Networking

It's essential. Networking is the new "black". You can't go wrong with it. It goes with everything. You can't avoid it, so just go with it. Well… as to the last one, why would anyone want to avoid something that could possibly make your career easier and better?

Ok, so for a writer what does it mean to network? It means getting involved with writer's groups--both the organized type (RWA, Mystery Writers of America, NINC, whatever your flavor is), and less official (Writer Unboxed, WG2E…), and the ad hoc (your group of friends).

But why?

Yes, writing is a loners occupation. We all sit at home (or in our favorite coffee shop, or wherever) all by ourselves and live in a world of our own imagination, talking and interacting with people who don't actually exist (and a good number of us aren't even labelled insane). But it is because ours is a lonely occupation that we need to connect with others.

We need to do so in order to maintain what sanity we have left. We need to do so to learn our craft and keep up with the industry, and we need to do so in order to sell our work, our books.

Networking, becoming part of a group (or many, as in my case) will give you the opportunity to grow personally, professionally and grow your audience.

So, just as an example, I'm a member of the RWA. That's not surprising, I'm a romance writer. But through the RWA, I'm also an active member of my local chapter, the Washington Romance Writers. Through this amazing group, I've learned all about the business of writing, and the craft as well because they have fantastic talks every month and an amazing retreat every year. I've met people (networked) and now participate in Lady Jane's Salon of Silver Spring (where I will be reading from Air on September 13th), I'm teaching an on-line class through the FF&P chapter (which I really should join because that's my genre. I haven't yet, but I will!), and I'm going to be a participating author at a luncheon for readers and bloggers in October where I'll get a chance to meet (and network with) many people who might buy my book and/or recommend it to other people to buy, and I’m going to be part of a panel on self-publishing at a Northern Virginia Writer’s group (more meeting of readers and other writers, ie, more networking!). Through just one organization I've had so many opportunities!

And that's just one of the writer's organizations with which I'm affiliated. Others have led to participating in anthologies (building my audience), more teaching opportunities, formatting clients, and learning so much from other writers.

So what are you doing sitting at home or in your local coffee shop all by yourself? Carve out some time from your writing schedule (and it doesn't have to be a lot-- just 15 minutes here and there) and get networking!