can run 5k without stopping.

I know this is nothing to do with work, but for someone who has always, always struggled with sport and activity - ever since my first PE lesson - it’s a massive achievement and I’m just so proud of myself.

And yes, I’m also wishing I had started all this sooner.

So if you, like me, put your own physical fitness so far down your to-do list that it’s not even on your to-do list, take this as a sign from the universe to do something about it.

My second 2025 word: Stability

My second work for 2025 was ‘stability’. My most important goal of 2025 was to build financial stability.

I have been freelance now since I was 29, which means - eeek - around 16 years since I got sick pay.

In that time, my income has fluctuated quite dramatically and has been pretty unpredictable. And I’ve just… let it? I never really stopped to take the time to think about it.

I’ve always been incredibly ‘reactive’ when it came to my income. If I had a good few months, I’d be booking holidays. If things went quiet, I’d be cutting back.

I never really thought much about planning ahead. I basically spent my entire freelance career winging it. It always worked out somehow, didn’t it?

But last year, a little voice kept creeping into my head, repeating the same, ominous phrase: ‘no one is coming to save you’.

I decided it was time to stop behaving like a 22-year-old with no responsibilities and start trying to act like a grown-up.

And so, in 2025, I took my web design business more seriously than ever before.

Over the years since 2018, when my first novel came out, I have learnt the hard way that relying on a publishing career for financial stability is insane.

No matter the six-figure deals (I’ve had one), the film options (had one of those too), the foreign rights etc etc… there is no stability whatsoever in a novelist’s career, unless you are one of those rare unicorns who are such global bestsellers that you make so much money you probably won’t ever have time to spend it all.

It’s wonderful to be a career novelist. But it’s also important to have a Plan B.

In fact, if you value your mental health, I’d make the novel writing the Plan B, and something else the Plan A.

At the beginning of 2025, I raised my prices for web design. Quite significantly, in fact. I was nervous. But then I had my busiest quarter ever!

I set a target monthly income that I wanted to hit, and I not only hit it, I exceeded it by more than a third.

It was then that I realised that if I didn’t ever sell another book, I’d be OK.

I had a job! A proper job and a business and it could sustain me!

And then… Squarespace got in touch to tell me that I’d been ‘promoted’ to a Platinum level member of Circle, their professional partnership program.

I’ve already blogged about that here, but honestly, it was a real thrill when they reached out to me. And it was so nice to feel successful at something, after my last two novels didn’t perform as well as everyone had hoped.

I built 22 websites from scratch this year, which is nuts! 😱

There were still quieter months - the late summer was particularly nerve-wracking as my enquiries dried up for a while, but looking at my accounts now (within Squarespace, because it’s all easy to manage inside the platform - I use it for all my contracts, billing and invoicing!) I can tell you that I have literally doubled my web design income from last year, and I am so, so happy and proud of myself.

I might even look into opening a pension, finally.

I’m also bloody relieved. Because something else happened this year. Or rather, didn’t happen:

I didn’t sell a new book.

So yeah, on that note…

My writing

Not only did I not sell a new book to a publisher this year, I also didn’t release one!

It’s the first year since 2018 when I’ve had no new books out.

And I have to say, I have loved having a break from the endless promotion cycle.

I’m a bit of a weirdo as I don’t actually enjoy that side of being an author much. I LOVE writing books, I quite enjoy editing them, but I don’t really enjoy talking about them once they’re done, or being the centre of attention.

That doesn’t mean books weren’t a huge part of my year though. I am always working on a book - in some capacity!

This year, I had copyedits for my 2026 book, Connie, but I also really enjoyed being back in my writing cave, just writing for myself.

At the end of last year, I finished a short draft of something very different - a novel that I wanted to write just for me, out of contract and with no thought to the ‘market’.

And then I worked on it at the beginning of this year before sending it to my agent around May.

She liked it, suggested some edits, and we worked on it some more.

And then she said it was ready to submit to publishers.

And I… got cold feet.

Really cold feet.

It’s a very different book from my other books. Slightly speculative, very personal, a little bit weird. It certainly wasn’t the kind of book that could be published under my ‘Charlotte Duckworth’ brand.

It might have been appropriate for my ‘Charlotte Rixon’ brand, except that she’s been such a flop that no publisher would want to touch her stuff ever again (sounds brutal but tis true, publishing is a capitalist industry after all).

So we were looking at a whole new pen name, a whole new start.

But even so, I wasn’t sure. I felt very weird about this book. I was so proud of it. I didn’t know if I wanted to send it out into the world for the publishing industry to chew up and spit out.

I was also very nervous about certain elements in the book and whether or not I had pulled them off well enough.

So I did something I have never done before: I paid a very experienced external editor to read it and do a report on it.

It cost a lot. But it felt like a good idea. I wanted someone else’s impartial perspective. Not that I didn’t trust my agent, but she’s always liked my writing and I know there are people out there who, well, do not.

I wanted to get an idea of what a complete outsider might think of this book - a book that meant so much to me, before throwing it to the publishing wolves for their brutal feedback.

I was so anxious waiting for the report to come back, but when it did, it was pretty glowing. Which was lovely. Lots of praise for my actual writing (which is always my favourite type of praise 😆)

Except… the editor hadn’t addressed any of the things that I was actually concerned about, the things I worried in my gut maybe weren’t quite working.

Instead, she’d done more of a thorough line edit, which was fine and there were lots of things that she picked up that were helpful, but I was concerned it still needed a deeper, structural edit that really got to grips with the heart of the story.

The report was a little disappointing, if I’m honest. A little too nice, almost. But it did teach me that I know more than I maybe think I know. Which was a useful lesson!

Anyway, I can’t say any more about that book at the moment (sorry, I know!). But as soon as decisions have been made and I can share more, I will.

In the meantime, I started to think about writing a new suspense.

I have my sixth psych suspense coming out in January!

I can’t believe Connie will finally be hitting the shelves after such a long and painful gestation (how’s that for a mixed metaphor?). I have already blogged about that book here so I won’t say too much more about it now, but I’ve been so relieved to see all its early positive reviews.

Some honest thoughts on the book that nearly broke me →

The sad news is that my editor - the same one who acquired my debut all those years ago - has now left Quercus, my publisher. So it’s all change!

I really like my new editor and she has been involved with my books alongside my original editor for a few years now, but even so, it’s never quite the same when your original champion leaves.

I have an idea for a new suspense, and I started writing the first draft in November, with the hope of finishing a draft before Christmas. But then, I decided that actually, I didn’t want to rush it. I had so much other work booked in before the end of the year and it was becoming really stressful. And the truth is, there is no rush. There was only my stupid workaholic personality shouting at me to get it done.

So I decided to ignore it. I decided to carry on going to the gym during the day and to enjoy the run up to Christmas without burning out completely.

I decided that, for once, the writing could wait.

I will come back to that book in January. And it will get written! Just maybe not as quickly as the others.

All my published books!

I have written and edited nine complete novels since 2017. That’s a lot of books.

I know there are writers out there who are more prolific than me, but there are also writers out there who are a lot less prolific.

What I have come to understand this year is that it’s OK to have a break from the relentless treadmill. Especially now I have the financial stability of my web design business. I was always rushing to get the next publishing contract because I not only needed the money, but also felt a bit superstitious that if I stopped then I’d never write again. However, deep down I know that’s total nonsense.

My final word for 2025: optimism

My final word for 2025 was optimism. I wanted to become more positive in general. And I think, on the whole, despite a few rocky moments when Big Life Stuff happened, I’ve managed it.

Exercising more has had a huge impact on my mental wellbeing. As did having the whole summer off! I only built two websites in July and August - and I wasn’t writing at all. And I had the best time. It helped that we had such good weather in the UK this summer, but it was one of the happiest summers I’ve had in years.

Fun and games at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival in July

I’m turning 45 in January, and I’ve had quite a few major shifts in the way I think over the course of this year.

I know I’ve been saying this for a few years, but I really want to enjoy my life more, and cut back on the incessant work. My daughter is 10 now - soon she won’t want to spend any time with me at all. I want to make the most of this age when she still likes my company, and I don't want to be constantly distracted by work to make the most of my time with her.

In my blog post last year, I also wrote that I wanted to remind myself that things always work out somehow, and to stop worrying. And while I don’t think I managed to stop worrying completely (there was one particularly tricky period where I was super stressed and anxious about something else and it tipped over into worrying about everything), I have definitely got better. And everything has worked out.

I thought if I didn’t sell a book this year, I’d be stressing about how to pay the mortgage etc. But actually, I’ve earnt twice as much as last year, without earning a single penny from books.

Things do always work out somehow! I’m still working on the optimism, but the stability my web design business has given me (I’m currently fully booked until March - what?!) has certainly made it easier to feel less stressed and more positive about the future.

Interestingly, I don’t know what the future holds for my writing. After Connie comes out in January, I will be officially out of contract for the first time in years.

Publishing is in a strange place at the moment - especially in the UK. It’s becoming harder and harder to get a book deal. Super talented friends are languishing on long submissions to editors, where previously they would have been snapped up. There are no guarantees anymore.

Having a long-term author career often involves making a decision between writing what you want to write and writing what the market wants.

Last year, I fully embraced writing what I wanted to write, and to date, I have no book deal to show for that decision. But the truth is, I’m not sure how I feel about publishing getting their hands on that book. I only know that I don’t regret writing it. I am so proud of it and personally, I think it’s my best book yet.

Even if it doesn’t get me a book deal, I feel weirdly confident that it will find its readers somehow and at some point. At the right time.

Next year, I’m going to try writing what I think the market wants from me. It will be interesting to see how that turns out too.

As ever, this blog post is epically long, so it’s probably best I stop the navel-gazing here.

Thank you to everyone who has read my blog over the past year, and especially to those of you who have replied to my newsletters or got in touch on social media. I love hearing from you and I’m so happy to hear when my advice or random musings have been of help!

The blog will be having a well-earned break over Christmas, as always, but I’ll be back in January to share my three words for 2026 with you!

I hope you’ve had a wonderful 2025, and I wish you a very relaxing Christmas and New Year with your loved ones ❤️

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Project Spotlight: sarahlavendersmith.com

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

2025 is nearly at an end and I am excited to be bringing you my last project spotlight post of the year - which also happens to be my very final website project this year too!

The Brief

Sarah is an ultrarunner, writer and memoirist who wanted my help with setting up a portfolio website to spotlight her published essays, freelance articles and podcasts, and also to provide a place for agents and other publishing professionals to find out more about her work.

Sarah had one book published in 2017 but didn’t want this to be the main focus of the site. She has built up a huge following on Substack, where she writes regularly about running in midlife, so we wanted to make sure this was clearly signposted in multiple locations on the new website to encourage cross-pollination.

It was also important to Sarah that the new website was flexible enough to be adapted easily to highlight her memoir when it’s finished and published.

Sarah knew she wanted earthy tones for the website, so we went with a deep forest green as the main colour, complemented by a sandy cream.

Best of all, Sarah had some really great photography which I was determined to make the most of, so we included it full-width wherever possible! The end result really leans into the mountain-running-midlife vibe.

Scroll down to see more of Sarah’s website and find out more about how she found our project…

The Details

Version: Squarespace 7.1

Fonts used: New Spirit, Aktiv Grotesk

View the site: sarahlavendersmith.com

Sarah’s Verdict

“I am so happy with the look, feel, and functionality of the site Charlotte built. I feel confident that if someone researches me for background, my new site will put forward my best and most authentic self.”

— SARAH LAVENDER SMITH

The Post-launch Q&A

How do you feel about your completed website?

I am so happy with the look, feel, and functionality of the site Charlotte built. I needed a basic professional site that introduced me to the world and spotlighted my book project along with my published work and other credentials. She managed to design a site that conveys my natural, outdoorsy, and athletic aesthetic. I feel confident that if someone researches me for background, my new site will put forward my best and most authentic self.

Before working with Charlotte Duckworth Studio, when it came to my website I felt …

…daunted by the prospect of overhauling my old, buggy WordPress site. I looked into a DIY site build with the help of AI, but it felt overwhelming to handle the design and technical backend when my main concern was the content. Therefore, I was gratified to find Charlotte and let her handle the design and technical aspects of it.

What fears or hesitations did you have before deciding to work with Charlotte Duckworth Studio?

First, I was concerned that the site wouldn't be to my liking, but thanks to her detailed questionnaire, she understood and captured my taste in terms of layout, color, typeface, and other design elements. I also was concerned about migrating the new site to my existing domain provider, and then learning how to make design and content updates to the new site. Charlotte's personalized video guidance allayed all those fears.

How do you expect your new site to change things for you?

I hope and expect it to help me secure an agent and book deal when I start querying. I also expect it will lead more journalists to contact me as a source, because the site highlights my experience in a specialty, and Charlotte handled all the SEO for me, so I'm confident the site will come up when someone researches my niche.

For someone on the fence about working with Charlotte Duckworth Studio, what would you say to them?

Her guidance and followup help to make the site go live are completely worth the cost!

Is there anything you feel could have been done to improve your experience? Have suggestions? This can be anything that crossed your mind from the time you hired me until now!

No, not really.

Would you recommend Charlotte Duckworth Studio to a friend who also needed to build an author website?

Yes, most definitely.

Want me to build you a website?

Find out more, then get in touch. I would love to hear from you!

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My favourite new Squarespace features in 2025

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:17:35 +0000

** Sponsored post **

One of the things I love the most about Squarespace is the fact that the platform is constantly evolving. In fact, they add so many new features that often - even as a professional designer - I find it hard to keep up.

This year has been no exception! So in this post, I thought I’d share some of my favourite features that were released in 2025, in case you weren’t aware of them.

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

1 New SEO features

These are by far and away the best and most useful features that Squarespace introduced in 2025.

I actually already did a separate blog post just about them - that’s how impressed I was.

How to use Squarespace’s new AI alt text tool →

One of the most mundane parts of building a website is making sure that all the back-end SEO is in place. It’s critical, but, well, rather dull. Especially when it comes to things like adding alt-text to images (which is important so that search engines can ‘read’ what your image is of and understand its context on the page and within your content).

You used to have to go into each image individually to add your alt-text.

But now, Squarespace has a new panel entirely dedicated to SEO - and what they call AIO - ‘AI Optimization’. You can find it under the Website heading (at the moment, but as we know Squarespace likes to move stuff around) under the title SEO/AIO.

Here, you can instantly see your ‘SEO Score’ which tells you how much of your SEO has been completed correctly (please note: this doesn’t tell you how effective your SEO is, just how much of it has been added inside Squarespace).

It basically alerts you to any pages or images that are missing metadata and alt-text.

The new SEO panel

This is SO handy. I often find I forget to fill in the alt-text when I’m uploading things quickly - especially to my own website - and regular quick checks of this page make sure I keep on top of this.

Best of all, you can now use Squarespace’s new ‘Beacon AI’ - the built-in AI assistant - to help you generate metadata and alt-text.

This is also a real timesaver. Although I would caveat this by saying that most times when I use it to generate text, I have to tweak it slightly, as it can sound a little robotic or formulaic. But it gives you a good jumping-off point.

And having one place where I can go to finish off all my SEO is so brilliant and has saved me tons of time this year.

2 The ability to upload your own fonts - easily

This year, lots changed with Squarespace when it came to fonts as they streamlined their integrations with some of the big font libraries.

I really love the variety of fonts that Squarespace has available built into the platform - there honestly is a HUGE selection to choose from! But obviously every now and then a client will want something very particular - perhaps their publisher has used a super-specific font on their book cover and they really want to align the website with this.

In these cases, in the old days, I would have to use custom CSS (code) to install these fonts so that they could be used on the website.

New font upload button!

It was fine - for me - but not so easy for clients to manage themselves.

But now, Squarespace has added an ‘Upload’ button in the Fonts section of the Site Styles panel so you can simply and easily upload your fonts to whichever area you’d like them (Headings, Paragraphs, Buttons etc).

It’s just so easy - this is going to save me lots of time!

Find out more about this here →

3 The ability to easily hide elements on mobile

Again, this is another game changer for me!

After the introduction of Fluid Engine, we were able to create slightly different layouts for desktop and mobile view, which was really useful.

However, there were often times when I used images on the desktop view that looked wrong or superfluous on mobile. Sometimes, design elements that looked great on desktop looked confusing or clunky on mobile.

In these cases, I would have to use code to hide the block from view.

Now, thanks to the new ‘Layers’ panel, I can simply ‘switch off’ elements on a section by using the little eye button.

This has made me very happy!

Christy Price has a great video on how to use this feature:

BUT!

It’s got me thinking. And now on my wishlist… is the ability to be able to hide entire SECTIONS from either mobile or desktop view - that would be another gamechanger.

4 Advanced tools to enhance design flexibility with animation / motion effects

I’ll confess that when it comes to my designs, I am a bit of a less-is-more person. I don’t tend to go in for complicated layouts with lots of moving parts - while I really admire the artistic side of sites that do employ these kinds of effects, I’m also mindful that my author clients need simple sites that serve their readers. And sometimes all the fancy dancing stuff can get in the way 😉

But the fact that there are now more possibilities for design IS super exciting - soon, you will be able to apply transformations to blocks (like rotating them 90 degrees) and individually animate blocks too, along with a ton of other neat effects.

I really like the new animated background feature - which gives the background colour a kind of liquid look - and I’ve used that in a few of my clients’ websites this year. It’s subtle but cool.

Squarespace is calling these pro-level design tools ‘Finish Layer’.

I’m looking forward to taking some time to explore all these new design features in 2026 - watch this space for more info on these.

Watch my FREE training on how to build your own author website →

5. Improved navigation and anchor-link support (on version 7.1 sites)

Last but not least, another really useful 2025 update was the ability to add anchor links more easily - letting visitors jump directly to a specific section of a page.

This is another small-but-mighty change that makes it especially easy if you have a one-page author website.

It means you can add navigation links in the header that jump down to the relevant section on the page, without having to use code blocks.

I’ll be using this all the time when it comes to one-page projects.

Conclusion

So yes, those are my top 5 favourite new features from Squarespace this year. There are a ton more too - including lots of AI features that I haven’t really taken time to explore properly yet.

But you can find out an overview of all the new stuff at the Squarespace Refresh round up here →

I’m looking forward to seeing what new exciting stuff 2026 brings!

Want me to build you a website?

Find out more, then get in touch. I would love to hear from you!

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Why you should migrate your site from Squarespace 7.0 to 7.1

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

If you have a site on Squarespace 7.0 and you have been quietly pretending for a few years now that the newer version does not exist, trust me, you are not the only one!

I speak to so many authors who built their site years ago, wrapped it up with a neat little bow and hoped they would never have to touch it again…

But then along came Squarespace 7.1. And with it came a TON of better features and upgrades. I know that migrating to the new version feels like yet another tech chore. But I promise that it is hugely worthwhile.

1) The editor is so much smoother

One of the biggest changes you will notice in 7.1 is how much easier it is to work with. I have clients who are still on 7.0 and when they ask me to make updates to their sites I’m actually shocked at how clunky and difficult it is to work on compared to 7.1!

Which is ironic because I resisted migrating my own sites for ages because I was so in love with 7.0 (and specifically, the Brine template!)

In 7.0 the platform is split into different template families. Each of those families behaves slightly differently. Some have features others do not. Some let you do things on blogs that others block completely. It is a bit like housekeeping in a building where every floor has its own rules.

In 7.1 all those differences disappear. Every template works the same because there is really only one template behind the scenes.

You still get different design presets, but they all share the same functionality.

If you have ever tried to follow a tutorial and then realised halfway through that your template simply does not support the thing you are trying to do, 7.1 will feel like a huge breath of fresh air.

2) The design options are miles better

Let’s be honest. Customising a design in 7.0 could be a bit limiting unless you were happy to dive into custom code. Fonts only got you so far. Buttons were a bit rigid. Spacing options were not always intuitive. It worked fine, but it was tricky.

In 7.1 the design options are genuinely lovely to use. You can control spacing, sizing, colours and layout with far more precision. You can create much more modern looking pages without even thinking about code. You can stack sections, add split layouts, insert banners anywhere you like and adjust background colours and images with ease.

Another huge perk is Fluid Engine. This is Squarespace’s much newer drag and drop layout system, and it only exists on 7.1.

If you have ever wished you could place things exactly where you want them instead of being stuck inside rigid block zones, Fluid Engine is a dream.

It gives you granular control over desktop and mobile layouts, lets you layer content, overlap elements, fine tune spacing and create more bespoke page designs without hiring a developer. It feels more like designing on a canvas than filling out a form, and it opens up so many creative options that 7.0 simply cannot match.

If you are an author or creative who wants a site that feels more personal and more current, 7.1 makes that possible without needing to use a developer or any fiddly code.

3) Section-based pages give you so much more flexibility

This is one of the biggest reasons people migrate and is by far my favourite part of 7.1.

In 7.0 pages were built inside rigid template layouts. You could add blocks, but you were always nudging against invisible walls. Want to create a full width image followed by a two column text area, then a gallery, then a signup block? You could do it but only in very specific ways.

7.1 introduced sections, and they changed everything. Each section has its own style, layout and background options. You can rearrange them with simple drag and drop. You can duplicate them to use as templates. You can mix and match layouts as you like. It gives you the freedom to build pages that feel completely bespoke and less like slightly altered templates.

4) Better mobile design without the fuss

More than 50% of your website visitors are viewing your site on their phones. It is just the world we live in now. On 7.0 mobile styling sometimes felt like pot luck. Certain templates looked great. Others refused to behave. You did not always get proper control over spacing and image crops. It was fine, but not perfect.

In 7.1, the mobile design is completely independent of the desktop design, which means you can have a different design for each.

This is honestly a game-changer, especially after Squarespace brought out its new Layers functionality, meaning you can hide images and other elements on mobile view with a simple click.

Christy Price has a great demo of this here →

5) More marketing friendly features

The newer platform integrates more smoothly with the rest of the Squarespace ecosystem. Announcements, promotional pop ups, scheduling, memberships, commerce and email marketing all work more seamlessly in 7.1.

You will feel the difference if you rely on your site to gather subscribers or drive conversions.

Even small things, like improved forms and smoother newsletter signups, help create a more professional feel for users.

You can also run your own online courses directly through your website - which I do here, and love.

In fact, I use Squarespace to run most of my business. I use it for Contracts and Invoices and to keep track of my business finances.

The only other tools I pay for now are Loom and Canva Pro.

6) New features only come to 7.1 now

This is a big one. Squarespace has not added new features to 7.0 for a long time. They still support it, but they are not developing it anymore.

Anything new that gets rolled out only exists on 7.1. If you want your author website to stay current and take advantage of the latest tools, 7.1 is where all the action is.

This is especially important if you plan to keep your site for years. Sticking with 7.0 means slowly falling behind, and eventually you will find tutorials and help articles that no longer apply to your setup.

7.0’s main limitations

Let’s look at the downsides of staying put.

Fewer layout options
7.0 templates are built to be what they are. You can tweak them but you cannot transform them - at least not without using lots of code. If you ever feel boxed in by your site and wish you could reorganise things, that frustration tends to get louder over time.

Template family quirks
Every 7.0 template family comes with its own strange little rules. Some support index pages, some do not. Some let you change navigation styles, others are locked down. It is a lot of admin to keep track of.

Blog limitations
Blog pages in 7.0 vary depending on your template. Some allow certain layouts, some block them entirely. If blogging is part of your strategy, 7.1 brings consistency and better styling options.

Design becomes harder to modernise
A lot of 7.0 sites are starting to look like older Squarespace sites. You can tell at a glance - and I see SO many author websites built on the same template - they all begin to look the same. You want your author brand to look slick and professional, so this is really worth thinking about.

Watch my FREE training on how to build your own author website →

How to tell what version of Squarespace your site is built on

You might have read this far and be wondering: but am I on Squarespace 7.0 or 7.1?

Don’t worry there’s an easy way to find out.

To check your site's version, open the Pages panel for your site and scroll to the bottom of the panel.

If you're on version 7.0, your site's template name also appears.

How to migrate your site

A few years ago, there was no easy way to migrate your website to the newer version of the platform. You basically had to rebuild the site in its entirety on the new version and then move your domain over, which is why many people stayed put.

However, Squarespace eventually released a migration tool which made it possible.

Don’t get me wrong - there is still quite a bit of work involved in the migration, but it’s much easier than it used to be.

Squarespace have a guide to walk you through the process here →

Things to bear in mind when migrating

While upgrading to 7.1 is generally smooth, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Your site might not look exactly the same after the migration. Some spacing, fonts, or block positions can shift slightly because 7.1 handles layouts differently.

Certain features from 7.0 templates may not have a direct equivalent in 7.1, so a little redesign work may be needed on specific pages.

It’s also a good idea to review your mobile layouts after migrating, as 7.1’s responsive system can change how elements stack or resize.

Overall, it’s a small trade-off for the improved flexibility, modern design options, and long-term support you gain with 7.1- but being aware of these points upfront makes the transition far less stressful.

So is it worth migrating?

In almost every situation the answer is yes!

The only real exception is if you are using a very specific 7.0 template feature that does not exist on 7.1, but those cases are rare now. For most users, moving to 7.1 unlocks a smoother editor, more flexibility, better design options and a site that will grow with you rather than hold you back.

If your author website is an important part of how you present yourself to the world, the upgrade is absolutely worth the effort. You will not just end up with a prettier site. You will end up with a site that is easier to maintain, more robust for the long term and far more enjoyable to work on.

And honestly, that last part matters more than people think. When you enjoy working on your site, you keep it fresh. You improve it. You make it a place you feel proud to send people. And that alone is a giant win.

On a budget but need an author website?
The DIY Author Website Course is just for you! →

Want me to handle your migration for you?

I know this kind of stuff can seem really daunting if you’re not confident with technology.

That’s why I offer a Squarespace 7.0 to 7.1 Migration service, where you can hand the whole process over to me and I’ll get your site switched over within a day - with no involvement from you at all 😆.

I’ve done this for numerous clients now and as a total geek, I absolutely love doing it!

If this service is of interest to you (and you don’t have to be a former client), then get in touch and I’ll let you know my next available slot.

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

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Some honest thoughts on the book that nearly broke me

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

My new suspense novel, Connie, is coming out in January!

However, almost exactly two years ago, I was having the worst time of my writing career.

Right before Christmas, my editor called my agent to say that the book still wasn’t working.

This was after we had been editing it together for AN ENTIRE YEAR…

Let’s rewind a bit!

In 2022, I sold a novel in a different genre under a pen name, Charlotte Rixon. It was all very exciting.

However, I had begun to build a readership for my suspense and I definitely didn’t want to give up writing in that genre just because of the new deal - not least because I loved working with my original publisher, Quercus.

So I suggested to my agent trying to sell a new suspense novel on a partial - something I had never done before. My editor was about to go on maternity leave so we negotiated a really long deadline that would work for us both.

It gave me time to write a second book under my new pen name (I had been given a two-book deal in the UK), while also still having time to write a draft of my new suspense for when my editor came back to work.

Timing-wise, it couldn’t have worked out better.

Except for the fact that, after writing the partial - just 10k words - I had a year’s break before coming back to finish it.

And in that year my brain had completely moved on from the original idea I’d sold (a kind of black comedy about a female vigilante killer).

In the time that I’d taken to write my other book, I noticed that a ton of other ‘angry female serial killer’ books had been released or announced, many with a slightly acerbic, witty tone.

(This is surprisingly common, I’ve come to realise - there really are trends in the zeitgeist!)

My book wasn’t scheduled to be released until 2025 and I worried that if I continued in the same vein of the original 10k, it would look as though I’d just copied everyone else.

So I decided to change the whole book. Without telling my editor.

Merrily, I wrote away. The book I wrote was completely batshit. It was semi-epistolary (but that’s not what made it batshit). A chunk of it was written as a false confessional memoir, left after the protagonist died (or did she?). Much of it was written in the second person.

When I sent it over to my editor, I called it my ‘most ambitious book’.

But really, it was just a mess.

Absolutely bloody nuts.

I’m not sure what came over me to be honest. Perhaps selling that other book in the US had gone to my head?!

Perhaps after five relatively ‘safe’ narrative styles, I just wanted to be a bit braver, and write something a bit different?

Either way, my kind editor came back with a pretty hefty structural edit.

Four pages of notes, but in a very small font (lol) .

We had a meeting to discuss the issues she had raised (which were basically: this book is batshit and gives the reader whiplash) and I went away to edit.

And then I redelivered. And she read then sent over some more edits. And… rinse and repeat.

I’m not sure how many times we attempted to wrangle my batshit book into some kind of order. But in the end, just before Christmas 2023, we reached a crisis point and my editor admitted that it still wasn’t working.

By then, I had had enough. I hated the book. I didn’t want to do any more edits on it. I never wanted to spend another minute with bloody Connie and her bloody crimes (pun intended).

And so I did that thing that authors do when they reach rock bottom: I asked my agent to get me out of the contract.

This all happened right before Christmas, and my agent wisely counselled me to have a break from it and to see how I felt in the New Year.

Which I did. Did it ruin my Christmas? A little bit. I was worried about the financial implications of giving the money back, for one thing.

I thought perhaps my career was over (but I also thought maybe I didn’t actually care if it was).

But over the Christmas break, I did start to see a way through the fog.

Rather than editing the book yet again, I saw a way that I could rewrite the book completely, from scratch, using a much more conventional narrative structure.

I also had the idea of making it dual point of view, using the police officer who was involved in Connie’s life as a child as the second character.

I started writing a completely new book, and then I delivered that in May 2024.

This time when my editor came back with her thoughts, it all felt much more doable. We worked on the book throughout 2024 and by the end of the year, it was finally signed off.

I WAS SO RELIEVED.

However, I still thought the book was terrible.

I thought my editor had only accepted it because she’d basically had enough of the whole thing herself, and would be happy with anything vaguely passable and not completely batshit that they could just print and move on from.

I still thought it was the end of my career (maybe it is, time will tell!)

30 things I’ve learnt from 5 years being published →

When my publisher got in touch earlier this year to say that proof copies were available for me to send to authors to read in advance, I was actually mentally cringing at the thought of my respected friends and colleagues reading my car-crash of a novel.

By the way, none of this is false modesty. This is ABSOLUTELY how I felt.

One of my closest author friends read quickly and was really nice about it, but I was sure that she was just being kind because she knew how agonising it had all been.

Then some other authors read, and they were also nice about it.

Then it went up on Netgalley…. And I braced myself for the one and two star reviews.

But to date, there haven’t been any?!

What is going on?

I am sure they will come, because they always do, but the first bunch of reviews have ALL been four or five stars.

I can’t tell you what this means to me. Or how confused I am. 😆

But also, it’s made me realise some fundamental things:

1) The longer you work on a novel, the better it will be

I think by the time I came to write the new version of Connie, I knew her so well that it really helped with her characterisation. She felt completely real to me, and I think this is coming across to readers too.

I’ve always been a quick writer, but perhaps that’s not always a good thing. There’s something in letting characters and ideas marinate for a while that results in your book becoming richer.

There’s a lot of talk about how important it is to release one book a year if you want to build a viable career as a commercial fiction author. I’m beginning to question that narrative. I agree that at the beginning of your career, the smaller the gap between your books, the better. But once you are a bit more established, perhaps it’s not so important.

Perhaps it’s better to take the time to get it right.

People who liked my other books don’t seem to have forgotten about me just because I haven’t had a suspense book out for a year.

But also, you can’t really rush a book. It takes what it takes - and they are all different.

2) How hard a book is to write has no bearing on how the book will be received by readers

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Charlotte Duckworth / Rixon | Author (@charduck)

I actually did an Insta post about this very subject…

My second-most hated book (by me!) is my third novel, The Perfect Father. It’s another one that was really tricky to get right, involved multiple edits and also ended up (to me at least) feeling a bit… Eastenders (sorry Eastenders, no shade).

And yet, it’s my most popular book to date and has sold more copies than all my other books - nearly 75,000 in fact.

So basically just because a book was easy to write and you enjoyed the process, that doesn’t mean it’s good. And just because a book is difficult and you hated writing it, that doesn’t mean it’s bad.

3) As you get more experienced, some parts about writing get harder

Lots of things get easier as you write more books. But some things also get harder.

You’re more self-aware. You question yourself more. You want to try different things, to experiment and stretch yourself.

And in doing all those things, there’s always the possibility of it not working out.

But that’s OK. It’s only by trying new stuff that we learn.

4) Having some time away from a book can be really helpful

It was only two weeks in the end, but having those two weeks off over Christmas made a huge difference to how I felt about Connie, and freed up my brain to find another - much better - way to tell her story.

I’m really really shit at taking breaks. But this is something I’m going to try to do more.

Conclusion

There’s so much pressure that comes with having a book deal, whether it’s your first or your tenth. I think writers in general tend to be pretty hard on themselves.

My experience with Connie has been a humbling reminder of exactly what a huge undertaking writing a novel is.

Just because we’ve done it before, we kind of forget what an enormously difficult thing it is to do.

But it’s OK to mess it up. It’s OK to admit we’re struggling. Because it’s bloody hard and the experience of writing each book is unique.

I still kind of hate Connie. But finally, I’m also quite proud of her too, in the same way you are proud of most of the difficult things you accomplish in life.

If you’d like to read my no-longer-batshit book, then you can pre-order here.

I hope you enjoy it more than I did. 😜

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I'm a Squarespace Circle Platinum member!

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

I’m so excited to share that I’m now a Squarespace Platinum Partner - the highest level of Squarespace’s Circle partnership programme!

Squarespace Circle is basically a way for professional website designers to partner directly with Squarespace and become part of their pro community.

There are three levels of membership (you are allocated your level by Squarespace, depending on how experienced you are on the platform): Silver, Gold and Platinum.

I had a call with Squarespace last week where I was informed that only 0.5% (!) of all Squarespace Circle members are Platinum, so it is actually a real honour and I feel really, really proud to have moved from Gold to Platinum! 😎

I have worked on a ton of websites this year - 20 built from scratch, while I’ve updated countless others - which means I have spent a LOT of time on the platform.

I love being an ‘expert’ at Squarespace and knowing that I can solve most of the problems my clients bring to me.

And being acknowledged as basically one of the most experienced Squarespace designers in the world (!) feels like a pretty epic achievement, especially in light of the blog post I wrote earlier this year about my identity as a writer.

What does this mean for my clients?

But more than it being a nice ego stroke for me, becoming a Platinum partner means I can offer a few more cool things to my clients including:

25% off new annual Squarespace subscriptions: Gold members get a 20% discount to share with their clients, but now I can offer 25% off my clients’ first year’s Squarespace fees, which is awesome.
Early access to new features: Squarespace are constantly innovating and adding new and exciting features to the platform, which I get early access to and all the insider knowledge.
Priority support from Squarespace: this means that when my clients have issues, I can get help from Squarespace more quickly.

I also get extended trial periods for my clients - up to a year (although as yet I have never had a client leave their website in trial mode for that long!).

Life as a novelist-cum-web-designer

I’m going through quite a weird phase at the moment with my writing.

My original editor has left my publisher - she stayed with me through six entire novels and was such a great support.

I know from (slightly-bitter) experience it’s never really the same once your editor leaves!

PS My new thriller Connie is out in January 2026!
If you’d like to pre-order, you can do so here →

It’s made me contemplate the future of my writing career and although I am (as always!) working on a new novel right now, I am thinking a lot about my work-future and what I want it to look like.

Writing is such an unpredictable thing to do for a job, and honestly my promotion to Platinum couldn’t have come at a better time 😊

It’s a reminder that I can be successful at something other than writing - AND that I can enjoy it too!

I love being a web designer.

Here’s to 2026 and lots more fabulous author websites!

Want me to build you a website?

Find out more, then get in touch. I would love to hear from you!

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How many pages do I need on my author website?

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

If you’ve ever sat down to plan your author website and had no idea where to even start, you’re definitely not alone!

One of the most common issues I hear from authors is not knowing how many pages they need on their shiny new author website.

Too few pages and your site might feel unfinished or unhelpful. Too many, and it can quickly become overwhelming to create - and to navigate.

The truth is, there’s no single ‘right’ answer. The number of pages you need depends on what stage you’re at in your career, what you’re trying to achieve with your author website, and how much time you have to keep it updated.

But there are some tried-and-tested guidelines that can help you get it just right.

So, let’s go through the essential pages, then take a look at a few extras you might want to add once your career (and confidence!) grows.

Start simple: the core pages every author needs

If you’re just getting your author website off the ground, my go-to starting point is four pages.

It gives you enough structure to feel like a ‘real site,’ but it’s not so many that you’ll never finish building it.

Here’s what those four usually are:

Home. Your homepage is your digital welcome mat. It should capture who you are, what you write, and gently guide people deeper into your site (to your books, your mailing list, whatever your priority is - more on that here! ).
About. Because readers love to know more about the person behind the words. Use this page to tell your author story, your motivations, maybe a little about how you write or what your books mean to you. It’s also a very important page for press and media.
Books (or “Writing”). This is where you showcase what you’ve written. Make sure it’s super easy for people to click through to buy your work.
Contact. Use either a simple contact form or a dedicated email address so that readers and other professional people can get in contact.

How my Author Website in a Day service uses that four-page foundation

Every one of my Author Website in a Day projects begins with a foundation of those core four pages.

That’s how essential they are!

That means when you hire me for an Author Website in a Day, you don’t have to agonise over how many pages to begin with.

You’ll get a clean, professional site with those essential pages already included. You can of course add extra pages from the start if you like, but this is totally at your discretion.

And then later on, as your needs grow - say you want an events page, a blog, or extra book pages - you can book in some time with me to add these for you (or you can add them yourself, as you’ll also get free access to my DIY course which will teach you everything you need to know about using Squarespace for your author website!).

I really believe that you don’t have to have a huge and overwhelming author website from the very beginning - just start with the essentials and then add to the site over time.

This allows you to get your website up and running with the least amount of stress possible, but also encourages you to build on it over time - which is great from an SEO point of view, as Google will see it grow and evolve.

Watch my FREE training on how to build your own author website →

What each core page should include

Let’s breakdown those four main pages in detail:

1. Home

Think of your homepage as your online shop window. It’s often the first (and sometimes only) page people will see, so it needs to make a great impression fast.

Your homepage should briefly explain who you are and what you write, and include an easy way for visitors to go deeper: whether that’s reading about your books, joining your mailing list, or following you on social media.

So on your homepage, you need clicks through to other pages on the website, as well as links to buy your books.

Keep the homepage short and visually engaging, with strong images of your books and a clear call-to-action like “Discover my latest novel” or “Join my reader list for updates.”

2. About

This is one of the most visited pages on any author website, because readers love knowing more about the person behind the words.

Your About page should feel personal and welcoming. Tell your story the way you’d introduce yourself to a new reader at an event: warm, honest, and maybe a bit playful or mysterious, depending on what kind of books you write.

You can include a short professional bio, a photo, and links to your books.

If you write fiction, focus on what draws you to your themes and characters.

If you write nonfiction, share your background and what makes you an expert in your topic.

If you want to provide readers with additional content, then this is also a nice place to add a Q&A with some of your most frequently asked questions.

3. Books

This page (or pages) is the real heart of your site. It’s where readers find out what you’ve written and where to buy it.

If you only have one book, a single Books page is perfect. Include the book cover, blurb, a few quotes or reviews, and buying links.

If you’ve written several, you might create one main Books page with a grid of covers that each link to their own subpage. This keeps things tidy while allowing plenty of space for individual titles later.

How to organise books on your author website →

4. Contact

This one’s easy to overlook, but it’s so important. Make it simple for readers, journalists, or event organisers to get in touch.

You can use a contact form or simply list your email address. I suggest using a dedicated one for your author work - please don’t use your old Hotmail address!

Why you need a custom email address →

If you have a literary agent or publicist, add their details too.

Even if you don’t expect much contact as you’re just starting out, having this page signals professionalism and trust.

4. It keeps the focus on your book covers

I always say that your book’s cover is the most important marketing asset you have!

And that cover already has its own strong colours and design.

Covers are professionally created to catch attention online and on bookstore shelves. If your website is also filled with competing colours, it can a) dilute the impact of the cover and/or b) end up clashing with it.

A monochrome background provides the perfect stage. Imagine your brightly designed book covers lined up against a sleek black-and-white site. They pop. They instantly become the stars of the show, which is exactly what you want.

Readers should never have to squint or scroll past visual noise to notice your books. Monochrome design ensures the covers shine.

Optional pages to grow into

Once your core pages are in place and you’re comfortable managing your site, you can start expanding!

The thing I love about Squarespace is the sheer number of features it offers, that can be added to your author website at any time.

6 great Squarespace features for authors →

Here are some ideas, depending on your goals and audience.

5. Blog or News

A blog can be brilliant for SEO (search engine visibility) and keeping your site feeling alive.

But only start one if you genuinely want to write regular updates!

Should I have a blog on my author website? →

If you don’t fancy maintaining a full blog, a simpler News page might suit you better. You can use it to share updates like new releases, signings, or awards without committing to frequent posts.

6. Events

If you often attend festivals, book clubs, or do readings, a dedicated Events page is worth adding. Include upcoming appearances and a list (or photos) of past ones to build credibility.

Even if you’re not touring constantly, this kind of page shows you’re active and engaged with readers.

How to add an Events calendar to your Squarespace author website →

7. Mailing List

You should regularly mention your mailing list across your site, but it can also have its own landing page.

This gives you space to explain what readers will get by subscribing: exclusive stories, behind-the-scenes updates, giveaways, etc. and makes linking to it easier from social media or newsletter swaps.

8. Resources or Extras

If you write nonfiction, you might include resources, downloads, or further reading.

Fiction authors sometimes use an Extras or Behind the Scenes page to share deleted scenes, playlists, or character sketches.

It’s a lovely way to add personality and reward readers who explore beyond your main pages.

9. Press or Media Kit

Once your profile starts growing, journalists and event organisers will appreciate a Press page. This can include your professional bio, headshots, book covers, blurbs, and contact info in one easy-to-download place.

Having this page ready saves you a ton of time later on, and again, it signals professionalism.

10. A Shop

You can also consider adding a shop to your website, to sell signed copies of your books directly to your fans.

What about ‘one-page’ websites?

You might have seen single-page author websites that put everything on one long scrolling page.

These can work really well if you’re brand new, have only one book, or want something minimal.

The key is to make sure it still feels complete: include short sections for About, Books, and Contact, and anchor links at the top so visitors can jump to what they want easily.

If you plan to grow your website, though, I would say it’s worth starting with a multi-page structure so you don’t have to rebuild everything later.

Is a one-page author website right for me? →

On a budget but need an author website?
The DIY Author Website Course is just for you! →

How to decide what you really need

When you’re planning your site, the best way to decide on pages is to ask yourself these questions:

What’s my main goal?
Is it to sell books? Build a mailing list? Attract media interest? Your main goal should guide the structure.
Who’s visiting my site?
Readers? Publishers? Journalists? Each audience looks for slightly different things.
How much time do I realistically have to maintain it?
There’s no point adding a Blog, Events, and Resources page if you’ll never update them. It’s better to keep things lean and polished than sprawling and outdated.

The sweet spot for most authors

For most authors, the ideal number of pages sits somewhere between four and seven. That’s enough space to cover all the essentials while keeping navigation simple.

If I were to recommend a ‘standard’ setup for a mid-career author with a few books, it might look like this:

Home
About
Books
News or Blog
Mailing List
Contact

You can always expand later as your needs change, but this version gives you everything a visitor expects while keeping the maintenance of the site manageable.

Final thoughts

Your author website doesn’t need to be huge or complicated to be effective. What matters most is clarity: helping visitors instantly understand who you are, what you write, and how they can connect with you.

As I always say: LESS IS MORE!

Start with the basics, make sure everything feels cohesive and easy to navigate, and only add more pages when you have a clear reason to.

A well-organised five-page site will always beat a cluttered ten-page one!

If you’re ever unsure, think of it this way: your website should feel like a beautifully designed mini version of your writing career. It’s there to invite readers in, not to overwhelm them.

Get access to my Resource Library for free here →

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

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Introducing: Squarespace Fridays

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

I’m super excited today to be introducing a brand new service at the studio: Squarespace Fridays!

Squarespace Fridays is a service where you can book me, by the hour, to dive into your existing Squarespace website and make things better.

Every Friday (in case that wasn’t clear 😆).

If you’ve been staring at your Squarespace site, desperate to change a few things - layout, fonts, the mobile version - but you just don’t know where to begin, or don’t have the energy or time, then a Squarespace Friday session is just for you!

Maybe your ‘to-do list’ is a mile long, but you don’t have time (or budget) for a full site redesign right now…

Now, you can book in some time with me, by the hour, and I’ll get to work on all the things that have been bugging you on your website.

And no, you don’t have to be an author to take advantage of this! I’m really happy to work with all kinds of small businesses and other creatives.

I believe your website should be working for you, not against you.

And sometimes, you just need someone with experience to jump in and get things moving.

That’s where Squarespace Fridays comes in.

In this post I’ll walk you through:

What I can help with
Who it’s for
How the sessions work
Why this is a smart investment
FAQs

What can we actually do in a Squarespace Friday session?

Well, basically, anything you like, provided it’s on your Squarespace website!

Here are some examples of what I can help you with:

Design & Structure

Refresh fonts, colours, or layout to modernise your site
Reorganise navigation menus to improve flow
Make pages look consistent: spacing, alignment, button styling
Add new sections (testimonials, contact forms, portfolio grids)
Improve mobile responsiveness, so your site works beautifully on phones
Tidy up any areas that you’ve somehow broken 😆(would it make you feel better if I told you this was my no. 1 request from my past clients?!)

Content & Maintenance

Upload blog posts, podcast episodes, or new projects
Update pricing, testimonials, images
Tidy your image library, file structure, or content inventory
Make seasonal or launch-specific updates
Remove or reorganise outdated content
Check links and suggest places for improvement
Make sure your on-page SEO is all working as it should

Strategy & Advice

Review your site for clarity and conversion (are visitors to your website taking the actions you want?)
Advise you on growing your email list via your site
Brainstorm page layouts that work better
Give feedback on user experience, site navigation and any other issues that concern you

Basically, if you’re looking for a change or fix inside your Squarespace website, and the site is live (not in trial mode), then I’m your woman!

More about Squarespace Fridays →

Who is Squarespace Fridays for?

This new service is a great fit if you:

Have bits and pieces of your site you’d like to improve, but you’re stuck or scared of messing things up
Built the site yourself (go you!) but want to polish things with a pro
Don’t have the budget or time right now for a full redesign
Need help right now, without waiting weeks or months for my next available design slot
Want someone to bounce ideas off: to pick my brain about web design or newsletters

You don’t need to be an author (though many of my clients are). As long as your site is on Squarespace 7.1 and already live, you’re good to go.

How Squarespace Fridays work

Here’s what booking and collaborating with me looks like:

Get in touch
Use the contact form below to drop me a line and explain what you’d like me to do. I’ll come back to you with details of my availability and how much time we’ll need.
Choose your slot
You pick a Friday that works for you. (I typically have availability within a fortnight so this is great if you’re in need or urgent help or support).
Submit your wishlist
Tell me what you’d like me to help with. I don’t expect you to have it all figured out — I’ll guide you if you don’t, or just take what you give me and run with it.
Confirm & pay
A 50% deposit secures your slot in my calendar.
Sit back & relax
Your Friday comes and I make the changes we’ve discussed. When we’re done, I’ll email you with the results.

You can book a 1-hour minimum, or go for multiple hours if you have a lot of changes you’d like made. You can also spread sessions over time.

If you’re not sure how much time you need, just send me your list and I’ll help you estimate.

Investment: £150 per hour.

Important details:

Only for live Squarespace sites - unfortunately this service is not available for sites that are still in trial mode, and I don’t work on other platforms such as Wix or Wordpress.
Cancellation or rescheduling is allowed up to 48 hours before. After that, your deposit is non-refundable (but I’ll try to help if something comes up).
I don’t cover domain setup, email configuration, or issues outside of the Squarespace platform - this time is strictly “hands-on in your Squarespace site” work.

Why I’ve introduced Squarespace Fridays

I know there are a lot of people out there who could do with some help on their websites.

But I also know there are lot of people out there who don’t have the budget (especially authors!) to pay a web designer to build their websites from scratch for them.

I was already offering Friday slots to my past web design clients - they could book in if they needed to make an update or wanted some help with their website.

It’s been working really well, and I thought it made sense to offer this up to a broader audience.

For me, I find it immensely satisfying helping people to tidy up their websites - and for you guys, I hope it’s a time-saver and a relief too!

More about Squarespace Fridays →

Why book me

You might wonder: what’s the benefit of booking one hour with a web designer, rather than trying to learn it yourself, or waiting until a full project?

Here are some reasons:

Efficiency: You don’t need to spend weeks fumbling through settings. In just one hour, you’ll get meaningful improvements.
Expert eyes: You get someone who knows design, UX, and Squarespace intricacies taking an in-depth look at your site. I can spot any issues you might overlook.
Flexibility: You’re not locking into a full redesign. You control what gets done, when.
Momentum: Small changes can add up. Fixing a few things can make your site feel polished, more usable, and more trustworthy to visitors.
Value: You get high-quality, professional support in a fraction of the time and cost of a full redesign.
Support when you need it: Whether you need help once or want to come back often, I’m here! I also offer custom support packages if you want regular check-ins.

Real words from real clients

“The brilliant Charlotte Duckworth has just revitalised my much-neglected website and she has done it so efficiently and reasonably. I can’t recommend her more highly.”

— SARAH VAUGHAN, AUTHOR OF ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL

“I’m absolutely delighted with my refreshed website. So much cleaner and easier to navigate. When I set it up myself I made kind of a mess of things and I kept putting off doing anything about it. I couldn’t recommend Charlotte highly enough, it was utterly painless”

– JULIANA ADELMAN, AUTHOR OF THE GRATEFUL WATER

“CHARLOTTE! The refreshed website looks absolutely gorgeous, thank you so, so much”

– HOLLY RACE, AUTHOR OF SIX WILD CROWNS

This kind of feedback makes me excited to help more people get their sites where they want them to be!

FAQs

Q: How soon can I book?
Usually within a week or two. If you’re in a hurry, just reach out and I’ll see what I can do.

Q: What if I don’t know what updates I need?
No worries. Tell me what’s bugging you about your site, or what feels off. I’ll look over it before our session and come up with a realistic plan to get the most done.

Q: Can I book more than one hour?
Absolutely. You can book multiple hours or multiple sessions. If you’re unsure, send me what you’d like done and I’ll help you estimate.

Q: Do you offer ongoing support?
Yes! Many clients return for tweaks and help over time. If you like, I can build you a custom support package so you always have time reserved.

Q: What about everything outside Squarespace: domains, email, etc.?
Squarespace Fridays is focused on your site itself. I don’t handle domains, email setup, or non-Squarespace platform work during these sessions. If that’s something you need help with, I can point you toward resources or someone specialising in those.

More about Squarespace Fridays →

Let’s make your website work for you

I have to confess, I have resisted offering a service like this for a long time.

I worried that the admin side of it (dealing with multiple clients for small amounts of work) would become overwhelming.

However, as I said before, I’ve been essentially offering this service to my past clients for a couple of years now and it works really well.

And I know there are tons more people who could benefit from some highly targeted quick support with their websites.

So let’s see!

If this sounds like the website service you’ve been waiting for then please use the contact form below to get in touch!

Or if you have any feedback or suggestions for any other services that you’d find helpful, then I’d love to hear about those too.

Get access to my Resource Library for free here →

Save 10% off your first year’s Squarespace subscription using code CHARLOTTE10

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