Networking beyond conference . . .

National conference was an exciting, learning, meet with editors/agents, and network with fellow writers time. Back home, the exulted high has finally passed; the real world has seeped in, so now what?

It’s time to network beyond conference.

Most pre-published writers bring business cards and established writers hand out their latest advertising bookmarks during conference. Are those laminated strips of paper simply more stuff to file away? Or something potentially useful?

Before you clear your desk or empty your conference bag into the nearest trash bin, take a closer look at those contacts.

While waiting for coffee or a pick-me-up soda, how many writers did you meet in the endless lines? Did you exchange cards? Bookmarks? Who sat at your lunch table? Cards exchanged? What about during those great seminars? Did you visit with the speaker for a moment? Introduce yourself to the moderator? All of these are contacts—important contacts to help further your career and can become a personal extended research group.

Pull out your stash of business cards, bookmarks, and conference booklet. Now’s the time to send a quick email. A few typed lines and you’ve established a new contact. The person on the other end of the email may become simply another writing ‘buddy’, and that in and of itself is a prized possession. Writing is a lonely job and only those who continually plant fanny to chair can understand the trials of this profession. Treasure writing contacts, and nurture them. Perhaps, your email will establish a relationship with a published writer, one who writes in your genre or a genre you’d like to try. Now, you’re network building. Who better to ask about market trends, publishing houses, successes with an agent than an individual already earning a living in the business? If a seminar was helpful, on-target, just ever-so-much fun, then send that speaker an email and let them know. To a person, conference speakers juggle already-full career schedules. They’ve put in effort and taken their time to provide a worthy learning environment. Everyone deserves a thank-you or job-well-done for their deeds. And again, smart networking writer that you are, you’re developing more contacts.

Wait!

Before you send those emails make sure your signature line is completely up-to-date. Do you have a website? MySpace? Blog Site? Are you a chapter officer? National officer? Do you have a new release? An upcoming release? Make sure all pertinent information is captured in your email signature. What’s pertinent? Anything and everything that advertises your seriousness about the business of writing.

Once the emails are winging their way through cyberspace, take a moment to jot a note on the back of the business cards—a reminder where and when you met this writing contact, then start a file. You’ve just began your mailing list for your first book release or your next release. Networking beyond conference is an opportunity to build new friendship and establish great contacts. It’s also a wonderful chance to spend a little more time with the folks who really ‘get’ your obsession with the writing world. Value your contacts.