Saturday, April 16, 2016

N is for Networking

This year for the A-Z Challenge, I'm attempting to act like I know what I'm talking about and offering advice about writing.  Let's see how I do!

Also, don't forget to stop by the Parallels blog to see more posts about the upcoming anthology, which will be available on May 3rd!


Whether we feel comfortable with the idea or not, writers need to network.  When you network, you’re more likely to learn about good writing opportunities. You’re more likely to get useful feedback on your work.  These are good things.

When I first started blogging, the idea scared me.  Putting your words out there can be hard, but so can interacting with strangers for the first time.  I was more scared of making the move to introduce myself to new people.  I managed to overcome that fear, and now I have some helpful networking tips to share.


-If you’re a writer and you don’t have a blog, consider starting one.

-Don’t be afraid to leave comments on blogs for the first time.  Most bloggers cherish comments from new visitors.  Most of us don’t bite.  I promise.

-Join writing groups, such as the Insecure Writers Support Group.  Don’t let feelings of insecurity scare you away.

-Join blogging challenges like A to Z.   You get to polish your writing skills while meeting new people.

-Make use of sites like Twitter and Facebook.  Find writing communities on these sites and participate.

These tips are simple, yet effective.  Do you have any networking tips?

10 comments:

  1. I don't net work at all and so this is a very relevant post for me. My blog was anonymous for the longest time and I still don't really tell people I have one. To get out from the under the rock is why I pushed myself into this challenge.
    Cheers,
    seena

    #AtoZChallenge- N is for Naming the baby

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  2. Well said and good tips. Thanks for mentioning the IWSG.
    I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning. I just blindly went forth with no fear, only because I didn't think to be afraid of reaching out.

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  3. Those are great networking tips. I was a Moderator on a few online writing sites and that helped me network with other writers. Have a lovely weekend! :)

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  4. Definitely great tips! The IWSG was crucial for meeting lots of bloggers for me! It may be scary at first, but the more you put yourself out there, the more you'll get back.

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  5. Networking has helped me greatly. I've found friends, beta readers, and people who will help me get the word out about my books.

    ~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

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  6. One really helpful networking tip I've found is to connect my social media accounts. When I post to blogger it goes to Facebook and Twitter. When I make a pin in Pinterest, or make a post on Goodreads they post to Facebook and/or Twitter. Saves a lot of time.

    @Kathleen01930
    Meet My Imaginary Friends
    #AtoZchallenge

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  7. I'm such a novice when it comes to networking, and blogging is my only real effort. I do twitter, and FB but I'm not sure I us it effectively. You are doing a beautiful job with the challenge, see, you had more to share than you thought! Kudos!

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  8. Great tips and they apply to readers as well as writers!

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  9. Good tips. Writers need an audience, and blogging provides one, even when we don't think anyone is reading. I have to remind myself that this A to Z Challenge is more about honing my skills than about tallying up comments, but I am disappointed when I get no comments, especially when I've written a post I'm proud of. But it does happen.

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