Networking for Authors

Writing is a solitary experience, and I think it’s important that we have a network of authors to help support us. Here are some ideas to help you find your crew.

• Join a writer’s group. I am so fortunate to be a part of Sisters in Crime (Guppies, Central Virginia, Chessie, and Grand Canyon Writers), International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers. My first traditionally published work was in a Sisters in Crime anthology. They provide support, ideas, training, critique groups, networking, and so many other opportunities that I wouldn’t have known about.

• My agent and my publisher have regular group Zooms to share information and marketing ideas with their authors. It’s nice to find partners for online and in-person events and collaboration opportunities.

• Volunteer. There are so many worthwhile organizations that are looking for the skills you have. If you’ve got the time, give back a little. And besides doing good for others, you get to meet new people and network.

• Look for other authors who write what you write. Reach out to see if they are interested in collaborating.

• Plan a book event and invite other authors to be on your panel or to sign with you. This provides a great opportunity for you to network with new readers.

• I am so fortunate to be a part of several group blogs through the years (where each author is responsible for blogging on a specific day). Not only do we provide feedback for each other’s posts, but we share information and ideas.

I treasure my writing friends. They are so generous with their time and advice. I encourage new (or seasoned) writers to find a crew. These are the amazing people who commiserate with you and share your celebrations.

Expanding Your Web - Networking Tips for Authors

Sometimes, networking is a challenge. It can be difficult to step out and strike up conversations. Here are some ideas to help authors expand their network of contacts.

1. Save business cards of people you meet. I usually jot on the back where I met them. It helps later when you have a pile of business cards and no recollection of the meeting.

2. Use some sort of software or contact list (e.g. in your phone or email program) to keep all of your contacts in one place. When you get a new contact, add it immediately. I add notes about where I met the person. I book a lot of programs for my writing group, so it helps to remember what they do and where I met them. I also use the “File As” field to help me find them again. Instead of typing Doe, Jayne. I enter, Doe, Jayne - Web Designer. (Make sure you back up these files, so that you can recover them in an emergency.)

3. If you are shy, quiet, or not outgoing, make a pact with yourself to meet five new people each week. It’s good practice for putting yourself out there and talking to strangers. You will meet some interesting people. You can use this technique on social media too. Follow five or ten new people a week or join in a conversation.

4. Volunteer. It’s good for everyone. There are so many groups out there looking for the skills you have as a writer. And it’s a great way to meet new people.

5. Donate to prize give-aways. I do a lot of book baskets for my favorite charity fundraisers. It’s a nice way to contribute.

6. Let the planners in the organizations that you are a part of know that you’re a writer, and you’re willing to do events. Clubs, book groups, religious groups, charities, and alumni organizations are always looking for speakers and program content.

7. Find an organization that you’re interested in and join. Go to meetings and events to network with new people. The easiest way in an organization to meet others is to volunteer for an activity.

8. Follow hashtags (Twitter and Instagram) and groups (Facebook) to join online communities to meet others with similar interests.

Unless you’re an outgoing, people person, it’s often hard to meet new people and strike up conversations. It’s good practice to get in the habit of networking. Authors are often called upon to do speaking engagements or interviews. What would you add to my list?

Expanding Your Network of Resources - Tips for Authors

Recently an author asked me how to find book bloggers and podcasters because he had a book launch coming up. My advice to writers is to start this process early and not to wait until you’re about to have a book launch. You need to grow your network of resources as an ongoing process. Here are some things that have worked for me.

• Most bookbloggers, bookstagrammers, and podcasters do what they do because they love the topic and interacting with others. It’s not good form to reach out or start following someone a week or so before your launch and then contact them for a favor. A lot of these folks have a very full calendar, and they book MONTHS in advance. As you build your author platform and your network, it’s always good to interact with them, know what they feature on their sites, and know their preferences e.g. do they want a physical ARC (Advance Reader Copy) or an electronic one? You should build relationships with book influencers (e.g. like, share, and comment on their posts). Don’t just show up when you want someone to help you publicize your book.

• Always be professional. You are your brand. Make it easy for people. Follow the submission instructions, provide all the information, and have your press kit (bio, photos, book cover, book links) ready and organized.

• Start a list, spreadsheet, or other electronic file to build your contacts. A book launch is a massive event. You need to keep good notes of your contacts, what you owe them, and deadlines. I have a GIANT spreadsheet where I have tabs for each type of resource, their contact information, and notes. I also have a calendar to show deadlines and key dates before and after my book launch. When you’re a guest, you need to make sure you share the interview on your social sites.

• Find out who is out there and who is an influencer in your genre. This takes some research time.

• See where other authors in your genre advertise their books. What events or interviews do they participate in? When I see interesting services or events, I add them to my spreadsheet.

• Use hashtags on social sites to find people who like/follow a topic. You can look for topics like #bookblogger, #podcast, #bookstagrammer, #cozymystery, etc. When you find interesting people, follow them and interact.

• Join writers’ groups. All of the groups that I’m a member of have bulletin boards, Facebook groups, or Slack sites for questions and recommendations. Find your crew. Networking is easier when you know people. I like getting recommendations for people I know and trust.

• Volunteer. You meet so many people with great stories, ideas, and connections. So many writing conferences and organizations are always looking for people to help. It’s a great way to meet others.

Networking - Where Do I Start?

Writing is mostly a solitary effort, and marketing, book promotions, and networking can be a challenge. when it’s not in your comfort zone to socialize or to put yourself out there. And it’s even harder during this pandemic. But being connected is important. Here are some ideas I’ve learned throughout the years to help you meet, connect, and strike up conversations.

Cultivate the Relationships You Have - Make the time to reach out and connect with the relationships you already have. These are your friends, family, and acquaintances. Call, text, Zoom, post on social media, or drop them a letter. Reach out and connect with the people who care about you.

Build Your Social Media Followers - Social media can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Set aside some time each day to connect on your sites. You need to be an active participant. The “social” part is key here. Don’t just post and run. Your readers/followers want to interact with you. Ask and answer questions. Post comments and share others’ information.

Work on expanding your followers. All sites have a “you might know” option where it offers suggestions of who to follow. Find authors like you and look at who follows them and who they follow.

Use Hashtags - Search for hashtags that interest you. Look at the posts and start a conversation with someone new. Follow people who have the same interests. Share and comment on posts you like.

Celebrate with Others - Share others’ celebrations. Be genuine. And don’t hijack the conversation to make it about you.

Allocate Time - It’s easy to get sucked in your sites, and you can scroll for hours. Schedule some time daily and stick to your plan. If it’s too much to do more than one platform, pick one and focus on that. Make sure that you interact.

Don’t respond to comments three weeks later. I check my key social media sites in the morning, at lunch, and in the evening to make sure that I am responding in a reasonable amount of time. Find a routine that works for you. Every hour is probably too much, and once a week is probably not often enough.

Join Groups - Look for clubs or groups connected to your interests. These are great places to be a part of the conversation. And don’t limit yourself to just books. Make sure that you participate in groups in your own community (e.g. neighborhood associations, places of worship, alumni groups, neighborhood Facebook groups, charities, volunteer organizations, etc.)

Find a Writers’ Group - Find a writers’ group for your genre. These offer many opportunities for networking, learning, and special projects.

Volunteer - Volunteer your time. Organizations are always in need of people to serve on committees and to help with events. This is such a great opportunity to give back, and you will meet so many interesting people.

Tag You’re It - Post about public seminars and events you attend. Post about interesting books, movies, and shows. Tag the speaker or the people involved even if you don’t know them. You’ll be surprised at the number of responses you get, and it often starts a conversation.

Post about events you’ll be attending and tag people. After a public event, post pictures (even if it’s a Zoom screen) and tag the panel or the speaker. (Just a note of caution: we have a lot of law enforcement speakers at our mystery events. ALWAYS ask before you take and post a picture. Sometimes there are professional and security reasons, and they don’t want to be identified publicly.)

#FF or #WW - If you want to start a conversation on Twitter, use the Follow Friday (#FF) or Writer Wednesday (#WW) hashtags. Post a meme or a gif and list a bunch of accounts that you think people should follow. People will comment, add other names, and share. It’s a great way to expand your reach and pick up followers.

Ask Questions - If you want to strike up a conversation on any platform, ask a question. Make sure to add related hashtags. Examples: It’s the weekend, what are you reading? It’s snowing here, what’s the weather like outside your window?

Look at the lists online of fun “holidays” and post a picture or a meme for topics related to your book.

Ask for advice or recommendations. People are always willing to assist.

Help Others - People are always looking for recommendations and information. If you can help, reach out to them. Share the knowledge and resources you have.

Tag Your Friends - If you see a post on a topic that would be of interest to a friend, tag that person in the comment with a brief note. You’re helping to make connections.

I love looking at all the “Bookstagram” and “Book Stack” photos that readers put on Instagram. If I see a friend’s book in the picture, I always tag them in a comment. You’d be surprised at the number of times authors didn’t know a reader had highlighted them.

Keep Your Contacts Organized - It’s important to keep contact information where you can access it. You never know when you’ll need to reach out to someone.

When someone gives me a business card, I write on the back where I met them or who introduced us. When I’m back at my desk, I transfer the contact to my email address book with enough notes to jog my memory later.

I also have a spreadsheet where I keep subject matter expert (SME) contacts that I meet. You never know when you or someone else will need the connection. I attend a lot of workshops and training sessions, and the speakers often offer to be a resource in the future.

Just Do It - It is not in a lot of people’s nature to strike up or jump into conversations with strangers. It’s hard, but make yourself try it. Find some online conversations and jump in with your comments or questions. Or start a conversation on your site.

It is difficult, but you can learn to network. And you improve the more you do it.

19 Things I Learned about LinkedIn

This week, I attended a seminar, "The Power of LinkedIn" by Bridget McGovern, Senior Nonprofit Relationship Manager for LinkedIn. She provided a good overview of the platform and a workshop for us to improve our sites. Here's what I learned...

1. Your profile is your professional brand. How do you want to look to others? Your brand is your promise of what others can expect of you.
2. Your LinkedIn profile is not your resume.
3. Follow organizations and causes you care about.
4. You are the brand ambassador for you and your company.
5. Networking is key. Make connections.
6. When you send a connection request to someone, make sure to personalize it (e.g. Hi, John Doe. I enjoyed meeting you at the ABC Conference in Atlanta.). I sent one recently from the mobile version, and it didn't let me personalize the request.
7. Your profile should show where you've been, where you are now, and where you're going.
8. Seventy-five percent of hiring managers use LinkedIn to look for and at candidates. Hey hiring managers, candidates look a your company and profiles too.
9. Make sure you have a professional looking headshot. It can show your personality. Just be careful with selfies. Profiles with pictures get 21x more views.
10. Your photo should be from the shoulders up, and you should smile.
11. Your summary should be short - no more than two paragraphs. This should be your elevator pitch about you. What do you bring when you walk into a room?
12. Add a custom headline under your photo - not just your current job title. This allows you to be creative in your description of yourself. State the essence of what you do.
13. Keep your experience concise (about two sentences). Highlight the value of what you brought to the team.
14. Think about publishing content, photos, and videos. This increases your reach.
15. Your skills tell your story. If someone endorses you for something, and it doesn't fit, you don't have to accept it.
16. Make sure to include your volunteer experience.
17. Connect with people you know, people who belong to similar organizations, and your alumni groups.
18. Look at groups and join what interests you. This is another way to network.
19. Be creative and don't be afraid to show your personality in a professional way. You don't want to look like a robot. Sometimes, we're too formal in our descriptions, and when others read it, it's bland or boring.

I learned a lot from Bridget McGovern. I've had a LinkedIn profile for a while, but I don't do that much with it. I have noticed over the last year that I'm getting more and more recruiters send me information on jobs they think I'm a fit for. It's nice to be noticed. I'm off to revamp my profile.

How to Network When It's Not in Your Nature

Writers tend to be solitary creatures. My last Myers Briggs personality test results listed me as an ESTJ. My "extrovert" score was just over the axis, so I'm really on the fence between introvert and extrovert. I love being around people, but there are times when I have "peopled" enough, and I just want some solitude. 

But, relationships are key in everyone's personal and professional lives. Even if it's not in your nature to be outgoing, networking is a skill that writers need to hone. Here are eleven tips to help you with your online and in-person networking.

1. Look for opportunities to volunteer. Helping others is an incredible way to give back. And it gives you an opportunity to meet new people.

2. Join a book group to meet other readers. What a great forum to talk about books!

3. Stay involved with your alumni groups and organizations. Many of these have newsletters for member celebrations. These are great places to announce book launches.

4. I use Facebook to keep up with friends from my hometown and college days. Most of my book news goes on my author page, but I do post every once in a while on my page - especially if it's a book event in a town where I know I have friends and family. 

5. I use Twitter to network with readers, book bloggers, writers, and librarians. It's a vast source of information, and if I have a research question, I can always find help.

6. I have joined several blogging network groups on Facebook. These have helped me set goals and promote my blog and social media sites. Search for blog network groups. There are lots out there.

7. Find your writing tribe. I'm a member of Sisters in Crime Central Virginia, Guppies (online), and James River Writers. Members of each are so supportive of writers, and they offer great programs on the craft of writing and book marketing. You're not alone. 

8. If public speaking terrifies you, look for a Toastmasters group in your area. I joined years ago, and it helped me FINALLY get comfortable with talking in front of all kinds of groups. The public speaking experience and feedback were invaluable.

9. Talk with your local librarians about co-hosting a program - a writers' panel, a publication discussion, a book reading, or a workshop. My groups partner regularly with local libraries. They get an education event, and we have an opportunity to talk about our books.

10. If your book's main character has a hobby, talk to folks in your area with related shops (e.g. knitting, craft brewing, sewing, crafting, etc.). There might be an opportunity for you to visit and talk with their customers.

11. Create a signup sheet for your newsletter and collect email addresses at all of your events. make sure that guests can sign up on your website too. It's important to have contacts for people who are interested in you and your books.

It does take a lot to muster the courage to cold call or network in a room of strangers. But it is worth it. I've had some really great opportunities because I made a phone call, sent an email, and offered my services. Let me know what other ideas you have to add to the list.