Tip: A Note on Networking

Networking doesn't come naturally to many of us; it seems to connote creepy good ol' boy circles or even creepier elite secret societies, or at the very least give us a slimy feeling. We wonder if we're turning into some stereotypical 1950s used car salesman when we approach someone we don't know that well, asking for a contact or favor. But here's the thing: it's not that bad and it can be learned.

Does networking help you get published? Well, honestly, yes, I think it can, a bit. All the networking in the world won't help you publish something that has serious flaws, and most really good work eventually finds a home, whether its author is a good networker or not. But I do find that networking can help you open the door a little sooner than you might otherwise be able to, and that's worth something. Sometimes dropping a name will, indeed, be cause for an editor or agent to take your manuscript out of the slush pile. Sometimes another author, or an agent or editor or teacher, can recommend someone who might be interested in your work, even if they're not. And remember, you can and should return these favors later on, either to those who gave them to you or to newer writers.

Here's an important thing that I think helps: remember that every contact you make when networking does not immediately have to lead to a specific result. You don't always have to just give someone a manuscript to network. Just practice getting to know people in the industry. Don't think of meeting someone in the business as your one and only opportunity to approach them. Go to author readings, and if the line's not too long (often, if it's a midlist author, it's not) say hello, explain that you enjoy their work. If it doesn't feel invasive, ask for an email address or way to hear when they are next in town. Heck, if there's really nothing going on there and you're not too shy, take them out for a drink. If you go to writer's conventions, meet the editors and agents. Talk about the clients and writers they work with whom you admire, to show you did your homework. Ask for advice about how best to proceed in your career, how to describe your work to show its marketability. See if anyone wants to have lunch so you can ask them what publishing houses are premiere in your field or genre. Or to talk about the Lakers. Whatever.

As with anyone else, some of these people you won't click with, and some you will. Keep up with the ones you click with. Note when they are next in town. If you have contact info for them, let them know about your progress, telling them, for example, if you get a story published somewhere, or win an award, or stage a reading, or have an open mic success. Send nice thank-you notes if they help you with something.

Obviously nobody likes to be deluged. But with the same restraint and good manners you would show to any other work colleague, you can make helpful contacts, some of which can result in (honestly!) actual friendship.

Most editors, authors, and agents are actually pretty nice people, who are happy when writers succeed.

Just practice.