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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42976
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

> An author website supposedly has a lot of functions, such as:
> 
> - Promoting one's latest book; Keeping one's audience engaged with weekly updates; 
> - Keeping track of events or conventions where the author will be;
> - Presenting additional materials, such as cut drafts, character descriptions and whatnot;
> - Serving as a contact point for affectionate readers ...
> 
> and so goes the list.

## None of these require user-input

Based on the examples you have provided, I suggest that none of these require any sort of reader input. These are not necessarily the "interactive" parts of the website, this is all meta content from the author for the reader to explore, or keep up-to-date with in-person appearances.

The only part where you mention something that requires member generated content would be a **forum**. A forum sounds like a good idea for non-fiction topics where readers might form a community around the topics in the book, or follow up with on-going news and info.

For a work of fiction, I would not host a forum unless the goal is to host fan fiction. I think there are problems that leave you vulnerable to legal issues, like if a sequel in any way resembled a fan story that had been hosted on your site, it would remove your legal ability to say you had no contact with the material.

**Non-fiction: YES** , try to grow a community around the book and make it a destination for anyone researching the topic.

**Fiction, no.** Provide as much meta content as you wish, but avoid hosting member-generated content that could cause a legal headache, or jeopardize your reputation with toxic commentary and harassment which you wouldn't feel comfortable pruning regularly.

Original score: 2