What's in a Domain Name?

Years (and years) ago, I had a feature on my blog called “What NOT To Do.” The concept referred to my early days as a writer, when I had a lot to learn. Sometimes, I did something I shouldn’t have and other times, I didn’t do something which I should have. 

And even after making a ton of mistakes, I am still learning lessons the hard way. Recently, I tackled domain names. 

Again. 

So a little backstory, friends. A dozen or so years ago (Eek!), I decided to create a website for my freelancing business and I’d need a domain. A quick search brought up about 2 gazillion Cathy Halls and so I opted for Cathy C. Hall, using my middle initial to differentiate myself from the pack. Luckily, no one had my name and so cathy-c-hall.com was my first domain (and website). But after a few years, I decided to combine my freelancing and children’s writing; I was not so sure how I’d do that. I canceled my website and allowed my domain to lapse whilst I gave some thought to my writing future.

You know what happened, right? When I went to get my domain name again, it had been bought up, along with a LOT of iterations. See, I SHOULD HAVE renewed my domain name. Which is why I now have c-c-hall.com. 

I learned then what NOT to do: if you have a domain name that’s unique to you and/or your business, keep renewing it, even if you’re uncertain about your future plans. It’s a relatively inexpensive price to pay for continuity. 

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Before I could go any further in my book cover design search, I needed to decide on the name I’d use in the adult fiction market. You’d think Cathy C. Hall but I wanted a name and a domain that would match. But I also wanted to take advantage of any name recognition I’d built. Easy, right? Not so much. 

First, just for a lark, I checked Cathy C. Hall again. Still not available. A foreign company apparently has an auto renewal on my name for infinity. (GRRR!) So I figured maybe I’d go with C. C. Hall (since that’s my current domain and website). But a quick search of C. C. Hall goes to a whole page of CC Hall and the Italian American community’s hall or a restaurant or whatever. 

 As lovely as I’m sure the whole CC Hall is, it’s not helping me if someone just types in my author name as C. C. Hall. And besides, I didn’t think I could suddenly start referring to myself as C.C. So then I thought I’d go retro and check the availability of CathyHall.com. It was available! It was a Friday night and I decided to mull it over till Monday. 

You can guess what happened on Monday, right? What I SHOULD HAVE done but DIDN’T do was buy the domain name for ten bucks the minute I saw that it was available because, of course, some bot had bought it up. Seriously?? 

So what NOT to do if you’re checking domain names and there’s any chance you might want to use a name? BUY IT WHEN CHECKING. You can always toss the name (s) later and keep the one you like.

After a bit of fussing (using some rather unladylike words that made Libs the dog blush), I continued searching. I now have a domain name that will match my author name and I hope draws on my present name recognition. I should have a contest…like “Guess My Author Name and Win!” 

Ooooh, I’ll think about that this Friday night. Meanwhile, I’ll be keeping my current website for a (long) while, just to avoid another domain name What NOT To Do. (Ugh.)

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3 comments author websites, Cathy C. Hall, domains, Writing What Not To Do's

Writing Lessons of 2013

Though I’m already making plans for next year, I’m compelled to take a look back first.

See, I don’t want to make the same mistakes I made this year. So I checked my blog for a feature I call “What Not To Do” where I share my mistakes and what I learned from said mistakes. And I thought maybe you could benefit from my year-end inventory, too. So join me as I walk down Memory Lane, reliving those magical writing moments where I messed up in 2013.


What I Learned About Book-Signings

I finally scheduled a book-signing for a couple of anthologies wherein I had stories. And I thought I’d made thorough plans. But I did not count on the wind (it was an outside festival), and I did not consider the heat (chocolate melts), but mostly, I didn’t really think about the importance of selling the book.

I suppose I thought the book would sell itself. But here’s what I learned: people want to talk to writers about the book—and they want to talk about their own experiences, too. And if you take the time to connect—to listen and interact with the people who drop by—the book sort of does sell itself.

For my next book-signing, I’ll check the weather and I’ll bring melt-proof candy. But mostly, I’ll be ready to engage with shoppers. Because shoppers are the ones who’ll buy—and read—the book!


What I Learned About Proofreading


I don’t often ask for help with proofreading. But after sending a query out to an agent, I realized I’d made an error. And not just a simple comma error. Nope, this was an epic error involving the actual text and…honestly, I still want to bang my head on the desk, thinking about it. How, I asked myself. How did this happen?

It happened because when we write, we often mentally correct an error. We know what we mean to say and our brain helps us out by showing us what we expect to see rather than what’s on the printed page.

So I learned (rather painfully) that I shouldn’t rush the proofreading step. Sometimes, it’s enough to leave the work for an hour or two. An error is likely to jump out when we return. For larger works (like an entire manuscript), there are several options for proofreading. There are premium or free services that will analyze text (search “grammar check”). But we can also ask our fellow writers for proofreading help, perhaps our critique group, or a trusted writer friend. And then we must actually do it. (Your head will thank you.)


What I Learned About Reading Writing Books


In April, I learned that, despite my best intentions, I had read only one of the writing books piled in a stack by my bed. It was an excellent book, filled with great writing advice, and so I decided that I would actually read my writing books instead of letting them sit, hoping that the advice would somehow transfer to my brain through osmosis.

But here’s what I discovered in December of 2013: I still have not read my writing books. So I’m sure you can guess what the first What Not To Do of 2014 will be.

Oh, well. Now that I’ve looked back (and learned) from my mistakes, it’s time to look forward, to figure out my What To Do list for the coming year.

Ahhhh. That’s much better. (And may your 2014 be much better, too!)

~Cathy C. Hall

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9 comments book signings, Cathy C. Hall, learning from mistakes, proofreading, setting goals, writing advice, writing books, Writing What Not To Do's