New Site Design - Writing Update by Greg Luti

Greg Luti
May 14
5 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

A writing update gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at an author’s creative decisions and process. In “New Site Design - Writing Update,” Greg Luti explains his decision to simplify the entire website, launch a free editing workbook, adopt a consistent four-day publishing schedule, and stay true to his authentic voice while growing his audience.

New Site Design

I am happy to say I got some help from my assistant to redesign the site. We made the entire thing much simpler for people to consume, rather than the original design, which was all over the place. I also want to keep the literary brand feel that I had before. I mean, when you are on the site, I want you to know you are reading stuff by an author/editor, and I think that the aesthetics only enhance that now. I think we found a nice theme for the site and my overall author brand that I am going to use going forward.

New Workbook

I have added a workbook to the site that is downloadable for anyone who wants to learn some editing tricks I tell my clients. I say tricks as though I am a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat… (I never owned a rabbit before. And I don’t do magic. I did like Bugs Bunny growing up, though) The deal here is that you have to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get the workbook. The term I heard people say is lead magnet, which is basically a way for people to sign up for stuff. I won’t even lie that when I first heard the words “lead magnet,” I didn’t know what they were talking about. I thought, “Why are they talking about the things I put on my refrigerator? How does that help me?”

More Workbooks Coming

I hope to add more workbooks to the site in the future, possibly for more editing advice or even other things that I write. I am still thinking through this idea, but I like the idea of readers having access to workbooks that give a few samples of what I write and then some advice on how they can improve as writers. Not only do you get insight into what I write, but also how I write, which I feel can help writers, potential editing clients, and curious readers.

New Four-Day Publishing Schedule

I am now going to write up pieces for this blog four days a week. Tuesdays are for poetry, and Saturdays are for flash fiction. I had Thursdays divided into too many options, between short stories, book previews, and writing updates, so I decided to make a fourth day for the writing updates and the editing advice articles. Thursdays will be for short stories and book previews. Mondays will be for writing updates and editing advice articles. I think this will give readers a good variety, and it makes it easier for me to follow. If you are keeping track, that means this will be the last Thursday I write up an update.

Getting More Active On Facebook

I am looking to get more involved in Facebook groups and be actively engaged in them. I don’t normally do that, but I think that would be beneficial to me and my career, so don’t be surprised if you see me on a Facebook group talking about my poetry or my newsletter. It turns out it is probably a good idea to reach out to other people in the field when you, yourself, are trying to get into that field, who knew?

Turning These Updates Into A Resource

I don’t normally look at these writing updates as anything more than me updating the readers on what I am doing, but I have thought that these updates can be used at a later time as a way to track my progress for others to see. I have to think more about this and how it would be used for me, but I have been writing so many of these updates that I guess, over time, other writers can learn from them, which I think would be great.

Fuel While Writing

I have found that having snacks as I write helps me stay energized during my writing sessions. I don’t know about other writers, but there are times when I write up stuff late at night, or I am tired from a long day, and I just hit the wall. I found that some trail mix with dried fruit really helps me focus through the tough stretch.

Why Marathon Winners Win

That gets me to something I have been thinking a lot about lately, and that is the reason why marathon winners win the race. Is it because they want it more than others? Is it because they work harder? No, I don’t think that is it at all. The reason marathon winners win is that they have a plan that is conducive to their goal. They plan for the event. They focus on other areas of their life that can help with running. They don’t just put on some shoes and run. No, they look at the shoes they wear, the proper running technique, their diet, and the number of miles they need per day. There is much thought to improving as a runner, and I think that is a lesson we can all learn in our own lives. Sure, we all want to say that heart and work ethic were the key, but that is something you let the bards write about later on when they are talking about your success. The real reason for success is that you were prepared and made the smart moves to help with your journey. The runner who wins the race didn’t win because they wanted it more than the other person. That is a bunch of nonsense.

Keeping My Authentic Voice

I have been doing a lot of research into other newsletters and what makes them great and what makes people read them, and I have noticed that the voice of the person is key. I read a few where I couldn’t tell who wrote the newsletter, a person or an AI. There was nothing really there that made me say, “Oh, this is why this guy wrote it!” I don’t want you to feel that way when you read something in my newsletter, whatever it may be. I take a lot of pride in writing each and every one of these words (and it is also why I cringe at other writers using AI to write up stuff). I just want you to know that as a reader, you should be assured my voice will always be a part of what I write. You may not like what I write, in terms of the content or even the very way I wrote it. And I get that. There are times when I look back on what I wrote and feel a bit confused, almost turned off by it, but I never once allowed the voice to be lost to something else. It’s me writing this, for better and for worse. Haha.

Crafting A Proper Ending

I think that I will come up with a proper ending to these writing updates, something a little more formulaic, so you guys can expect a certain pattern when reading them. Right now, I like the idea of me presenting some short perspective I have on writing or some life advice. (Like what I did with the marathon runner)

One Last Joke

I have to end with telling you something I find pretty funny. I have never run a marathon in my life. You wouldn’t know that by how much I praised it. I spoke about a marathon like people speak about boxing today. I always hear people bringing up how things are like a boxing match, and everyone agrees, as though we are all watching boxing in our spare time, which we are not. If we are going to use an analogy, can we at least use one we all can agree on and then actually do?