"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." ~E.L. Doctorow

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It's all about the Networking, People!

Hey Everyone. Sorry, I've been MIA lately. I've had some personal stuff that needed tending to, but now that things have settled down a bit, I figured it would be a good time to blog and get my mind off the other stuff. So the topic De Jour is Networking. *cue the awe-inspiring music* Yup that's right people - because for those of us who are planning on getting published, getting your name out there is a big part of the game. I recently came across this site...


It brings together other woman bloggers from across the net and gives them a place to bond over (and commiserate) the world of blogging. Sites like this are amazingly handy for networking purposes. It’s all about finding support for you as an author and your work! For one thing, when querying agents and publishers - they are looking to see if people will care about buying your book. And if you have a well established, grass roots "fan" base prior too publication, it’s a good sign for what will happen after you're published. Another good reason for Networking is that writers now-a-days (wow did that just make me feel old) need to establish a strong online presence and sites like Lady Bloggers Society, SheWrites, Facebook, Twitter, Livejournal, Tumbler, etc have become a standard part of that. Getting our names known through these online outlets make you more marketable! So what are your favorite places to network?

16 comments:

Kelly Hashway said...

Wow, I'm on a lot! SheWrites, Book Blogs, Jacketflap, LinkedIn, Facebook, Goodreads, SCBWI, Verla Kay's blue boards, CBI and ICL. Seriously, I do find time to write, too.
Thanks for telling us about Lady Bloggers Society. I'm going to have to check that out.

Unknown said...

I will, too, thanks! I love SheWrites and SocialMoms. :-)

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

I recently joined

Author Dawn Brazil said...

Hadn't heard of this one. I'm not as active as I want to be, but I'm on a few. SheWrites, YALITCHAT, CBI Clubhouse, Facebook, Twitter. I was on Authonomy, but I canceled after a few months and I was on Jacketflap but I never did anything with it. LOL, I better get busy I guess. Thanks for the post!

Samantha Sotto said...

I missed you! So glad you're back! *tackle hugs* :D I'm definitely going to check out the Lady Bloggers Society. Thanks for sharing!

Meryl said...

Thanks for the tip. I have a question: what do you think is a "well established fan base"? I personally am wrestling with that. Any ideas?

Great blog, I will check out the Lady Bloggers Society.

Unknown said...

I have a blog and am involved with She Writes, but my absolute best place to network?
Chapters/Starbucks!

C.M. Villani said...

Wow Kelly - from now on if I'm looking for a new netowrking site I'm going to come talk to you! hahaha. There are a few on your list I haven't even heard of!

C.M. Villani said...

Stacey - yeah Shewrites. That's one of my favorites. :)

Catherine Stine said...

Wow, I'm totally with you on the value of social networking for authors! I'm on a lot of those sites, but I hadn't heard about lady bloggers society.

C.M. Villani said...

Debra - Great!

C.M. Villani said...

Dawn - Oh I hear you. It is definately a fine line to be balanced between time spent writing, and time spent networking. :/

C.M. Villani said...

Hey Sam - *Tackle hugs back!* Glad to be back. I've missed you guys!

Noticed the pretty pink button already up on your's site. I still have to do some more exploring on LBS - I've only had some much time.

C.M. Villani said...

Meryl - I'm not sure if I have an adequate answer for you. In my opinion, I've always seen it as a following that would be enough to catch the eye of a literary agent or those who have enough passion about your work that they are bound to be noticed. But saying that, there are very few unpublished/pre-published authors out there that could be expected to have a following with the size and fervor of say Stephenie Meyer or Stephen King or Dan Brown. It’s just not going to happen.

And honestly I don’t think prepublished authors can be held to that sort of standard because post publication is a whole other beast entirely.

C.M. Villani said...

Elizabeth - oh I haven't gotten into the whole real life networking scene. I figured I would keep that for the post agented and prepublished era. :)

C.M. Villani said...

Catherine - yeah that was a new one I just heard about so I figured I would share. :D

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