Monday, January 31, 2011

It's Networking, Baby!

Instead of doing a post-conference round-up after my fabulous weekend at the San Diego State Conference, full of the same ol stories and pitfalls to avoid, I wanted to discuss the most important thing I always take away from ANY conference: networking.

Aside from the benefits of critiques, shared interests, support, workshops, and lectures that conferences can offer, one of the MOST important benefits is the potential to network.

As an agent not based in New York, conferences are one of the few times I get to see the editors and fellow agents I know and work with in person. Putting a face and personality to a voice and name is incredibly important; it gives an understanding to the knowledge of likes and dislikes (and is just plain fun!).


But what can networking do for an author?

The same thing it does for me: it makes agents seem human, approachable.

I know this is sort of lame to say, but you'd be incredibly surprised how much farther you can get with a smile than a frown. Case in point: two authors. One I laughed with at a conference. One who says they just attended with me. Guess whose work I'm turning to first? And guess whose work I'm going to give more feedback on?


Networking builds a relationship from which, even if nothing comes out of it, more is likely to be offered. If I connect with you, I'm going to give you as much helpful feedback as I can, even if I don't offer representation. And I'll also be there to answer any questions you have.

So don't burn bridges. One poor agent was read the riot act by an attendee for not being more helpful and offering line edits (yeah, seriously), when in all honesty, the agent said to me, if he'd thanked her for the time she'd given and just asked...she would have given him what he wanted. Now, he's just a blip in her email right before she hits DELETE.

Most authors assume the only benefit of these appointments is the chance to be seen and heard. But really, I remember the people I chat with more than the ones who pitch me; and even if the ones who I chat with don't pitch me THEN - I'll remember who they are, and be MORE than happy to read their work later!


But what other benefits can networking provide?


Debra Driza has an amazing story to share on that one. She calls it procrastinating; I call it brilliant networking. I don't know the full story, but in sum, Debra met an editor at a conference with a fabulous idea. The editor really clicked with Debra, and asked her to send a writing sample, which she did (after checking with her agent, I have to add, which only shows more brilliance on Debra's part). The editor loved her writing, took it and the idea to the acquisition meeting, and voila, book deal was born!

Forging connections with other AUTHORS is also important; I've had my clients meet lovely people at conferences and send them my way. I've also had clients meet a published author who wants to tell her editor all about her new friend's work - and get her an in -- because they clicked so well.


These kinds of strange connections build to publishing deals quite a bit in this business. Once you start networking, via conference, twitter, writing groups and communities, you'll be surprised what opportunities you can find once you start to look.

If you're too nervous to chat with editors and agents at a conference, at least chat on Twitter or blogs. Make yourself comfortable with us.

It'll pay off, and trust me - I love networking with YOU right back!

19 comments:

  1. Great post Natalie. I am gearing up for my first live writing conference at the end of the month and am excited and nervous at the same time. Reading posts like these help me to keep things in perspective and remember why I like going to homeschool conferences--connecting with other people, laughing, learning and soft hotel beds that are quiet (without a five and six year old constantly picking at each other). :-)

    Thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the tips, really. And it's nice to know there's an alternative to conferencing through Twitter and all that. Really, I don't know how I'd survive without all my social networking thingies.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's wonderful that not only are there conferences to meet and chat with agents and editors face to face, but Twitter and blogs as well. And of course the fabulous chats that the WriteOnCon ladies provide, too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great advice! I'm one of those who would probably be too nervous to chat during a conference but social media makes it a lot easier ^^

    ReplyDelete
  5. THe first conference I went to was the big RWA nationals and it was COMPLETELY overwhelming. I tried networking, but froze up each and every time I'd run into an editor or agent(even though I already had you for an agent, I was terrified). How I managed to do my pitch, I've no clue! LOL. The second one I went to was a regional one, and I was much more confident. Ended up talking to two editors without a problem and tried talking to an agent, but my friend stole the show! LOL. I totally think it was because the smaller conference was much more intimate and not as intimidating. So I highly suggest writers start with those as opposed to the big national ones if they're like me.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great post, Natalie. And, I loved getting a chance to chat with you at the WisRWA conference (and pitching with you, incidentally) about all things. You're absolutely right. I've had a lot of good things happen because I networked. Good luck with your new agenting adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alright. I'll get on it! =) Thanks for the post. I love writer's conferences. It is a great experience that every writer should experience at least once.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just went to my first conference, and made a few little connections. Hopefully that will build as I spend more time in the writing world!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Okay so I was talking to Natalie on twitter about the awesomeness of her blog post and how I'm teaching a class on this very thing, and she asked me to post a link here!

    So, here it is: http://dfwwritersconference.org/pay-it-forward-class-by-jamie-harrington/

    Basically it's all about using the connections you make while on twitter/facebook/blogging/conferences, etc., and turning them into real non-annoying friendships that are beneficial for both of you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ha, I think so many of us get into writing because we're more comfortable with the sight of our words than the sound of our voices. Networking can be scary! But, nothing gets better without practice, right?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh! BTW, I wasn't pitching agents. LOL. Just realized how that sounded. :D I just wanted to get to know more people on the biz. side of things.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great post! Networking is so important now and I love meeting new people. It also helps show us authors that agents and editors are people too--not some demigod that we often think :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great post. I think you're right that the networking is so important. Even if your work isn't right for the agent or editor, you might connect in another way, like interview them on your blog or something. And just connecting as people.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great post Natalie! I wholeheartedly agree. I live in AZ and can't make it to most conferences, but I've met and talk to lots of writers, agents and editors on twitter and their blogs. It puts a personality to that name on your list of submissions.

    And for those who think Twitter is a useless time-suck, today after a friendly conversation with an editor via twitter, I got a request to submit a query/pitch/synopsis from an editor at a MAJOR (seriously - think HUGE) publishing house that is normally closed to unagented submissions. As I am still in the process of finding my perfect agent, I was floored.

    So take Natalie's advice. Network network network!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful post! I love networking. I feel like it brings all us lovely writers closer together.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for being approachable! We don't have the big names in publishing in Delaware. It's great to have networking in cyberspace.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I enjoy networking (except Twitter, it seems I will never get the hang of it) although I can't go to conventions in the US. I live in Europe and the flight alone would cost more than I have set aside for the whole family-holiday - but maybe after a book-deal? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Recently, at my first conference, I found that the huge majority of attendees were total newbies, far less experienced than I in the world of publishing. I met some very nice people, but I didn't gain much professionally. At the moment I can't agree that conferences are career-altering experiences, as so many claim. I guess I'd better try a different conference next time.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you so much for that posting! I'm headed to my very first conference in June, in NYC and canNOT wait! :)

    As to networking online with other authors - it's invaluable. I made tons of friends on Authonomy and kept up the friendships on Facebook, and now that I run an editing business they are some of my greatest backers!

    Best of all, one of my Authonomy friends suggested her agent to me ... and that agent got me a 2 book deal with Penguin.

    ReplyDelete