Networking by Rebecca Seaton

 

Networking by Rebecca Seaton

 

Networking is ‘the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts:’ Writers don’t always want to, so why and how should we?

 

Why should we network?

As John Donne said, ‘No man is an island.’ In school, a TAF or Team Around the Family is a stage where different services share information to support a family. I often think we need a ‘Team Around the Author’. This should be a two-way street: as people support us, we see ways in which we can help other writers and people connected to our writing world. But it does involve getting out there!

 

How can we network?

Writing groups – local and national groups provide an opportunity to meet others in the same boat. There will be others who write in your genre, so it’s easy to talk about what you’re writing. They may be able to recommend a publisher or illustrator they’ve worked with. But think more widely. I don’t read a lot of romance novels, but I know people who do. Maybe I can introduce a romance author to my friends and they might know someone who appreciates my fantasy work.

                                                         

Writing Groups open up different perspectives

Competitions – gaining second place in a competition changed my writing life. As well as the mentoring and opportunity to publish, I hadn’t thought about the networking aspect at all. However, being part of it has led to magazine writing, a book launch, local events and the confidence to push myself into doing other things beyond this. One contact or event can be the catalyst to a wider world.

                                          

    From competitor to contributor

 

Courses - being on the same means you will share similar goals. More than one of you looking at something means someone might bring that key contact into the wider group. When you’re learning your craft together, you get a good idea of the other person’s interest and needs, as they do yours, so consider keeping in touch with contacts from courses. The emerging writer you’re learning alongside today could be a writing collaborator, judge or agent in the future, you just don’t know. And what’s the worst that can happen? You at least make a new writing friend.

 

 

Proverbs  17:17 says, ‘A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.’ Networking can seem very cynical but if you go into it with an open mind it can give you people to find your calling with.   

                                                                                                          

                                                                              

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Rebecca writes fantasy novels, magazine articles and the occasional play. She had her first novel, A Silent Song, published through Pen to Print’s Book Challenge competition and is currently working on the second book of a new trilogy.