Blog - charlotte duckworth studio

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?

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!

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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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Managing your feelings as debut author

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:30:00 +0000

It’s an experience unlike any other, finally being told that your novel is going to be published. And because of that, it’s quite hard to work out how you should feel.

First of all allow me to remind you of a few things:

you deserve this
no one has done you a favour
you are not going to be ‘found out’

Now, I’m by no means an expert on this, but, alongside my own experience, I’ve spoken to many debut authors over the years and here are a few things I’ve taken away:

It’s OK not to be ecstatic

It’s normal not to feel euphoria. It’s such an intangible thing, getting a book deal, and you’ve probably been through an insane rollercoaster ride to get here, resulting in you feeling a little, well, worn out. Overwhelmed. Relieved?

All of these feelings are totally normal, and if you don’t feel ecstatically happy right now, don’t worry, that feeling will sneak up on you when you least expect it. I promise!

Celebrate the small moments

If I could give you any advice about making the most of the time before your book is released it would be to celebrate the small moments.

Signing your contract. Being paid your first advance or royalty sum. Seeing your book listed on Amazon for the first time. Getting your first blurb quote from an author you admire.

All of these are milestones – small but not insignificant, and it’s well worth taking time to reflect as you experience them.

Anxiety is normal

That’s it really. It’s completely normal to feel anxious about every part of the publishing process.

Our agents and publishers can help alleviate some of the more practical worries, but as writers, we’re completely in control of our writing, our characters, their worlds and their stories, but once published, we have little-to- no control over the way our book is received. So of course you feel anxious.

Again, don’t beat yourself up about this.

Take the pressure off

And on that note – don’t beat yourself up about anything. So you don’t feel as happy as you’d hoped? That’s fine. Friends and family keep telling you you must be beside yourself with joy, but you’re not feeling it? Smile and let it go.

No one understands this experience but other authors. Which leads me neatly onto my next point...

Find an author buddy/buddies/tribe

I cannot emphasise this enough! It’s incredibly helpful to have other debut authors on speed-email for those moments when you feel lost or overwhelmed. Author friends truly are the best friends – my first year as an author would have been utterly miserable without them.

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

Alternatively, scroll down to the bottom of this blog post to find out about something new that I’m launching soon and that I’m SUPER excited about ❤️

Download my FREE Debut Author’s Survival Guide →

Remember the goalposts constantly shift

Fair warning – once you’ve been offered your book deal, you’ve achieved Your Dream. And what happens when you achieve your dream? You get a new dream. The goal posts shift. Suddenly it’s not enough to have a book deal. Now you want to be a lead title. And how come you’re not getting a hardback?

When you strive for something for so long and then achieve it, it leaves a hole that your cruel writerly brain has to fill. Don’t worry, just know that every author experiences this. Every author wants more. It’s what keeps us writing (and made us able to write a book in the first place).

Write your next book

Yes, really, the way through all this madness is to do what you do best – get your head down and get back to work. It’s so helpful to have at least a draft of your second book finished before your first one is published. The publication process can be incredibly distracting and make it really hard to concentrate on anything else.

I was so pleased to have written my second book before my first was released. It reassured me that I could do it more than once, and it meant I could take a bit of a breather during my publication month. It made my publisher pretty happy too!

Don’t compare yourself

Here’s a brutal truth: there will always be someone out there with a bigger book deal, bigger career, bigger advance, more translation rights... don’t even think about comparing yourself to them. You’re on your own journey (sorry to go all X Factor on you). Focus on that.

✨ Join The Debut Authors’ Club! ✨

Last but not least - if you’re a 2026 debut, please sign up to my new and exciting Debut Authors’ Club!

I’ve been thinking for a really long time about launching some kind of community for debut authors after realising that so much of the advice I offer on this blog involves finding your ‘author tribe’.

I truly believe that community is the most powerful thing we writers have, but it’s not always easy to find that community when you’re starting out.

It’s been more than nine years since I got my book deal, and throughout that time I have made so many incredible author friends who have all been such a support to me.

I’ve also built a wonderful community through this blog and my newsletter.

So I thought, why not harness the power of my own community to create one just for debut authors?

The club launches in January, and is specifically for debut authors with books coming out in 2026.

If that’s you, and you’d like to learn more, you can be the first to hear when the club launches by signing up on this page.

I have so many exciting plans for the club and really believe it will be something very special.

More info coming soon! ❤️

Find out more about The Debut Authors’ Club →

Hope these points have provided a little bit of reassurance and made you feel less alone.

I’m always on Insta if you want to chat more about this stuff, and don’t forget too to download The Debut Author’s Survival Guide for more tips and advice!

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My #1 author website design secret

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

I speak to many authors about their websites and one of the things that often crops up is their lack of confidence when it comes to making design decisions, especially when it comes to colour.

Should you go bold and bright to stand out? Or pick something softer and more muted so it feels approachable?

The choices can feel endless, and that’s exactly why so many authors stall at this stage.

But here’s the biggest design secret for authors, and it’s simpler than you might think.

Stick to a monochrome colour palette.

Keeping things simple and unified with one family of shades is the design approach that never fails.

It works across genres, highlights your books beautifully, and creates a professional look that feels timeless.

By monochrome, I don’t just mean black and white (although that’s a classic). You can also go for warm neutrals and off-whites, charcoal greys instead of black.

Sticking to this simple, timeless choice can transform your website into something that feels instantly stylish and professional, and most importantly of all - doesn’t compete with your book’s cover.

Let’s break down why this works so well, especially for authors.

1. It lets your words take center stage

As an author, your main job is to communicate through words. You’ve got your book blurbs, your bio, your blog posts, your newsletter sign-ups: all text-heavy content that needs to be read.

A loud, multicoloured website can distract from that. Visitors’ eyes jump to the brightest colour on the page, which often isn’t your carefully crafted text.

A monochrome palette, on the other hand, creates harmony. The design fades quietly into the background, so the words themselves are what stand out.

This doesn’t mean the site looks boring. Quite the opposite.

A restrained palette feels intentional and curated. Readers won’t think about the design as much as they’ll think about your writing, which is exactly how it should be.

2. It creates instant professionalism

Whether you’re traditionally published, self-published, or somewhere in between, readers are constantly making snap judgments about you online. When someone clicks onto your site, you want them to feel reassured: this is a serious author, I can trust them, I want to read their work.

A monochrome design does that almost immediately. It communicates polish and confidence. Think about the branding of luxury magazines, design studios, or high-end publishers. More often than not, they lean toward minimalist, monochrome visuals.

You don’t need to look corporate or cold. When your site feels sleek and pulled together, it tells visitors that you take your craft seriously.

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

3. It adapts effortlessly to every genre

Authors often worry that their website won’t reflect the genre they write in. Should a romance author use pink? Should a thriller author use red? What if you write across genres?

Monochrome solves all of that. It’s genre-neutral while still being flexible. A crime author might stick to black, white, and steel-grey for a dark, moody feel. A children’s author might use soft creams and warm beige for a friendly vibe. A fantasy author could go for off-white with a hint of deep purple or blue..

No matter your genre, a monochrome palette gives you room to reflect tone without locking you into a cliché.

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.

Readers should never have to squint or scroll past visual noise to notice your books. Monochrome design ensures the covers shine.

5. It makes your site easy to maintain

One of the hidden struggles of running a website is consistency. If you’ve chosen a five-colour palette, you’ve now got to make sure you use them in the right places every time you add a page or update a section. It’s fiddly and time-consuming.

A monochrome palette simplifies everything. With just one main colour (and its lighter or darker variations), you don’t have to second-guess yourself. Every heading, background, or button will naturally fit with the overall look.

This makes future updates faster, and it reduces the chance that your site will look messy or dated as time goes on.

6. It improves accessibility and readability

Good design isn’t just about looks. It’s about making sure your site works for everyone.

Monochrome colour schemes tend to have stronger contrasts between text and background, which makes them easier to read.

Of course, you still need to pay attention to accessibility standards (for example, not putting light grey text on a white background). But as a rule, working within one colour family makes it easier to create clear, high-contrast combinations.

For readers who may be scanning your site on small screens, or who have visual impairments, this simplicity makes a huge difference.

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

7. It never goes out of style

Trends in web design come and go. Remember when every site had a giant parallax header? Or when everything was covered in gradients and shadows? If you chase those trends, you’ll end up redesigning your site every couple of years.

Monochrome, though, is timeless. It has worked for centuries in print design, and it continues to work beautifully online. When you keep things simple, you sidestep the risk of looking dated. That means your site investment lasts longer, and you don’t feel pressured to constantly redesign just to ‘keep up’.

8. It reflects your author brand

Even if you don’t think of yourself as a brand, the truth is that readers are always picking up cues about who you are and what you stand for.

A monochrome site often communicates clarity, confidence, and focus. It shows that you know your message and you don’t need flashy extras to prove it.

That doesn’t mean you can’t inject personality. Typography, photography, and layout all play a huge role in making your site feel ‘you’.

But when you combine those elements with a clean, monochrome palette, your brand feels strong and unmistakable.

Tips for making monochrome work

If you’re ready to go monochrome but not sure where to start, here are some practical tips:

Choose your main colour wisely. Black and white are classic, but you can also use soft greys, creams and other neutrals.
Use texture, not colour, for interest. Patterns, subtle gradients, and photography can add depth without breaking the palette.
Highlight sparingly. If you do want to go with one accent colour (say, a single call-to-action button in bright red), keep it consistent and minimal.
Lean on typography. Great fonts add personality and structure, so your site never feels bland.

Examples of monochrome author websites (designed by me!)

Will Dean’s author website →

Freya Sampson’s author website →

Visit Eleanor’s author website →

Visit Vanessa’s author website →

Visit Benoit’s author website →

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, your website’s job is simple: to showcase your books and give readers a clear, welcoming place to connect with you!

The truth is, design doesn’t have to be complicated to do that well.

The #1 author website design secret is this: keep your palette monochrome. It’s professional, timeless, easy to maintain, and it makes your book covers the star of the show. While trends come and go, this approach always works, and it will keep working, no matter how your writing career evolves.

So if you’ve been second-guessing your colour choices or endlessly tweaking your site, take a deep breath and strip it back.

Monochrome is the one design decision you’ll never regret.

Bonus tips: more beginner-friendly design practices for authors

Keep navigation simple. Stick to just a few clear menu items: Home, About, Books, Contact, so readers don’t get lost.
Use big, readable fonts. Prioritise legibility over style; body text should be comfortable to read on desktop and mobile.
Add plenty of white space. Don’t cram everything together. Give your words and images room to breathe.
Make your call-to-action clear. Whether it’s joining your mailing list or buying your latest book, make the next step obvious.
Check your site on mobile. Most readers will visit on their phone, so make sure it looks just as good (and works just as smoothly) there.
Don’t overload with widgets. Skip auto-playing music, cluttered sidebars, or anything that slows the page down. Clean always wins.
Feature your books up front. Place your latest release or series clearly on your homepage. Don't make readers hunt for it.

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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Some honest thoughts on author publicity

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

I haven’t done an ‘honest thoughts’ post in a while, but this topic has been niggling at me lately, so today’s the day! Let’s talk about publicity.

For those that don’t know, I was a journalist for a long time. After I left uni, I did a post-grad in magazine journalism (or ‘periodicals’ as they were called back then!) and I worked in magazines for about ten years afterwards. Mostly interiors magazines but some women’s magazines too.

I then left journalism to set up a digital marketing agency, and we offered online PR, social media and content marketing services to businesses in the interiors industry.

I also used to host workshops to teach people how to do their own PR, as well as training small business owners on a one-to-one basis.

A lot of people I worked with appreciated the fact I had been on ‘the other side’ and understood what journalists were looking for and how to make their jobs easier by providing them with content and ideas that they could use in their publications.

Suffice to say, when I got my debut book deal, I already knew a lot about journalism and PR.

I was super excited at the thought of working with the publicist that my publisher had assigned me.

So excited that I created spreadsheets of all the different articles that I could write that related in some way to my novel, and all the different angles we could pitch, and all the different outlets we could pitch them to.

There were two spreadsheets: one for long-lead mags, another for short-lead.

Here’s a picture of the long-lead one, because it’s just so cute:

So yeah: I was SUPER keen.

I was expecting a big PR meeting, a strategy plan, weekly check-ins, lots of follow ups… I expected my book to be reviewed in all the main places where books are reviewed: the newspapers, the women’s magazines etc etc.

I thought we’d be working about six months out from publication.

But… I don’t think we ever even had a meeting…

In the end, my debut did get a review in the Guardian and mentions in a couple of women’s magazines, which was super exciting, but - LIKE MOST BOOKS - not much else.

The truth is, it’s really really hard to get your book featured in a publication. Especially if it’s a novel.

Yeah, I know, just like everything else in publishing - it’s really really hard!

Because there are simply TOO MANY books fighting for TOO LITTLE space.

And publicists are working on multiple books at the same time, and they have to prioritise the ‘super-lead titles’ so if you’re not one of them, you’re going to get the bog-standard basic PR treatment, my friends, and that’s just how it is (absolutely no shade here to all the hardworking publicists working in-house at publishing companies by the way!).

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

Writing first-person pieces

One of the ways that publicists try to get novels featured is by offering up ‘first-person pieces’ (much like the ones in my spreadsheets) written by the author talking about something in their life that’s either traumatic or interesting or noteworthy in some way.

The hope is that you can shoe-horn in a mention of your novel somehow, and that this will help raise awareness of it, and ultimately, sales.

Before my debut was released, I had a request from an editor at the Daily Mail to write a piece about my experience of becoming a mother.

I think the headline they wanted was ‘I’m not a natural mother’. 🥴

It was basically a soul-baring piece about how difficult I found the adjustment to motherhood after running my own business and not being a particularly maternal person up to that point.

It broadly echoed the themes of my debut, The Rival, a psychological suspense in which a woman loses her job to a younger woman while pregnant, and eventually loses her sanity and her baby too.

This felt like a groundbreakingly original theme to me at the time, but now, of course, I know better 😆

Anyway, I wrote the piece. I felt very conflicted about it. I’m not a particular fan of the Mail, and it felt SO personal.

But I was keen and I wanted to show willing. I believed it was a bigger opportunity than it actually was. I wanted my book to succeed, I was prepared to do whatever it took. So I wrote it.

In the end, they never published it.

Not because there was anything wrong with it, per se, but because the Daily Mail over-commission and often just don’t run pieces.

Now I look back and I am so, so relieved that that article never made it to print.

The thought of that headline following me around the internet for the rest of my days sends shivers down my spine.

Luckily, as I was a journalist, I had negotiated a fee, and even though they didn’t publish the piece, they did actually pay me a ‘kill fee’ (which is usually half the original fee) so I got some cash out of it at least.

Since then, I have learnt that many authors write these kind of articles for free.

And I would just like to say here, very loudly, please don’t do that.

Do not write for a mainstream national publication for free!

They have a budget for this kind of thing, you are writing in a professional capacity and you deserve to be paid for your work.

Since I was first published I have heard countless stories of authors writing extremely exposing and personal pieces for mainstream outlets.

And the outcome is usually:

They didn’t get paid any money for the piece
They bitterly regret writing it
The piece made zero tangible difference to their book sales

Now, I would advise debut authors to think very carefully about this kind of thing.

As a former journo, it feels quite exploitative - especially if you don’t even get paid for your article.

The truth is, no one I have spoken to has ever said that writing one of these pieces helped sell books.

So what does it do?

One piece of coverage like this helps raise your profile, a little, temporarily.

So it can help build your author brand. But it’s a tiny piece of a monumental effort that must be sustained for any long-term results.

You need to be in ALL the magazines, in ALL the newspapers and across all online media to really have that huge impact you hope for.

Publicity for non-fiction authors

I’d like to add a caveat to this: I suspect that writing articles for mainstream press works better if you write non-fiction.

It’s certainly easier to come up with topics to write about if you write non-fiction - your book will undoubtedly be full of ideas that lend themselves to feature articles.

And if a newspaper reader reads the article and identifies with your book, I think there’s a higher chance that they’ll pick it up if they see it the next time they’re at the train station.

Fiction is just so much more subjective - it’s almost as though the barriers-to-purchase are higher.

Someone might have resonated with my piece about not feeling like a natural mother, but they might not even read novels, or they might hate psych suspense, so what are the chances of them actually going out and buying my book after closing their Sunday paper?

Really slim, and ESPECIALLY if my book is nowhere to be found.

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

Short stories

You might also be offered the ‘opportunity’ to write a short story for a Sunday magazine.

I’ve done this twice now, and wasn’t paid for either (there was just a blanket refusal when I enquired about payment).

While that felt a bit galling, I decided to do it anyway because I’d hardly written any short stories and I thought it would be a good challenge.

I also went on to use one of them as the free download for my author mailing list on my website, so I got some leverage out of it.

So, this one is up to you. I don’t think it likely sells books, but it’s also a fun thing to do, and it’s always nice to see your (creative) writing in print.

Reviews

So, what about reviews?

I’ve been reviewed in a few mainstream newspapers over my time. I don’t honestly know if they helped shift books.

And I think this is part of the issue with PR in general - it’s so hard to track. It’s really difficult to know what makes people pick up a book.

There’s a saying that you need to encounter something SEVEN times before making a purchasing decision.

So one review in one newspaper is probably not going to carry much weight.

BUT four or five reviews, plus an advert on the Underground, plus your best friend telling you the book is great, plus a first-person piece in a women’s magazine plus a few online adverts… that may well encourage someone to buy your book.

Sidenote: it’s been proven that word-of-mouth is the most powerful book marketing method.

And what does that mean?

It means that writing the best book you possibly can is the most powerful thing you can do to help shift it.

I love getting reviews though, and what they ARE really useful for is ‘social proof’, which can be used on your books and on your own online platforms and website, almost as a stamp of legitimacy.

TV and radio

Over the years, I’ve also done a handful of radio slots. Which were a bit nervewracking, but actually really lovely.

I am not convinced that they sold any books but again - it’s impossible to track!

However, I do think that taking up these opportunities is really important because, if nothing else, it gets you used to talking about your book, which can really help when you come to do events.

I only have one experience of my book (not me!) appearing on TV, and that was when The One That Got Away was recommended on the Today Show in the US.

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A post shared by Charlotte Duckworth / Rixon | Author (@charduck)

That was a pretty big deal. Obviously.

Here’s a line from my publicist’s email about it:

This truly a dream come true placement. Charlotte, congratulations!!! Last week, the Today Show had 2.568 million viewers with 594k in the A25-54 demo.

And I believe it did lead to a handful of orders. So that was great (also because it required absolutely no input from me!)

So yeah, get your book on TV if you can. Easy. 😛

Paying an external PR firm to publicise your book

Another thing I considered when I was a debut (and have since heard a lot of other authors consider) is paying an external PR firm to run a campaign in the lead-up to the publication of my debut.

I think if you write non-fiction this can be a really good idea. This is an instinct-based comment, not based on any evidence, but I can see from my experience as a journo and as a PR that this could work well, ESPECIALLY if the subject of your book is particularly topical or even a little controversial.

Also, if you’re trying to build your own brand in a wider sense (not just your book) and position yourself as a thought-leader in your area of expertise, it makes a lot of sense to have a PR on board.

However, if you write fiction, I really don’t advise you do this.

For one, if you’re traditionally published, it’s your publisher’s job and they should be doing everything an external PR firm can do for you, so you’ll just be doubling up.

Also, it’s super expensive. When I looked into it, I was quoted around £10k for a three-month campaign.

I’m not saying that it’s overpriced because I think that’s fairly reasonable given the work involved, but it IS a big investment and I just don’t think novelists will see the ROI they’re hoping for.

I think using an external PR can be helpful if you’re keen on building your personal brand, but not if you’re just looking to promote your debut novel.

Writing for blogs and online publications

I actually feel a little more encouraged by this aspect of PR.

I’ve done quite a few interviews with blogs and smaller publications and I think these can often be more effective than writing those aforementioned first-person pieces for large mainstream papers and magazines.

Why?

1) because the readership of these publications is often small but highly targeted (you would hope that the people reading book blogs like to read!)

and

2) because online outlets offer a direct click-through to your book on Amazon etc, meaning impulse purchasing is more likely.

It’s also nice to support smaller blogs and publications who might not even be making a profit, but simply running to share their love of books.

So when it comes to book PR, what does work?

Don’t get me wrong, I do think PR is important.

However, I think it’s simply one part of the huge puzzle of sales, marketing and publicity (SMP) in books, and it can become extremely distracting if you let it.

If you’re traditionally published, it’s your publisher’s job to secure media coverage. Of course, be helpful and collaborative, but please don’t feel pressured or obliged to write articles for free, or to share more personal information than you are comfortable with.

And don’t feel bad if your book doesn’t get any mainstream coverage.

My third book The Perfect Father (my bestseller) didn’t get reviewed in any mainstream publications at all. And yet it’s sold more than 100,000 copies to date.

Publicity really isn’t the be-all and end-all of a book’s success.

That book took off because of the marketing and visibility it had - and these really are the crucial factors that impact a book’s success.

Remember: the best marketing a writer can do is to write their next book!

So don’t allow all the SMP stuff to pull your focus away from your actual job.

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Project Spotlight: clareharlow.co.uk

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

I realised recently that I haven’t worked on that many children’s author websites, and it’s actually a real shame because it’s honestly so much fun (especially as a mum myself)! I absolutely loved working on Clare’s website recently, and so I’m really excited to be sharing a little more about it for my latest project spotlight.

The Brief

Clare Harlow writes magical middle-grade novels, and her books have been shortlisted for multiple awards.

However, when she approached me she hadn’t yet got around to setting up her author website. She knew she needed one though - especially as she does lots of events across the country, and wanted somewhere schools and libraries could find her online and easily get in touch.

Clare has the most beautiful covers (like most children’s authors, I have to say!) and wanted a website that reflected the overarching theme of her books: the magic of the tide. So of course, we had to go with a blue background, with subtle waved lines used to delineate the different sections of the site.

Clare also wanted to have an engaging News page that she could update herself and so we used the blog functionality plus a summary block to create a kind of vertical magazine-style effect. Finally, I scattered a few seaside elements across the pages to add interest.

I love working on children’s author websites because we can have a little bit of fun with the design and add playful elements. With Clare’s site, I especially loved the font I picked for the headings: Almendra, which nicely echoed the font on her books’ covers.

Clare was very keen to be able to keep on top of updating her website regularly, and so she immediately downloaded her complimentary access to my DIY Author Website Course (included in all my website packages) so that she could get to grips with Squarespace.

A week or so later she messaged me to say she’d already updated the News page herself which made me super happy!

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

The Details

Version: Squarespace 7.1

Fonts used: Almendra & Open Sans

View the site: clareharlow.co.uk

Clare’s Verdict

“Charlotte came highly recommended, so my only big hesitation was cost. I can honestly say it was worth every penny. Charlotte is so helpful and thorough. The site includes everything I asked for, and I’m fully equipped to edit it myself as and when I need to.”

— CLARE HARLOW

The Post-launch Q&A

How do you feel about your completed website?

It's everything I wanted it to be, and I could never have made it happen without Charlotte. Better still, Charlotte has given me all the info I need so that I can quickly and easily update the site whenever I need to.

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

Sorting out a website was lurking on my to-do list for months, and I was actually starting to feel quite stressed about it. Social media has changed so much that I can no longer rely on any one platform to reach my readers. I knew I needed my own site, but I also knew I didn't have the energy, patience or confidence to learn to build one myself.

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

Charlotte came highly recommended, so my only big hesitation was cost. I can honestly say it was worth every penny. Charlotte is so helpful and thorough. The site includes everything I asked for, and I'm fully equipped to edit it myself as and when I need to.

I was also anxious that I didn't have a clear enough vision for the style/look, but the prompts in Charlotte's pre-design questionnaires helped me narrow things down, and then Charlotte worked her magic and turned my vague ideas into the gorgeous finished product.

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

As a middle-grade author, a lot of my time is taken up with events, and I'd previously been getting enquiries scattered across various social media platforms from people wanting to know where I was next appearing or how they could book me, or simply wanting to know more about my books. Now, all of that information is in one easily accessible place.

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

Just go for it. You won't regret it.

Is there anything you feel could have been done to improve your experience?

Well, I could have started writing my copy sooner, because it was way more time-consuming than I expected, but I think you were really clear that the prep would take quite a while.

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

Without reservation. I've already been recommending Charlotte to my writer friends.

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 current favourite podcasts for authors

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 05:01:00 +0000

Ah podcasts! What did we do without them? How did I ever motivate myself to clean the house before they existed? It feels as though they came out of nowhere and now there are tons of them and not enough time in the day (or cleaning chores) to get me through them all. I love them, and so I thought it might be interesting to share my current favourites today.

I am always looking for recommendations myself too, so please do shout if there are any you enjoy that I haven’t talked about below.

I think with writing podcasts, people often look for different things. Personally I like podcasts that talk about what it’s like to be a writer, rather than ones that talk about the craft of writing, or review books.

As you’ve probably worked out if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, I don’t talk about the process of writing here at all.

I feel as though my method for writing novels is so indefinable and insane that I don’t have any wisdom to impart on that topic whatsoever.

However, I am deeply, deeply interested in what it’s like making a career as a writer. It’s such a challenging job with so many ups and downs, and I feel like there’s a lot of stuff that’s withheld from us by the publishing industry, so I literally devour any insights from behind the scenes.

On that note - please could someone in the publishing industry set up a podcast to talk about what it’s like working in publishing PLEASE?

Fill us in on all the stuff that we don’t know, I’m begging you!

The only thing I’ve found that comes close is Phoebe Morgan’s Substack. Phoebe is a hugely successful crime editor, but also a published novelist herself, and she has written some really useful and interesting posts all about the publishing industry, as well as interviewing some publishing heavyweights (including my US editor, Sarah Cantin!) that you can read here →

Right so without any more waffle, here are my current favourite podcasts for writers…

Publishing Rodeo

It feels as though this one came out of nowhere earlier this year and really blew up! I’m not sure how long it’s been going for but it’s the first podcast I’ve listened to that really felt as though the people in it were being completely honest about what it’s like to be published by a traditional publisher.

I’ve heard lots of interviews with authors who SAY they’re being honest about their life as a writer but who are still clearly holding tons back.

No judgment on this - it’s a precarious career and the powers-that-be prefer us to stay silent - but it’s really refreshing to listen to a podcast where you feel the hosts are truly opening up about their experience of being published.

Hosted by Sunyi Dean and Scott Drakeford, who both debuted in 2022 with the same publisher, they share their experiences and their VERY different publishing journeys (Sunyi’s book was a bestseller, whereas Scott’s wasn’t).

It’s a fascinating and very brave podcast, and the guests they have on each week are great, even though they are mostly from a fantasy/sci-fi background, which is obviously different from mine.

I have been recommending it to everyone I know. If you’re published by a traditional publisher or if you want to be, then I highly recommend you listen too.

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

The Creative Penn

I’m sure you’re already well aware of this one.

I think Joanna Penn’s podcast is one of the original writing podcasts out there, and I’m not sure there’s anything writing-related that she hasn’t covered at some point.

It’s a huge goldmine of information on all-things publishing. I tend to use it to search for specific topics or things I’m interested in rather than listening to each new post, but it’s both hugely inspiring and incredibly informative for writers at any stage of their career.

In Suspense

I’m a bit biased here but I love this podcast because it’s run by my friends, it’s specifically focused on my genre (suspense fiction) and I know pretty much everyone who’s been on it.

And I’ve been on it myself too - to chat about author websites, natch. You can listen to my episode here →

If you write suspense fiction too, then it’s absolutely a must-listen. We are so often lumped under the ‘crime’ banner, but somehow seen as slightly inferior, so it’s great to have a space just for us and our genre.

Write-Off

This podcast seems to be having a hiatus which is a shame because it’s brilliant. Francesca Steele is a journalist and writer who’s honest about not having achieved her own writing goals yet, and she interviews some very eminent authors on their experience of failure and rejection as a writer.

She’s a brilliant interviewer, which makes the podcast so much more compelling. I highly recommend it.

Writer’s Routine

I love this podcast (not least because they once mentioned one of my books on it in passing which felt like a true mark of achievement! 😆) but also because I just love how bonkers writers are.

Host Dan Simpson interviews authors about their writing routine - how they write, where they write, even what font they write in. I particularly like the bit where he asks authors to describe what they can see when they sit down to write. It’s just a really interesting and original insight into the mind and ways of a writer.

Feeling overwhelmed by your book deal?
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Read and Buried

A bit of a biased entry here because I have been interviewed on this podcast, alongside my good friend and fellow crime author Lizzy Barber, but the hosts Sarah and Frankie are honestly just bloody brilliant at interviewing.

They chat to crime authors each week, asking them some very amusing questions as well as the standard ones about their writing processes etc.

I have been on several podcasts as a guest now and have come to realise that there’s a true skill in interviewing (this is why I would never set up my own podcast - as I always say to people, I’m a writer not a talker!) and Sarah and Frankie really put us at ease and we had a super fun chat with them.

I’m really enjoying going through all their back episodes.

The Career Novelist with Camille Pagán

This is a new discovery for me but I have been bingeing it ever since I found it! It’s so rare to hear from an established author like this - Camille is incredibly successful with her fiction but is also a certified coach and her insights and advice are just phenomenal. Camille offers the kind of advice that you can only give when you’ve also been deep in the trenches yourself.

What I particularly like about this podcast is that it’s not just aimed at aspiring authors, but also at authors who might be midway through their career - I feel like again, there’s not as much help out there for authors at that stage. Her advice is super practical and also - most importantly, perhaps - reassuring.

Diary of a CEO

OK, so not strictly a podcast for writers and I’m not 100% sure how I feel about the host (and he definitely needs to get more women on the show!) but the insights from his guests are absolutely fascinating.

I feel like the name of this podcast is a bit of a misnomer as Steven Bartlett interviews all sorts of people from a variety of different careers / backgrounds, but he really does focus a lot on psychology, health and mental wellness and mindset in particular, and I’ve come away with a ton of knowledge and information about things I had never considered before, all of which I genuinely think have helped me with my writing.

There’s a few celebrity fluff interviews in there too, but if you seek out the ones with experts in their fields, there’s lots of interesting stuff to absorb from some of the world’s most brilliant minds.

So that’s my current list of favourites!

Watch my FREE 45-minute training on how to build your own author website! →

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How to transform your author website in just one day

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

You know that moment when you look at your author website and think… ugh? Maybe your last book cover is missing, your newsletter sign-up is buried three clicks deep, and your bio still says you live with “two small children” who are now in secondary school. You keep meaning to fix it, but life (and, let’s be honest, writing deadlines) keep getting in the way.

The good news? You can transform your author website in a single day. Whether you work with a designer (hello!) or set aside a dedicated “DIY refresh day” yourself, a few focused hours can make your site look and feel brand new.

Why one day can make a huge difference

A full website redesign isn’t always necessary. Often, what your site needs is a concentrated burst of updates - refreshing the colours and fonts (remember: less is more!), swapping in new book covers, streamlining your menu, adding any new blurbs or testimonials, checking all the links still go where you want them to, removing any redundant social media links (RIP Twitter 😥) and refreshing your About page so it reflects who you are now.

When you batch those tasks together and hand them over to someone like me to take care of, the results are fast, dramatic, and a lot less stressful than you might think.

Find out more about my Author VIP Design Day →

Case study: Clare Weze’s website makeover

Recently, I worked with author Clare Weze on a VIP website design day to give her Squarespace website a fresh look in time for her new book’s launch. Clare loved the illustrative style of her book covers and wanted those elements woven into her website design for a cohesive brand feel.

Clare had built her website herself but was struggling to create the impact she wanted with the design. In her own words:

“I'd like it to look more professional. I love what you did for Hannah Gold, and want something more inviting. I do like the spare, spacious look that Squarespace provides, but I just don't know what I'm doing with it! I like your designs - they're clear and uncluttered. I'd like to provide more content that really says who I am. I have some images, but don't know how to display them properly.”

Clare booked my Author VIP Design Day and I radically overhauled the website, changing the layout and design, adding sympathetic fonts and colours, and using the illustrations from her books to draw readers in.

BEFORE:

Before, Clare’s site had all the right information, but it felt more functional than inspiring. The branding from her books wasn’t coming through.

AFTER:

Visit Clare’s website →

After: we brought her covers’ whimsical illustrations into the background and headers, added playful colour pops, and simplified navigation so her books are always the main focus.

The result? A warm, distinctive author website that feels like an extension of her books.

“Wow, it looks fantastic! Thank you so much, Charlotte. It’s everything I wanted, but better! It was such a great idea to match my name to the cover. It’s exactly what I was hankering after.”

— CLARE WEZE

Why a one-day makeover works

Most authors don’t need to tear their website down and start again.

Often, a few smaller but high-impact fixes can make the biggest difference:

Swapping in your new book covers
Tweaking the design so that it sits harmoniously alongside your books’ covers - remember these are your greatest marketing asset so you don’t want the website’s design to fight with them
Deleting any superfluous or out-of-date information
Making your newsletter sign-up impossible to miss
Streamlining your menu so readers can actually find your books
Updating your About page so it sounds like you now, not you from five years ago

When you give those updates your undivided attention (or mine, if you prefer to hand it over!), the results can be dramatic.

What actually happens on my VIP Author Design Day

I first introduced the VIP Author Design Day a while ago after getting enquiries from clients who already had Squarespace websites up and running but needed some help to get them where they wanted them to be.

It’s proved really popular - but I’m aware I don’t talk about this service enough! So I thought it might be helpful to share a little about how it all works.

You send me your wishlist in advance. We talk about what’s bugging you, what’s missing, and what your goals are. I’ll let you know how much I can fit into your design day (but so far, I’ve always managed to do everything my clients have asked for in a single day!)
A 50% deposit secures the date in my calendar. That day, I clear my schedule just for you. No juggling other clients, no distractions - just your site.
I get to work while you get on with your day. You might be writing, running errands, or just sipping coffee while I work behind the scenes. Because you’ve sent me everything in advance, I won’t need to bother you on the day itself.
At the end of your five hours, I send you an email to let you know everything is done.
You end the day with a refreshed, functional, and fabulous website!

Who the VIP Author Design Day is for:

A one-day website makeover is perfect if:

You already have a website, but it needs some TLC and you’re not sure where to start
You’ve got a list of fixes you’ve been avoiding for months
You’ve got a new book launch coming up and need everything polished in a hurry
You’re pressed for time and you just can’t see how you’re going to get around to sorting your website

DIY tips for your own one-day author website refresh

Much as I love doing VIP Days, they are not really a budget option. That’s because with my years of expertise I’m able to get a LOT done in a single day - you really will end up with the equivalent of a brand new website at the end of it.

But if budget is a concern (which I completely understand is for many authors), then it’s still possible to give your author website the VIP Day treatment yourself.

If you’d rather go the self-service route, here’s a game plan to follow:

Tidy your homepage first
This is the most important page on your website and it HAS to make a good first impression. Make sure your latest book is front and centre with a clear “buy” or “find out more” link. Remove anything outdated or irrelevant.
Take an honest look at the design
Does it look outdated? Cluttered? Do the colours and fonts clash with your latest covers? One of the most common mistakes I find with DIY websites is that there are just too many competing design elements going on - so pare things right back. If in doubt, a monochrome colour scheme is always a classy choice for an author.
Update your author bio
Add your most recent achievements, publications, and any current projects. Make it as easy as possible for media and other business contacts to copy and paste this in articles about you etc!
Refresh images
Swap in your latest book covers and a current author photo. Consistent, high-quality images instantly boost professionalism.
Check all links
Over time, links often break. Test buy links, contact forms, and newsletter sign-up buttons. Nothing kills momentum like a broken link.
Mobile check
Visit your site on your phone and tablet. If anything looks off, adjust for mobile-friendliness.
Streamline navigation
Keep your main menu short and intuitive: Books, About, Contact, and maybe a Blog or Events page.

If you’re not confident with the tech side of updating your website, then don’t forget there’s a wealth of information in Squarespace’s own video library and on YouTube in general!

When to DIY and when to hand over

I speak to lots of clients who are uncertain whether or not to employ help with their author website.

Often they feel frustrated that they ought to be able to do it themselves.

Website builders (Squarespace included!) market themselves as ‘easy to use’ and ‘designed for beginners’ which I think undermines the fact that, like with anything new, there’s still a learning curve.

Ultimately I firmly believe that anyone can build their own website (which is why I created my DIY Author Website Course). However - it will always cost you one thing: time.

How much time depends on how confident you are with technology - some people just find it more intuitive than others.

When clients aren’t sure whether or not to go ahead with hiring someone, I always say it’s a trade-off between money and time. Which would they prefer to save?

There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s completely individual.

One area however, where I do think that using a designer can be very beneficial is when the issues you are having with your website not looking the way you want are related to its design.

Design is a tricky beast, and if this is something you don’t feel confident about, then handing it over is always going to be worthwhile.

Is it worth hiring a web designer for your author website? →

Conclusion

Whether you tackle it yourself or work with a designer, setting aside one day in your busy schedule for an author website refresh can completely change the way readers see you online.

And when your site feels like you - polished, professional, and up to date - you can get back to focusing on what you do best: writing.

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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10 romance author websites to inspire you

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Oh to be able to write proper romance (my attempts were way too dark and provoked many an angry Goodreads review 😆)! There’s something so uplifting about the genre… And don’t we all need something uplifting and hopeful in these uncertain times!?

The romance genre is all about connection, emotion, and heart, and the best romance author websites capture that beautifully. If you write romance and are looking to build or refresh your author website, one of the best ways to get inspired is by looking at what’s already working.

In this post, I’ve rounded up 10 of the best romance author websites out there - each with its own unique style and strategy.

Now, I NEVER advocate copying another author’s website design, but it’s super helpful and important to take inspiration from websites you love when you come to build your own site.

22 author websites to inspire you →

These standout sites will give you ideas for layout, design, content, and all the must-have features that make a romance author website both beautiful and effective.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of my absolute favourite romance author websites!

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

Laurie Gilmore’s author website

Visit Laurie’s website >

There’s something quite quaint and old-fashioned (in website terms!) about Laurie Gilmore’s author website! Which fits nicely with the charming, cosy feel of her books.

I love that the sign-up button for her navigation says ‘Become a Dreamer’ - these kind of little touches can be so powerful for engaging with your readers!

Julia Quinn’s author website

Visit Julia’s website >

Although the Bridgerton author’s website is a little too busy for my liking, I really appreciate the elegance of the colours and fonts chosen, and the fact that it’s kept regularly updated with all Julia’s latest news.

There are also some lovely bonus features for her fans.

Nicholas Sparks’ author website

Visit Nicholas’ website >

I think Nicholas Sparks is possibly my favourite romance writer ever! And so I’m very pleased to say that I absolutely love his website too.

It’s possibly a little more masculine than some of the other romance author websites - understandably perhaps - but it still has that nostalgic, whimsical feel of his novels and is nice and easy to navigate too, with a clear layout that feels very up-to-date.

Beth O’Leary’s author website

Visit Beth’s author website >

OK a small disclaimer here - I built this website!

Beth O’Leary was one of my very first website clients. We actually share a publisher.

And even though her website was one of the first I built, I am proud that it still stands the test of time. I get a lot of new clients citing it as one of their inspiration sites when they contact me wanting me to build their author website! Beth had clear ideas about what she wanted from her website - not too much fuss, but a little bit of warmth and personality too.

Rebecca Yarros’ author website

Visit Rebecca’s website >

For atmosphere, Rebecca’s website gets top marks! I don’t usually like too many moving elements on author websites, but this site strikes the perfect balance. It’s SUPER clear to navigate, each section has a clearly defined purpose and the use of quotes peppered across the homepage works brilliantly. I love this website.

Lucy Score’s author website

Visit Lucy’s website >

Lucy’s website is the epitome of ‘less is more’! While the website itself is not an extravagant design, the huge photo of Lucy is so welcoming you can’t help but smile, and the site is structured really clearly.

If you’re not sure of your artistic abilities, then this would be a great website to try to emulate.

Sarah J Mass’ author website

Visit Sarah’s website >

I love the slightly magical, mysterious feel to Sarah’s website (fitting, given her books!). The site is beautiful but the design doesn’t get in the way of all the crucial information she wants to communicate to readers.

One little thing though - it seems to be a bit out of date - perhaps she’s been a little too busy 😂

Sophie Ranald’s author website

Visit Sophie’s website >

Sophie’s website is another of my own designs, but I included it as I think it’s a good example of a simple one-page website that can work really well if you don’t have time or inclination to set up and all-singing and all-dancing website - especially if you tend to use social media to keep in touch with readers.

This website brings me great joy, with its bold colours and simple layout!

Talia Hibbert’s author website

Visit Talia’s website >

Talia’s a prolific author, and her website nicely ties together all her titles, with helpful pages such as ‘Reading Order’ and an FAQ. I also love the logo she has for her name, complete with tagline, which helps cement her ‘author brand’.

Finally, the website is just super clear and easy to navigate.

Elsie Silver’s author website

Visit Elsie’s author >

I had to finish on this website as it’s the most ‘advanced’ from a technical point of view, with lots going on behind the scenes (from a web designer’s perspective!). And the result is beautiful and incredibly filmic. I absolutely love the big header with Elsie’s name in that stunning script font. As a bit of a purist, it’s a tiny bit too fussy for my liking - but it’s a really good one to explore and see how you feel about using additional design details and moving images as part of your author website’s design.

Romance author website - honourable mentions!

I looked at A LOT of romance author websites in order to put this blog post together.

So I thought it was only fair to include a few links to websites that didn’t make my top ten but that still do a really good job.

I found some of the following websites were quite samey - which is fine - but if you have the time and the creative flair, then don’t be afraid to bring a bit of personality to your site!

Katie Fforde’s author website >

Nora Roberts’ author website >

Sophie' Kinsella’s author website >

Ali Hazelwood’s author website >

Carley Fortune’s author website >

EL James’ author website >

Bella Andre’s author website >

Paige Toon’s author website >

Want to build your own romance author website?

If the above designs have inspired you to start that long-put-off job of building your own author website, then first of all - hurray! And second of all… let’s break down five essential things every romance author website needs…

Let’s break down five essential elements every romance author website needs.

Whether you're creating your site from scratch or refreshing an existing one, these tips will help you build a beautiful, effective website that truly supports your author career.

1. A visually cohesive, genre-aligned brand

Let’s start with the visuals because let’s face it, with romance novels it’s more important than ever!

One of the biggest mistakes authors make, especially when DIY-ing their website, is failing to match their brand to their genre. And for romance authors, this matters a lot.

Why it’s important:
Romance readers tend to be highly visual. They’ll make snap judgments about your books based on the look and feel of your site. A dark, gritty aesthetic might be perfect for a crime thriller writer, but if you’re writing steamy contemporary romance or swoony historicals, it sends mixed messages.

What to include:

A colour palette that fits your subgenre (think soft pastels for sweet romance, bold reds and blacks for dark or erotic romance)
Fonts that are easy to read but carry emotional tone (avoid anything too corporate or sterile, you want whimsical but also clear)
High-quality images, ideally custom photography or romantic stock photos that match your book themes
Cohesion across your site. I always say that your books’ covers are their biggest marketing asset, so make sure that your website’s design doesn’t fight your covers

2. A compelling homepage that hooks visitors instantly

You’ve got about 3 seconds to convince a visitor they’re in the right place. Your homepage is the most important page on your entire website and the one that will likely get the most traffic.

Why it’s important:
A romance reader landing on your site wants two things: to get a quick sense of what kind of stories you write, and to feel emotionally connected enough to stick around.

If your homepage is confusing, cluttered, unclear, or worse still - BORING, they’ll leave, and might not come back.

What to include:

A short, emotionally engaging tagline or intro. Something like: “Heartfelt love stories with second chances and small-town charm” gives immediate clarity.
A professional headshot (especially if you’re writing under your real name and doing events or interviews)
Your latest or most popular book with a clear call to action, like “Start Reading” or “Get Your Free Preview”
Navigation that makes sense (don’t hide your books!)

SEO tip:
Make sure your homepage includes keywords like “romance author,” your specific subgenre (e.g., “paranormal romance”), and ideally your name. Example:

“Welcome to the official website of USA Today bestselling romance author Emily Hart. Explore sweet small-town stories, second chance romances, and unforgettable happily-ever-afters.”

3. A well-organised book page (or series hub)

This might sound obvious, but so many author websites bury the actual books!

Romance readers often read in series and binge entire backlists. Make it easy for them to follow a series by numbering books and making it clear which ones they should start with..

Why it’s important:
A cluttered or confusing book page can cost you sales. Romance readers are loyal to their favourite authors but they also have hundreds of other books on their Kindle waiting. The easier you make it to find your books, understand the reading order, and click “buy,” the better.

What to include:

Clear series listings in the correct order
Standalone books grouped by theme or subgenre if possible
Buy links to every major retailer you sell through (don’t just link to Amazon unless you’re exclusive)
Optional: audio editions, print editions, large print, or special formats

If you have a lot of books, consider separate pages for each series or use expandable toggles to avoid overwhelming the user.

4. A strong email signup with a reader magnet

One of the nicest things about romance novels is that they almost feel personal, and you can really build a connection with your readers.

Readers invest in your stories and your characters deeply and they want to learn more about them and their world!

Yes, your Instagram is lovely. But if you want to sell more books, email marketing is still king. And the best time to capture a reader’s email? The moment they’re already on your website.

Why it’s important:
Social media platforms change. Algorithms shift. But your mailing list is yours, and romance readers want to be on your list if you give them a reason.

What to include:

A prominent signup form (ideally on every page of your site in your footer)
A clear headline, e.g., “Get a free novella when you join my reader club”
A juicy reader magnet that appeals to your target audience (first-in-series, prequel, bonus epilogue, exclusive short story, etc.)
A welcome email that tells new subscribers what to expect

SEO tip:
While email forms themselves don’t help with SEO, the surrounding text can. Don’t just say “Subscribe.” Try:

“Join my newsletter for exclusive access to new romance book releases, sneak peeks, and free bonus content.”

You're using SEO keywords and making it enticing for readers.

5. A blog or bonus content area (that’s actually useful)

This one’s often overlooked, but it can do wonders for both your SEO and your reader loyalty.

Why it’s important:
A blog is a great way to keep your site fresh in Google’s eyes (which favours regularly updated content), but more importantly, it’s another way to connect.

Romance readers love behind-the-scenes content, bonus scenes, character interviews, and updates about what you’re working on.

What to include:

Occasional blog posts (even just once a month is fine)
Character Q&As, Spotify playlists, “dream cast” posts
Your personal take on romance tropes (what you love writing and why)
Reading guides or book club questions
Bonus content like short stories or alternative endings

SEO tip:
Use blog titles that people are actually searching for, like:

“Books Like Bridgerton: Historical Romance with Spice”
“Why I Write Age Gap Romance (and What I Love About It)”
“10 Must-Read Second Chance Romance Novels”

You can also rank for your own book titles this way. For example:

“Behind the Scenes of ‘Falling for the Best Man’ – A Friends-to-Lovers Romance”

And don’t forget internal linking!

Point readers back to your book pages, newsletter signup, and homepage from within your posts.

Bonus tip: make it mobile-friendly

More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices, and romance readers are no exception.

If your site looks gorgeous on desktop but falls apart on a phone, you’re losing readers.

Quick checklist:

Does the menu work on mobile?
Can users tap buttons and links easily?
Are text sizes readable without zooming?
Do images resize automatically?

If you’re using a platform like Squarespace, you’re in luck as it’s fully responsive. But if you’re using Fluid Engine, Squarespace’s drag-and-drop design editor, you do need to check the mobile view after you’ve finished building the page to make sure everything’s looking neat and tidy.

Find out more info on mobile view →

Final thoughts

Your romance author website doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be strategic.

By focusing on clear branding, easy navigation, strong SEO, and most importantly, connection, you can create a site that not only looks great, but helps you grow your career.

And remember, your website is a living thing.

As your brand evolves, your covers change, or you pivot into a new subgenre, don’t be afraid to update it!

Need help building your romance author website?

If you would like me to build you a website in 2025, 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 romance 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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Instagram for authors: interview with Nicola Washington

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Nicola Washington

I first discovered today’s interview guest, Nicola Washington, on Substack - and found her posts really inspiring and interesting. So I’m super excited that she’s on my blog to talk about how she works with authors, as well as sharing some of her insights and mindset shifts around using Instagram as an author…

Her perspective is SO smart and fresh - you really don’t want to miss this post!

First of all can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to do what you do.

Hi everyone, lovely to meet you all! My name is Nicola and I’m an Instagram Strategist and Educator for writers and authors.

I started working with writers and authors two years ago after seven years of being a social media manager for small businesses. Before that I was a secondary school English teacher but I left teaching in 2016 and retrained as a social media manager after my second child was born.

At that point, social media marketing was in its infancy but I’d been using Instagram to promote a blog for a couple of years and I could see the opportunities it presented. For the first few years I worked with some brilliant small business owners before deciding to pivot my work closer to my interests in 2023, which is when I started working with writers and authors.

What are some of the most common issues that you find when it comes to working with authors on their social media?

I find that the issues writers and authors come to me with usually sit in two camps - the practical, and the psychological.

Instagram is a noisy, fast place offering lots of options of content formats, and lots of different buttons and levers to push and pull so it can take a bit of time to become fluent. When it comes to practical barriers to using it I think of it as being a bit like learning to drive: with practice, certain things start to become easier, until they’re second nature and you barely have to think about it.

Often, the issues that are harder to shift are the psychological ones - the fear of making a fool of yourself in public, the worries about what people will think, and the vulnerability that comes with being more visible.

It’s surprised me how much of my work centres around reframing and working through these kinds of worries and insecurities and it’s one of my favourite pieces of feedback when people tell me that as well as developing their skills, they also feel better about using Instagram after they’ve worked with me.

If a debut author came to you feeling completely overwhelmed and unsure where to start, what’s the very first mindset shift you’d want to help them make?

This is a fab question because that feeling of overwhelm is often enough to stall people in the starting gates.

There are different ways of approaching this but one of the most important questions I would ask would be: what would you talk about for free even if no one was listening, and what would you say if the algorithms and follower counts didn’t exist.

So much of the discourse around Instagram focuses on how to ‘hack’ the algorithm, or how to accelerate the growth of your account but, for me, focusing on these things is the fastest way to make Instagram feel like a miserable, soul-destroying place to spend time.

It becomes far more sustainable and pleasant - and therefore more likely to work in the long run - when we align what we say and do online with what we actually think, believe, and are passionate about in real life.

The tactics for how to grow your account and make ‘effective’ content come later, because realistically there is a certain amount of jumping through hoops that Instagram will demand if you are going to get anywhere with it, but first figure out what you want to talk about.

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

You talk a lot about authors feeling resistance to social media. Why do you think social media triggers such strong emotions for writers in particular?

Oh gosh, do you have all day?! There are so many reasons why I think writers feel resistant to social media, and often writers hold more than one of these reasons in their heads and hearts at once, but I’ll do my best to summarise a few of the most common ones that I encounter!

Some writers are concerned about the ethics and morals of the companies who run these spaces - a position I have enormous sympathies with, and trust me when I say I sit in this discomfort every day!

Writers are also often introverted people so it’s understandable that making yourself more visible is not something that sits easily with you.

Many writers tell me you feel resentful about spending time on marketing and publicity because you see your role as doing the creative work of writing - publishers should be responsible for the ‘grubbier’ side of things where you actually try to get people to buy the thing you’ve created!

When I speak with authors who say this is how they feel I often get the sense that you are experiencing something that comes close to a kind of grief. For many, many authors the reality of publishing your book doesn’t match up to your expectations and there are a lot of deeply uncomfortable, upsetting feelings that come along with that. Sometimes I think perhaps these feelings of disappointment and sadness have no where to go - the power dynamic between authors and publishers is entirely one-sided - and so they bubble up in other places where writers can exert some control and agency, which makes social media an easy target.

But I also think there’s often a sense that writers have that if your book is any good, it should organically find its way into the hands of its readers. This simply isn’t true, but it’s a narrative that lots of writers have internalised and therefore you get backed in this corner where to be seen actively promoting your work feels like an admission to yourself and others that it isn’t any good!

This is enough to stop many authors from mentioning your book online beyond the odd apologetic whisper, and this will never stop making me sad because I know how much time, effort and love it takes to get a book out into the world!

A lot of writers (me included!) find it hard to know exactly WHAT to post on Instagram. Do you have any tips to help inspire authors with their content?

Where lots of people go wrong with Instagram is to start with the question, ‘What am I going to post about today?’ The focus is on individual post ideas that are isolated from one another, you and your book.

In order to keep coming up with post ideas that will appeal to your ideal readers, you need to lay some foundations before you try to come up with individual posts. So there are two questions I would start with when thinking about what each writer should post about:

What do you want to talk and have conversations about? What do you want to be known for?
What are your readers - not all readers - going to be interested in? If someone is going to be interested in reading your book, why is that? What else are they reading? What else are they interested in? What problems or challenges or experiences might they/ you have in common?

Hopefully you will find there is some overlap between your answers to these questions (because as writers we tend to write about what we’re interested in!) - use these answers to guide what you should post about.

Some authors worry that if they’re too open or personal online, it’ll blur the lines between their private life and their professional one. How do you help people navigate that boundary?

Everyone is different so I can’t prescribe exactly which boundaries will suit every person, but one way I like to think of it is as being the online equivalent of rooms in my house: there are rooms I happily show all visitors into, but there are other parts of my house that only people close to me are allowed into.

I don’t feel pressured to show every visitor into every room of my house, so the same goes for my online ‘home’.

Having said that, it;s important to bring something of yourself to your content. Some emotion, some opinion, some deeper thoughts are where your audience will find points of commonality and connection with you. This is what helps potential readers trust you and understand how your book will benefit them so they’re more likely to make that leap into buying and reading it.

If all of your posts are factual updates with no sense of you, your thoughts, or your feelings you will struggle to create this kind of connection.

There’s so much pressure to grow on Instagram: followers, reach, engagement. But what I really liked was the way you talk a lot about redefining success. What should authors actually be measuring when it comes to social media?

I’ve always endorsed a ‘community-first’ approach to social media which basically means resisting quantifying relationships, and instead being more mindful of the quality of the relationships we cultivate through its channels.

If I’m having regular, meaningful conversations - in comments or dms - with people in my network (on their content or mine), or if I’m benefitting from learning from other people, or I’m using my own platform to lift up other people, I see this as success, not reach or follower counts, or numbers of likes.

Those things feel empty when I compare them to the chats I have in my dms with people about shared passions or interests, or someone sending me a video because it has made them think of me, or being able to put someone’s name forward for something I’m confident they will be perfect for thanks to my interactions with them on social media.

Your network does not need to be large to have an outsized impact when your book comes out, but it does need to be invested in you, it does need to care.

As humans, we’re hardwired for community and reciprocity (even if the hyper-individualisation of Capitalist systems and narratives have done their best to convince us otherwise ;-), so when we support other people - either with our actions, or with our expertise - they will want to support us too.

It’s important not to allow this to slip into transactional expectation - I did this for you, so you have to do that for me - but how we exist in relation to each other is a fundamental part of being human and, for me, this is no different in our online lives.

Cultivating online spaces where there is a sense of mutual support, encouragement and understanding is what success looks like to me.

Another issue for authors is also time! Do you have any tips for helping to integrate Insta into their already hectic schedule? Is it better to schedule posts in advance, or post things on the fly?

I do! In fact I recently recorded a podcast episode about this which you can listen to here.

Do you have any tips for authors who are more established - perhaps a few books down the line - who aren’t seeing the traction they’d hope for on Instagram? Is there an obvious way they can ‘move things up a gear’?

Regardless of what stage a writer is at in their career, I always encourage them to come back to the basics of who they are, what are they interested in, what would they talk about for free even if no one is listening?

More often than not, even experienced authors will find their social media presence becomes stagnant and unrewarding because they’re using it to broadcast about their latest book, rather than using it as a space to connect with readers, and potential readers over shared interests.

Obviously, authors should be promoting their books to their audiences BUT most of the time - basically any time outside a launch period - anything that looks or sounds like an advert for their book should be a maximum of 25% (or 1 in 4) of their posts.

Are there any authors who you think make brilliant use of Instagram?

YES! What I love about all of these accounts is that although these authors all show up in totally different ways in different niches and genre, what they all have in common is that you get a real sense of who they are, what they care about, and what they’re interested in.

Finally, please tell us a bit more about how authors can work with you and where they can find you!

Yes, of course! There are different ways of working with me depending on what stage writers are at.

If you’re ready to take action to build your Instagram audience, or want to keep momentum going with your Instagram book promotion, you can join the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership on Substack by upgrading your subscription from free to paid. This is a group membership where you have weekly access to pick my brains and also receive tutorials, post ideas, and other resources to support you with your use of Instagram.

If you’re looking for bespoke support to help you build an audience is a priority, or you want to generate momentum for a book launch, my 121 services might be appropriate for you. You can find out more on my website and book a free 30 minute Discovery Call to have a chat about what might be best for you.

If you’re still uncertain about using Instagram, you can dip your toe in via my free content on Substack, on Instagram, or listen to my summer podcast series.

More behind-the-scenes posts:

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

Behind the scenes: a mid-year update 2025

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Hello! We are already more than half way through the year, so I thought I’d do a little behind-the-scenes update this week (also, it’s the summer holidays, and nobody really wants to read another post about SEO - right?!)

I find writing and then re-reading these posts months or years later SO helpful, and I actually encourage you to consider doing the same - especially if you have a blog on your author website!

Life moves at such a pace, and it’s so important to take stock and reflect from time to time.

I also find that these kinds of posts are REALLY popular with my newsletter audience which is fascinating to me as I used to worry they were too navel-gazing to be of interest to anyone else 😆

But I think the truth is most people are interested in other people’s work lives - especially if they are writers trying to juggle another job alongside their writing (which is most writers, right?!).

Author web design

First of all I’d like to say that I am honestly just SO much happier this year than last year and it’s been such a relief!

I had a mini mental breakdown at the end of last year when I realised that I had no guaranteed book money coming in in 2025.

I have a book coming out next year (more on that later…) but I’d already received most of the advance for that, with only the publication advance left, which I’ll get next year when it’s finally released.

I knew that in order to pay my bills this year I was going to have to do something drastic.

I ended up signing up for some coaching from a specialist who works only with women web designers, and she encouraged me to raise my prices.

So I did. I was terrified. But it’s been a life-changing decision.

I have more than doubled my income from last year, and the huge amount of stress I was carrying around has really lifted.

I’m aware that, from an author’s perspective, my bespoke design packages might seem expensive (they are actually still very cheap for a website designer in general though, I promise!).

However, I have nearly six years experience now and over that time I’ve truly perfected the service I offer.

I have a 100% client-satisfaction rate. Every single one of the clients I’ve worked with this year has told me how delighted they’ve been with their completed websites, and most importantly of all, how much less stressful the process has been than they anticipated.

(Writing that paragraph gives me a bit of ick as I’m a self-deprecating Brit, but it’s true and I’ve just had the loveliest working experience this year so far.)

If you are an author on a budget, I still want to help you as much as possible - through this blog, my free resources and of course my online courses, so please do check these out if you haven’t already.

One thing that I’ve found super interesting is that I’ve had more US clients this year.

My SEO is pretty strong after blogging weekly for 5 years and more than half of my visitors are in the US, which is so cool!

I build my author websites in a day and keep the time my clients need to set aside for the project to an absolute minimum, which means there’s no issue at all with me being in a different timezone.

It actually works out really well because I work on a website during the day UK-time and then my client in the US logs on at some point in the morning their-time to find that it’s already finished!

And on that note… if you’d like me to build you a website this year, then please do get in touch soon - I only have a handful of slots left in 2025.

Here’s a little carousel of just some of the websites I’ve built this year…

As I said, I’ve enjoyed working on all of them.

My writing

Onto my own writing… it’s actually been so nice NOT to have had a book out this year.

It’s the first year since 2018 I haven’t had a book release, and I don’t think I had fully appreciated the emotional toll of publication until I had a year without one.

I’ve been thinking a lot about momentum recently, and how obsessed I was with it when I got my first book deal.

I was determined to publish one book per year - so sure that this was the recipe for ‘success’, and terrified of taking a step back and having a longer break.

Some honest thoughts on success as an author →

However, the publishing world has changed so much over those past seven years, and continues to shift even further. Who knows what the advent of AI has in store for writers?

I reached a point earlier this year, when I’d finished writing my experimental, out-of-contract, batshit-crazy novel (more on that later, too) and I was starting to plan my next suspense novel.

I had an idea and decided to start writing it this September and get the first draft done by Christmas, when a little voice in my head asked me ‘why?’

Why was I so fixated on writing a draft before Christmas? What was the rush?

I didn’t feel completely obsessed with the idea, in the same way I did with the book I finished earlier this year.

Instead, it felt like something I HAD to do, like homework, or a university project.

Before this year, the reasoning for my non-stop output was obvious - I needed the money.

But now my web design is meeting my baseline income, I started to question exactly what I was trying to prove.

When I was a kid, I always wanted to publish a novel. I’ve done that now.

In January, my eighth novel will come out!

My eight published novels… roughly 700,000 words in total! 😅
‘Connie’ is a proof copy hence being slightly different in size.

There is no need to try to ‘prove’ I can get a novel published - I’ve already done it, multiple times.

I started digging a bit deeper into this mindset and realised that actually, what I want to do going forward is to focus on writing books I really, really, want to write.

Like the one I just finished.

To create art that means something to me, that feels important for me to put out into the world.

Rather than trying to write for the market, or to second-guess what publishing might want from me.

Writing is such a difficult endeavour, involving so much sacrifice and mental anguish. I’ve come to the conclusion that you really have to want to tell that particular story.

Otherwise what’s the point? There are certainly easier ways to make money.

Anyway, in the middle of all this pondering, something nice happened.

**My upcoming book, Connie, was announced in the Bookseller!**

I signed the contract for this book way back in 2023, so it’s not really ‘news’ but even so, it’s always nice to see it in print.

I also got to release the cover on Instagram, and you can see my reel below, and also take a look at my own author website to see how I made a fuss of it on my homepage.

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

Click the image above to visit my own author website!

PRE-ORDER CONNIE!

It’s the first time I’ve used a video background on my own website - what do you think?

(The video was created in Canva then uploaded as a background to the first section on the homepage, if you’re interested in the tech.)

As for the book I’ve just finished writing…

I am more proud of it than anything else I’ve ever written.

So much so that I feel reluctant to let ‘publishing’ near it… 😂

It feels like this perfect thing I’ve created and a huge part of me really doesn’t want to send it out into the world to be judged and pulled apart by people on Goodreads.

I have a pretty thick skin, but when my first Charlotte Rixon novel, The One That Got Away, received bad reviews (not to mention a bad publishing experience in general 😭), I found it much more difficult to accept than with my other books, because the book was so personal.

My agent has read my new book, and she loved it. I trust her! But even so, there’s something holding me back from telling her to go ahead and submit it to publishers.

And so, I have made a slightly scary but also exciting decision about it and as soon as I’m allowed to share more, I will! (sorry 😬)

Harrogate

I had a really really lovely time in Harrogate this year.

It was about a million times more enjoyable than last year.

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

I think perhaps that’s partly because I am just more relaxed generally about life, but also because, after the response I had from my blog post last year, I was reassured that lots of other people feel the same way that I do!

I have had SO MANY people come and thank me for that blog post - through social media, email and even in person.

Honestly it’s been quite humbling, and made me realise just how similar we all are.

An amusing highlight was when I was standing with my new publicist just outside the tent on the Friday evening and someone came up to me and said:

‘Are you Charlotte Duckworth?’

And I said yes, and she replied with:

‘I just wanted to say how much I love your… blog posts.’

And then I made some socially awkward joke about me thinking she was going to say she loved my books. 🤦‍♀️

Sorry to that lovely lady. I am better in writing than I am in person, and I really appreciated you coming up to me!! Especially as my new publicist now thinks I’m famous (joking).

Anyway, roll on Harrogate 2026 and more awkward encounters.

But in the meantime… I would love to hear if there is anything in particular you would like me to blog about!

I blog on three main topics: author websites, newsletters and life as a writer…

But is there anything you’d like more of? Or less of?

I’m absolutely willing to share anything and everything (that I’m allowed to) about my own writing journey, but also about websites and my beloved Squarespace.

So please let me know what kind of posts you find most helpful / are most interested in and I will do my best to oblige!

You might also like:

FUN STUFF FOR WRITERS

VISIT THE STORE!

Squarespace tips for authors: how to write SEO-friendly blog posts

Charlotte Duckworth — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

If you're using Squarespace for your author website, then that makes my heart happy for many reasons!

Why Squarespace is the perfect web platform for authors →

But when it comes to blogging, particularly with SEO (search engine optimisation) in mind, there are a few things you might not be aware of.

Nothing pains me more than seeing authors painstakingly publishing blog posts with little or no return for all their efforts.

Although I know it can feel icky, it really pays to be a bit more strategic when it comes to your blogging, in order to maximise the number of readers your words reach.

And for that, you need to understand a little bit about SEO.

Now, I know that SEO can feel like this complicated thing only tech wizards understand.

But it’s honestly not as scary as it sounds, especially when you’re using a platform like Squarespace, which has a lot of helpful features built in.

I’ve already blogged about how to get your author website to appear on Google, but in this post I’m going to be more specific, and walk through how to create an SEO-friendly blog post on Squarespace, step-by-step.

1. Start with a purpose (and a keyword)

Before you even open up a new blog post draft, think about what you want the post to do.

Are you trying to answer a common question your readers have? Share your expertise? Rank for a specific topic?

From an SEO point of view, your blog post should be targeting a specific keyword or phrase. Basically, something someone might type into Google.

What exactly is a keyword?

In the world of blogging and SEO (search engine optimisation), a keyword is simply a word or phrase that people type into search engines like Google when they’re looking for something.

So when we say ‘target a keyword’, we just mean:

What would someone Google in order to find this blog post?

That’s it. That’s the keyword!

You basically need to reverse-engineer it, by thinking about what people might search for then writing the blog post to meet that enquiry.

Some examples of keywords

Let’s say you’re writing a blog post about how you outline your novels. Some possible keywords could be:

‘how to outline a novel’
‘novel outline template’
‘plot structure for fiction writers’
‘how to plan a book before writing’

These are all things real people might search for.

If you include one of those phrases (and variations of it) throughout your blog post, especially in your title, headings, and intro, then there’s a chance Google will show your post to people searching for that topic.

Keywords Can Be:

✅ Single Words

‘blogging’
‘writing’
‘Squarespace’

But those are super broad and competitive, so not great targets on their own.

It pays to niche down a lot further and think of something slightly more obscure, so that you are not trying to compete with a thousand other websites writing about the same topic.

✅ Phrases (a.k.a. long-tail keywords)

These are much better for most bloggers, especially if you're just starting out.

‘how to start a blog on Squarespace’ (although this is already super competitive!)
‘SEO for fiction authors’
‘best way to outline a mystery novel’

They’re more specific, which means it’s easier to rank for them AND the people searching are more likely to be your ideal reader.

Pro tip:

it’s always worth searching for your keywords before you start writing the blog post, to see what appears in Google. You want to aim to be on the first page (there’s an old SEO joke: where’s the best place to hide a body? On page 2 of Google). So take a look at the posts that appear on page 1 and work out how you can write something that’s BETTER than all of them.

Why keywords matter for SEO

Search engines like Google use keywords to figure out what your blog post is about. If you’ve written a brilliant post on outlining a novel, but you never actually use the words ‘outline’ or ‘novel’ in the post, Google has no idea that it’s relevant.

So by using keywords strategically in places like:

The blog post title
The URL
The headings
The first paragraph
The meta description
The image alt text

...you’re helping Google understand your post, so it can show it to the right people.

Important: keywords should sound natural

This is not about stuffing a bunch of awkward phrases into your post like some kind of robot!

Don’t do this:

‘If you want to outline a novel, outlining your novel with a novel outline is a good way to outline your novel.’

😬 Google hates that, and so do real people.

Also you’re a writer and it would just be embarrassing.

Instead, use the keyword a few times where it makes sense, and then write like a human. Google is smart enough now to understand context and synonyms (e.g. ‘book outline’ and ‘story structure’ might both be relevant to the same search).

How do you choose the right keyword?

Ask yourself:

What’s this post really about?
What would someone type into Google if they were looking for this information?
What specific phrasing would my ideal reader use?

You can also use free tools like:

Google autocomplete (just start typing into the search bar and see what pops up)
AnswerThePublic
Ubersuggest
Google Trends

These will help you see what people are actually searching for so you’re not just guessing.

TL;DR

A keyword is the word or phrase you want your blog post to show up for in search results.

It’s what people are actually typing into Google when they’re looking for answers, help, inspiration, or ideas.

Choosing and using the right keyword helps:

Google understand your content
The right people find your blog
You grow your traffic over time

It’s a small step that makes a big difference, and once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature.

2. Use that keyword in all the right places

Once you have your keyword, the next step is to weave it naturally throughout your post. Don’t force it in every sentence - as I said before, Google is smarter than that - but do make sure it appears in the places that matter:

Blog post title (aka your H1)
URL slug (e.g., yoursite.com/blog/dual-timeline-tips)
First paragraph
A few subheadings (H2s or H3s)
Meta description
Image alt text
Throughout the body copy, in a natural, reader-first way

Squarespace makes this fairly easy. When you’re creating a blog post, you can edit the SEO title and meta description separately, which gives you more control.

SEO Space have a brilliant video that walks you through how to do this →

SEO settings Squarespace →

3. Write for humans first

This one might seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked in the scramble to tick SEO boxes.

Yes, we want to include keywords and please the Google gods, but first and foremost, write something that people want to read. Make it:

Helpful
Clear
Easy to scan
Ideally with a bit of personality (especially if you're an author building your brand!)

A few quick formatting tips to make your posts reader-friendly:

Use headings to break up sections (H2s and H3s)
Keep paragraphs short (2–4 lines) - great chunks of text are really off-putting in blog posts. Save the long paragraphs for your books!
Use bullet points or numbered lists where relevant
Include images, block quotes, or pull-outs to break up the text

How long should an SEO-friendly blog post be?

There’s no magic number, but in general, longer content tends to perform better in search results - as long as it’s high quality.

Most SEO experts agree that the sweet spot is somewhere between 800–1,500 words, depending on the topic. That’s long enough to give Google plenty of context and demonstrate authority, but not so long that readers get overwhelmed.

That said, it really depends on your audience and your goals.

Here's a rough guide:

Short posts (300–600 words): Good for quick updates or news-style content. Not ideal for SEO unless the topic is super niche.
Medium posts (800–1,200 words): Great for how-tos, reviews, and tutorials: long enough to include detail and keywords, but still digestible.
Long-form content (1,500+ words): Ideal for in-depth guides and evergreen content. These tend to get more backlinks and rank for multiple keywords but only if the content is well-organised and valuable.

Pro tip:

Break up longer posts with headings, bullet points, images, and short paragraphs so they stay reader-friendly. Nobody wants to scroll through a wall of text - not even from their favourite author!

4. Optimise your blog post title and meta description

The title and meta description are what people will see in Google search results - so they need to be both keyword-friendly and compelling.

Squarespace lets you customise these via the ‘SEO’ tab when you’re editing a blog post. Here’s what to do:

SEO Title:

Include your main keyword
Keep it under 60 characters so it doesn’t get cut off
Make it enticing - think curiosity, benefit, or clarity

Bad: Blog Post 12
Better: How to Write Dual Timeline Novels That Keep Readers Hooked

Meta Description:

Keep it under 155 characters
Include your keyword
Think of it like ad copy — why should someone click?

Example:
Learn how to write compelling dual timeline novels with tips on structure, suspense, and character development from a published author.

5. Use Squarespace’s built-in tools

Squarespace includes some helpful built-in SEO features. You just need to know where to find them.

Here’s what to do on each blog post:

✅ URL Slug:
Click the three dots next to your blog post then click Settings > Content and scroll down to Post URL and edit it to be clean and keyword-based (e.g., /seo-friendly-blog-post instead of /blog-post-7).

✅ SEO Title & Description:
Click the three dots next to your blog post then click Settings > SEO. Customise your title and meta description here.

✅ Image Alt Text:
When you upload an image, click on it and add a short alt text description that includes your keyword where relevant. This helps with image SEO and accessibility.

✅ Header Tags:
When formatting your post, use the correct heading styles (e.g., H2 for subheadings) - not just bold text! This helps Google understand the structure of your content.

Watch my FREE training: Blogging for Authors - a beginner’s guide →

6. Add internal links

Both internal (within your own website) and external (other websites) links are so important for SEO.

Make sure you link to other relevant posts or pages on your site. This helps search engines crawl your site more effectively - and it also keeps readers engaged longer.

Example:
If you mention your writing process, link to your About page or another blog post on your drafting routine.

Use natural anchor text (the words you hyperlink), like:
‘Read more about how I outline my thrillers here.’

At the end of your blog post, give the reader somewhere else to ‘go’ - ideally on your own website (or maybe a link to order one of your books!).

7. Include a clear call-to-action

And on that note, every blog post should lead your reader somewhere.

Whether that’s:

Signing up to your newsletter
Checking out your latest book
Leaving a comment
Sharing the post on social media

Make it easy and clear. You can do this with a short text CTA at the end of your post, or a styled button block.

8. Preview and test on mobile

More than half of web traffic comes from mobile, and thankfully Squarespace sites are responsive by default, but it’s still worth previewing your post on a phone to make sure:

Text is readable
Images aren’t huge or stretched
Buttons are easy to tap

Just click the phone icon in the Squarespace preview bar to toggle to mobile view.

9. Promote your blog post

This isn’t technically an SEO step, but it definitely helps.

SEO is a long game - and traffic won’t roll in immediately. I am constantly telling my author website clients to be more patient when it comes to expecting their new sites to show up on Google.

So while Google is indexing your post, help it along by sharing it:

On your newsletter
On social media (Instagram, Threads, Facebook, etc.)
In relevant online communities or groups
On Pinterest if you use it!

The more eyes on your post, the more chances it has to get clicked, shared, and even linked to - all of which help your SEO in the long run.

10. Be consistent (but realistic)

One blog post won’t change your site’s SEO overnight. But a consistent stream of well-optimised content? That can absolutely build authority, boost your rankings, and bring new readers your way.

Don’t burn out trying to post weekly if you can’t maintain that. Once a month is fine, as long as you’re intentional and strategic.

Final thoughts

Creating SEO-friendly blog posts on Squarespace doesn’t require a tech degree. With a bit of planning, a focus on real human readers, and smart use of Squarespace’s built-in features, you can absolutely create posts that Google (and your audience) will love.

Remember: it’s not about gaming the algorithm. It’s about writing useful, well-structured content that helps people and interests your readers - and that’s something you’re already good at!

If you’d like more help with your author website, the DIY Author Website Course is just for you! →

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Blog - charlotte duckworth studio

How to back up your Squarespace author website

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

The most important things to back up on an author website

Backing up your pages and blog posts

Backing up images and media

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

Saving your custom code

Backing up your design and structure

Creating duplicates of your site inside Squarespace

Using third-party backup tools

How often should you back up?

What Squarespace already does for you

The calm takeaway

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

My three words for 2026

Community

Wellbeing

Gratitude

Let’s start with Community

My second word for 2026: wellbeing

Gratitude

2025: my work year in review

My second 2025 word: Stability

My writing

My final word for 2025: optimism

Project Spotlight: sarahlavendersmith.com

The Brief

The Details

Version: Squarespace 7.1

Fonts used: New Spirit, Aktiv Grotesk

View the site: sarahlavendersmith.com

Sarah’s Verdict

The Post-launch Q&A

How do you feel about your completed website?

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Want me to build you a website?

My favourite new Squarespace features in 2025

1 New SEO features

2 The ability to upload your own fonts - easily

3 The ability to easily hide elements on mobile

4 Advanced tools to enhance design flexibility with animation / motion effects

5. Improved navigation and anchor-link support (on version 7.1 sites)

Conclusion

Want me to build you a website?

Why you should migrate your site from Squarespace 7.0 to 7.1

1) The editor is so much smoother

2) The design options are miles better

3) Section-based pages give you so much more flexibility

4) Better mobile design without the fuss

5) More marketing friendly features

6) New features only come to 7.1 now

7.0’s main limitations

How to tell what version of Squarespace your site is built on

How to migrate your site

Things to bear in mind when migrating

So is it worth migrating?

Want me to handle your migration for you?

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

Some honest thoughts on the book that nearly broke me

1) The longer you work on a novel, the better it will be

2) How hard a book is to write has no bearing on how the book will be received by readers

3) As you get more experienced, some parts about writing get harder

4) Having some time away from a book can be really helpful

Conclusion

I'm a Squarespace Circle Platinum member!

What does this mean for my clients?

Life as a novelist-cum-web-designer

PS My new thriller Connie is out in January 2026! If you’d like to pre-order, you can do so here →

Want me to build you a website?

How many pages do I need on my author website?

Start simple: the core pages every author needs

How my Author Website in a Day service uses that four-page foundation

What each core page should include

4. It keeps the focus on your book covers

PS My new thriller Connie is out in January 2026!
If you’d like to pre-order, you can do so here →