Once you?ve created an online venue and posted content to it, you’re a publisher.

I found the statement above on Amy Gahran’s blog, Contentious. Gahran is a writer, editor, trainer, and project manager. I found her article, How to Think Like A Publisher, Part 1 and Part 2, very interesting reading. There’s going to be two more parts in the future, I can’t wait to see what else this writes has to say about publishing online content.

The information isn’t just for writers, it’s for anyone who has or is thinking of having a Web site in whatever form it manifests itself. In fact, Gahran used a lighting company to give examples of the kind of content they could create by thinking more creatively about content and their targeted audience. With more and more people using the Internet to find information and/or products/services, there will be more people wanting to create their own sites, many will be in Weblog format because it is so easy to use and update, requiring very little technical skill.

Gahran’s articles have caused me to think about what I want to read when visiting a site. Of course, it depends on what I’m looking for. If I’m looking for a product, I want to know what it will do for me, how it will do it, what makes it different, how much and where I can get it. If it’s a site that sells a lot of different, well known products, then I want to know about the seller. I could go into a rant about those who have online commerce and offer no information about themselves, not even a real address or phone number. Those same owners are asking for your real address, phone number, email, real name and credit card number. I can not understand why anyone would do business with a company/organization/distributor/seller that chooses to be anonymous. I caution my real-life clients, family and friends to steer clear of any ecommerce site that does not offer easy to find, full discloser, contact details.

When I’m looking for a service, I want to know more about the person(s) offering the service. I don’t care about their credentials as much as there personal experiences, the experiences that make them an authority, why they chose to offer the service, and what it will do for me. I do realize that credentials can be important but they are only one aspect of choosing a service in my opinion.

Since this blog is supposed to be about writing, (yes, I know I wonder into other topics of interests) I should explore what I like to read when viewing a site about writing. What I get the most out of is sites that offers the writers personal experience with writing, both good and bad, what they are afraid of in regards to the writing craft, and how they worked through their fears. How they approach writing in general and what makes their approach work for them. How they develop a character and the story plot. In essence, I want to read about their process. It helps me to see that I’m not the only one who struggles with certain aspects of writing and encourages me to continue trying.

I also like well written commentary on the “rules” of writing, especially if the author is mocking the “rules”. It makes my heart sing. Not that rules don’t have a place but placing rules onto the creative process turns it into a technique, a form where one must create within its boundaries. In my mind creativity should have no boundaries and be allowed to manifest itself freely. So, if you want to write without rules, do it and free yourself from rule generalities. Don’t think too much and just do it your way. It will feel sooooooo good, trust me!