How to Network
This is an account of how I networked and what it did for me.
Subscribe to THE BOOKSELLER. This is the trade magazine for publishers and booksellers. It will tell you about what is happening in the publishing world. It will tell you what publishers are buying, which will give you an idea of what they are looking for NOW - this will put you a step ahead of the research you do by scouring bookshops, which will tell you what publishers were buying 18 months or so ago. Here you will also find out about new agents looking for new authors. This is how I eventually found my agent.
Subscribe to a writing magazine such as WRITERS NEWS or WRITERS FORUM or, if you are female, you can try MYSLEXIA (although there is no rule against men reading this!)
As well as author/publisher/agent interviews and tips on all aspects of writing, you will find details of competitions to enter (a great way of getting your stuff OUT THERE) and, most importantly, networking opportunities. It was through one of these magazines that I read about a writing weekend, which included a talk by an agent. This was my first foray into networking and I was very nervous about it. Now I still look back at the wonderful time I had.
It was also through one of these magazines that I heard of Jan’s Writing Course which took place near where I live. This course involved going along and TALKING about my writing. Eek! That was very scary, until I realised that everyone else was just as scared as me.
While doing this course, I met a writer who had been to and thoroughly recommended the WINCHESTER WRITERS CONFERENCE Feeling rather nervous again, I booked myself in for a weekend of workshops, talks, competitions and one-to-one appointments with agents, publishers and authors. I had the most wonderful time, met loads of writers, some of whom have become close friends and met an agent who ASKED TO SEE THE REST OF MY MANUSCRIPT!!! That was a wonderful moment. She didn’t go on to represent me, but it still gave me the confidence to know that at least I’d done the submitting stuff right.
I enjoyed myself so much at Winchester that I came back (several times). On one visit, I entered the writing for children competition, on a whim. I came second and the publisher judging it approached me in the bar (there is a lot of bar business at these conferences) and asked to see more. That was my first novel for children and it got me an agent. I am now a children’s writer.
As well as all this, there are several writing groups you can join. For example, if you write commercial women’s fiction, I can recommend THE ROMANTIC NOVELISTS ASSOCIATION which welcomes published and unpublished writers and offers a wealth of support to both.
Children’s writers should join British SCBWI which welcomes both published and unpublished writers, has great meetings in the pub and an annual conference.
As soon as you have a contract (WOW! Congratulations! That’s wonderful news!) I recommend THE SOCIETY OF AUTHORS, which has its own section for children’s writers.
Now - get yourself out there and HAVE FUN!