Writing Tips

Joining a Meetup writer’s group allows you to have conversations about your passion—writing. Talk about best strategies for meeting deadlines, smart writing methods, and ways to combat writer’s block. This benefit can be particularly useful for new writers, looking for tips on succeeding in the always-competitive publishing field. Finding more experienced writers who have been through similar experiences can lead to helpful advice and guidance when it comes to launching your writing career. If you’re struggling with a particular issue, talk about it during the event—surely another writer has faced a similar challenge at some point in his or her career.

Networking Opportunities

Meetup’s writer’s groups are an excellent way to network. Just as you can get useful writing tips from other writers, you can also learn about writing and publishing opportunities when you’re connected to other writers. If you have completed your work and need to find a publisher, talk to other writers at Meetup group events to discover what publishers are accepting query letters and which ones writers would recommend. Perhaps you’re looking for a new writing opportunity. Participating in a Meetup group can give you valuable information about companies that are hiring writers or publishers who need work.

Free Promotion

You never know who you’re going to meet at a Meetup group event. If you’re a writer looking to promote a current work, joining this group can help you do just that. Interacting with a group of diverse writers—and perhaps editors and publishers—can expose your work to a large audience base. Use the Meetup writer’s group to make the right connections, and you can enjoy major success. You might meet the owner of a local bookstore who is willing to sell your book, an editor who can connect you to a publisher in your field, or a fellow writer who can introduce you to a public relations specialist willing to help market your book. The possibilities are endless when you network with a well-connected group of writers just like you.

Conclusion

Joining a writer’s group on Meetup and going to events to socialize and network with strangers might be way outside of your comfort zone. However, sometimes doing something risky is what it takes to succeed. Networking with other writers brings many benefits, which can have a significant impact on your career trajectory. Strengthen your writing by talking to people who share your passion. Asking questions, sharing your writing experiences, and discussing your work with a Meetup writer’s group can bring long-term benefits. Take a deep breath, and join a writer’s group to improve your writing and promote your work.

Guest post contributed by Amanda Keight, on behalf of PaperStarter.com – a free resource for essay and paper topics, thesis statements and important quotes.

* Their press releases were picked up by 40+ online sites and media news stations.

* Their press release placement brought additional credibility to the launch of their new books, products and services.

* They started to dominate the search engines – and “own” their keywords as search engines love optimized press releases

* They doubled and tripled their website traffic

* Multiple reporters and media professionals contacted them for additional interviews and media opportunities that give them more exposure.

* Their website now ranks higher on Google – because online press release distribution is a powerful link building too.

Here’s an additional benefit of online press release distribution that no one else is talking about…Online press release distribution will help you with your overall LinkedIn marketing efforts.

6 Ways Online Press Release Distribution Can Help You With Your LinkedIn Marketing Efforts

1) The press release generated publicity can provide you with instant credibility with your LinkedIn profile visitors.

For example my client Sara LaForest’s headline reads like this: “Top Management Consultant Featured in Business Week, Fast Company & WomenEntrepreneur.com – Connect and Find Out Why”. This shows readers immediately why they should trust her and why they should trust what she has to say.

Here are some of the other ways you can highlight your publicity on your LinkedIn profile:

* Create a quoted media positions

* Showcase your media mentions within your summary

* Add the publications section to your LinkedIn profile

* Create a media kit on your LinkedIn profile using Box.net

2) Showcasing your press release generated publicity will prove to journalists that you are media worthy.

On LinkedIn you should be looking to connect with journalists, editors, online radio show hosts and other media professionals. Now for those media professionals to accept your invitation, you have to prove you are credible and newsworthy. When your press release is published by a top publication, you have completed half the battle because you have given yourself expert status. Now, you just have to build a relationship with the media professionals you connect with and show them that your information is relevant to their audience.

3) Use press releases to promote your LinkedIn group and community.

We recently created and distributed a press release that promoted Skip Weisman’s Workplace Communication Strategies group – and it was published on CNBC.com. This helped him:

* Increase his LinkedIn group membership by making more people aware of his group.

* Give him a reason to re-announce his group again to his email list as well as any LinkedIn connection that were not already members of his group. Any time you have a success, you should be letting your connections know.

* Give new connections a reason to join his LinkedIn group when we sent out group invites.

4) Your press release placements can position you as a thought leader in your LinkedIn group – and those other groups you belong to.

I like to create discussions around a topic and link the discussion to a press release or article I’ve written that gives more information on the topic and is featured on a top website. This automatically gives me a third party endorsement which offers more credibility than if the information was just placed on my own website or blog.

5) Use your press release placement as a springboard for discussions.

For example, I distributed a press release titled “More Journalist on LinkedIn Than Any Other Social Network, Study Shows”. I then created this discussion within LinkedIn group: “How are you using LinkedIn to get you more publicity?

In the LinkedIn discussion summary I put “In the press release below, I reveal that 82% of journalist are on LinkedIn and that is more than any other social network. So now I am asking you, how are using LinkedIn to build and maintain relationships with media professionals to get you more publicity?”

I then linked the discussion to my press release on Yahoo News.

This helped me:

* Get more exposure for my press release

* Create a discussion among publicity professionals as they provided their insights. I then responded to their feedback with other ideas and explained to them how I can help them with their LinkedIn publicity efforts

* Start a discussion among small business owners and other business professionals who wanted to learn how to get more publicity by using LinkedIn

6) Getting published or featured all over the Web on top websites and blogs will give you access to more people who will want to connect with you on LinkedIn.

You will have people coming to you seeking your advice. They will see your press release and then look you up on LinkedIn wanting to connect with you. For example, as I was writing this article, I received an invitation to connect that said, “Hi Kristina, I just read your tips in Canadian Advisor’s Edge Magazine – I’d like to connect with you and learn more.”

Your Next Steps

Now that I have shown you how online press release distribution can help you with your LinkedIn marketing efforts, it’s time you take action and start writing your press releases. If you need help, check our my Instant Press Release Templates at 40InstantPressReleaseTemplates.com

LinkedIn marketing expert Kristina Jaramillo helps small businesses and organizations get more publicity, prospects and profits using effective LinkedIn. Now, at http://www.HowtoGetMorePublicitywithLinkedIn.com, you can gain full access to her FREE 14-Day LinkedIn Publicity E-course that shows you how to create an expert LinkedIn profile the media will love, how to build relationships with the media plus sneaky ways to get more PR using LinkedIn.

Writing contests offer a variety of prizes for winners such as publication, trips, gifts and goodies, or cash prizes. Some contests simply award you with a first, second, or third place or maybe an honorable mention.

There are contests for poets, novelists, essayist, playwrights, short story and flash fiction writers. No matter what type of writing you like to do, there’s sure to be a contest out there for you.

Finding the right contest, however, can be tricky. Do you want paid-entry or free-entry contests? What are you hoping to get out of the contest? Is the contest right for you? What are the contest guidelines? And, most important: which contests should you take part in and which ones should you avoid like the plague?

There are many sites that can help you navigate the wide world of writing contests. The BS Vigilante page from the WM Freelance Writers Connection outs editors, publications and contests that have turned out to be scams. Writer Beware Blogs offers regular reports on fraud in the writing biz. FundsforWriters.com shares some of the best contests via their email newsletter. The popular site Predators and Editors also has a page devoted to contests that are NOT recommended.

Your best bet is a contest that’s been around for a while. Contests with lots of entries tend to be pretty reliable as well. And, if you can, have a look at the jury panel. You can often tell by the jury whether or not a contest is worth your while.

Here’s why writing contests are great for writers:

1. You might just win. You never know how your piece will do in any given contest. It might even win. If it does, your prize packet could include writing classes, free sessions with a mentor, a writer’s retreat, a subscription to Writer’s Market — all of which will help further your writing career. Prize money and grants can help pay for a writer’s website, an illustrator, a layout designer, or any other tool of the trade. If winning means publication in an anthology, on a website, in a magazine or newspaper, more people will have the chance to see your work and become fans.
2. You can add it to your writing credits. If you win or place, you can include your awards on your resume, blog or website. That recognition might help you get a writing job. After all, it says a lot when your writing was submitted alongside dozens upon dozens of other entries, looked over by many critical eyes and still ends up being chosen as one of the best.
3. Your writing might get noticed. A jury will be selected to read through all submissions and pick the winners. Jury members often include publishers, agents, professional writers, editors, and writing mentors. The chance to have them look over your work is an excellent reason to participate in a contest. Perhaps your submission will result in landing a publisher, an agent, a writing gig or a mentor. At the very least, you’ll get feedback on your work from professionals in the industry. What they have to say will help you become a stronger writer.
4. You’ll get feedback. Some contests share feedback from the jury with participants. If they don’t do it automatically, you can always ask. Feedback and critiques from the jury can help you see your strengths and weaknesses. You can see what mistakes you are prone to making and where your writing falls short. Is the story line confusing? Are the characters believable? Is there enough backstory? Is there too much? The feedback from the jury will answer all these questions and more. Contests that don’t offer feedback usually state so up front. And, even if they don’t, you can always evaluate the work of the winners and see how your piece measured up.
5. It will give you experience. Entering a contest means that you will be writing to a specific topic with a set word count and a deadline. This kind of practice is invaluable if you plan to write professionally. Besides, the more you write, the more your writing will improve.
6. You’ll develop thick skin. The writing business is a tough one with a lot of competition.  You’ll get turned down more often than you’ll get that writing gig or publishing deal. Get used to it. Those who make it in this industry have thick skin. So, you entered a contest and didn’t win anything. So what? You’ll eventually learn to move on and continue creating and submitting until you do.
7. You will be more likely to submit again. When you win or at least realize that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t, you’ll be more likely to enter other contests, send in that agent query or submit your work to other publications. The more you get your work out there, the more likely it is to be seen and accepted. Plus, putting your writing under of the noses of others is the only way to get feedback and critiques that will help you grow as a writer.

Remember, the worst that can happen is that they’ll say no. And then you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on to the next project. You also have the option of asking for feedback, reworking the piece and submitting it elsewhere.

When it comes to writing contests, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So, find yourself a contest and start working on your submission!

Tiffany Jansen is a freelance writer located in the Netherlands. The author of Mary’s Story and Mary’s Holiday Story for Medieval Maidens, Tiffany is now working on an English-language guide to Dutch castles. Her writing can be found on her blog Putting Words to Paper.

It struck a chord with me because I remember being stumped a few years ago, when a photographer I met at a networking function asked me, “So, if you’re such a marketing expert and you help people attract all the clients they need, what are you doing here at a networking group each week?” I didn’t know what to say at first. Never had it been posed to me that way.

But then I started thinking about it all and I realized that I always have clients, because I’m always marketing. I feel comfortable knowing that marketing is part of my business, a large part of it. It doesn’t matter what you DO for a living, your primary job is marketing and your “skill” is whatever else you do to get paid by clients.

So, if you’re a consultant, you’re not really a consultant, you’re a marketer who consults. If you’re an interior designer, you’re not really an interior designer, you’re a marketer who happens to help clients decorate their homes. And so on and so forth.

Until a client of mine really GETS that, they always put marketing on the back burner, and as a result of not making marketing a priority in the past, they’ve gotten lackluster, mediocre results. But when they realize that their MAIN job is marketing, then they just accept that that’s what you do and start to do it well. Alternatively, they can just go back to the corporate world and get a paycheck again while having someone else breathe down their neck. (Yuck!)

But I think the fine line we talked about between looking successful enough not to market and needing to market is really about CHASING clients. It’s like anything in life: if someone is TOO eager about something, you start questioning their motives. Here’s the line I read in that seminar transcript:

The Ultimate Incongruity: “If you’re so good, why are you so available?…let alone chasing business???”

The first key is that you never CHASE business. It’s just too cheesy and it doesn’t make people want to work with you. If you seem like you need them more than they need you, then you’re in trouble.

However, if you follow the Client Attraction System or are a client of mine, you know that it’s about creating VALUE, trust, believability, and credibility over the long haul. It’s about establishing yourself as a problem solver to your ideal clients and their biggest problems. It’s about creating a RELATIONSHIP so that clients naturally come to YOU and no one else, WHEN they’re ready. It’s never about chasing clients or strong-arming them to sign up with you. Here’s the formula:

Value plus Trust over Time.

(As a side note, that photographer who almost stumped me with her question ended up being one of my favorite clients of all time, a RAVING fan and a consistent referral source of new clients to my practice. She’s also become one of the best and most diligent marketers I’ve seen, and she markets consistently, not just when she needs clients. She GOT it.)

Your Client Attraction Assignment:

So, now that we’ve gotten away from any semblance of you chasing business and looking too eager, what would you say if someone asked YOU that Ultimate Incongruity question?

Here’s what I say:

Oh and by the way, always tell the truth. That’s what authentic marketing is about. That’s how being a marketer with integrity makes you stand out in the marketplace. Anything else would be sleazy and that’s not Client Attractive.

Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, is founder of the Client Attraction System TM , the proven step-by-step program that shows you exactly how to attract more clients, in record time…guaranteed. To get your free Audio CD by mail and receive her weekly marketing & success mindset articles on attracting more high-paying clients and dramatically increasing your income, visit www.ClientAttraction.com.

1.  Start a workshop.  You probably have plenty of friends and family members willing to read bits and pieces of your latest work and give their opinion, but nobody can really help you to move forward the way another writer can.  If you can find a few authors in your area, set up a weekly meeting where everyone can share what they’re working on and offer up a critique.  In this way you’ll form a community of like-minded individuals engaged in symbiotic sharing for the benefit of all.  And if plagiarism occurs, you’ll have plenty of witnesses!

2.   Trade editing.  Your publisher probably has plenty of experienced editors on staff to get your book in ship shape.  But let’s face it: those people live by the formula.  If you fancy yourself an artist, then why not approach other artists for feedback?  You can reciprocate by checking out their latest drafts, as well.

3.  Collaborate.  Although most authors have their own vision and their own voice, you can get some unexpected results when you work in concert with another writer.  It will not only allow you to share the burden of completing a project; it will also help you to expand your horizons and try something new, potentially helping you to become a better writer in the process.

4.  Meet people.  There’s something kind of romantic about the notion of sitting in a dark study, surrounded by leather-bound copies of your favorite literary classics, typing away at your keyboard to finish the latest installment of your vampire trilogy (which is going to be SO much better than Twilight).  That lasts right up until you realize that you haven’t spoken to anyone or seen the outside world for about a week.  There’s no denying that most authors live in their own heads much of the time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from some social interaction.  In fact, you might go stir crazy if you don’t.  Networking with other authors will give you a built-in group of friends that understand exactly what you’re going through.

5.  Stay relevant.  It is said that you write best what you already know.  But if you stop experiencing the world around you, you’ll soon hit a dead end (you know: writer’s block).  Networking with other authors will not only get you out of the house, it will allow you to bounce ideas off another person who is actually qualified to tell you whether or not they’re any good.  And an off-the-cuff conversation could provide the spark for your next novel.

Sarah Danielson writes for BluWiki where you can find Smokey Bones Coupons and Coke Coupons.

The first thing is WHERE to put your nametag or sticker. Most people are right- handed and if you put your sticker or nametag on the left hand side, you make it more difficult for the person to actually see your name. Put it on the RIGHT hand side instead, and it falls right in their line of vision.

I usually only write my first name, in large letters, instead of my full name. You just want to give them enough info to get them to remember your first name (they don’t really need your last name until later, and they’ll get that when you exchange business cards).

I also don’t always put the name of my company, instead preferring to put WHAT I do, which is more Client Attractive. I’ll give you an example: A while back, I was on my way out of a networking meeting with my coat in hand and someone stopped me right in my tracks. I’d written “Fabienne, Business Coaching” on my nametag in BIG BOLD letters instead of crowding the little sticker with my last name, the name of my company, etc.

Well, he stopped me and said, “Hey, you do business coaching? I need that. Can we talk?” If I’d just put the name of my company (which was not very descriptive at the time) or kept a lot of info crammed into that small space, there’s no way he would have been able to read it and no way would he have stopped me in my tracks.

It can make a big difference. Now, when I network, I just put the following on my nametag: FABIENNE, CLIENT ATTRACTION. People always seem to ask what that means and it gets a conversation started (which is what you want).

Oh, and by the way, that guy who stopped me in my tracks? He became my client that same week and stayed for well over 6 months.

Your Assignment:

The moral of the story is, make it simple! Keep it to your first name, write it BIG, write WHAT you do (perhaps a descriptive about the results you get for people) instead of the name of your company, and lastly, put your nametag high UP on your right shoulder, so that it’s in their line of vision. It can make ALL the difference in whether you grab someone’s attention or not and in turning networking colleagues into clients.

Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, is founder of the Client Attraction System TM , the proven step-by-step program that shows you exactly how to attract more clients, in record time…guaranteed. To get your free Audio CD by mail and receive her weekly marketing & success mindset articles on attracting more high-paying clients and dramatically increasing your income, visit www.ClientAttraction.com.

Always carry Business Cards

Writing is a business just as much as selling cars is. As a writer, you are your own employer. In order to promote yourself and your book, you must always carry your own personalized business cards. Business cards should always contain your name, email, website and any other relevant information, such as degrees, diplomas, certificates (if you have any). Business cards can be creative, but should never be too bright and flashy in color.

When handing out a business card it is always good to give the person a brief overview about yourself as a writer. Business cards do show a strong degree of professionalism. Most of the time, agents and editors are in a rush, so the last thing they want to do is to find a pen and write down your information.

Get involved in Professional Events

Professional events are trade shows, conferences, meetings, festivals and workshops. For writers, the best events to network are at local writers’ festivals and at writers’ conferences. A festival is an event where authors are invited to do book readings and signings. A writers’ conference, on the other hand, is an event where authors are invited to give workshops to attendees and where agents and editors seek out new talent.

Costs vary for festivals, depending on popularity and location. Conferences, on the other hand, can be quite costly. If you cannot afford to attend a conference, you can offer to volunteer at one. While performing certain tasks as a volunteer, you can still find the time to network with authors, agents and editors. As a volunteer, you can even sit in on workshops for free.

You can also become involved in your community’s weekly toastmasters organization. Toastmasters gives you the opportunity to showcase your talent and to learn public speaking skills, which is crucial to your career as an author. Toastmasters is also good for confidence building and it enables you to network with other like-minded professionals.

Writers’ Critique Groups

Another way to connect with other writers is to join a critique group. Wherever there are writers, there are writers’ critique groups. These types of organizations exist in almost every community, small or large. Find out if there is a writers’ critique group in your community, contact the person in charge and inquire about dates and times the group meets, location of their meetings and how much they charge. Most often, writers’ critique groups are quite affordable. If no one in your community has organized a critique circle for writers and you have a number of friends who are writers, then you could start your own critique group.

Being a part of a critique circle enables you to obtain feedback on your work-in-progress from more experienced writers and to build friendships with them. One of your fellow writers may even have an agent or editor they personally know who they can connect you with.

When networking with professionals, you have to be persistent and you must be patient. It takes time to build long-lasting connections, but with much effort, your hard work will pay off.

Deanna Proach is a novelist. Her first book, ‘Day of Revenge’, a historical suspense set in revolutionary France was released by Inkwater Press. She currently resides in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada where she is acting and writing her second novel, ‘To be Maria’.

Meeting potential readers and trying to sell your book can feel overwhelming for an author, especially an introverted one. Authors tend to forget that readers are often pre-determined to like them because being an author implies that you are a “celebrity” in their eyes. Since readers are likely already warmed up to want to talk to you about your book, here are some simple tips for making contact with potential readers that will help you to sell books. Since most shy writers probably aren’t going to be out doing public speaking right away but might be coerced into doing a book signing, I’ll focus primarily on how to build rapport with potential customers at your book signing.

1. Visualize the Event Before You Go

I can’t begin to tell you how important it is to visualize the event before it happens. It will calm your nerves and prepare you for success. So many authors are nervous about their first book signing—will anyone come, will I sell any books, will people not like my books—that they forget to enjoy themselves. Make sure you are prepared to go early so you’re not rushing around at the last minute to get ready. Then spend five or ten minutes sitting quietly and envisioning everything going smoothly from arriving early to talking to readers and selling books. You will then go to your signing feeling calm, excited, and ready to succeed. You can use the points below to help you visualize how to make the event successful.

2. Arrive Early

Nothing is worse than being late, or at least being nervous about being late. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive early. You’ll want time to get used to the location, to feel comfortable there, to set up your table, place your books on it, lay out bookmarkers, put up a poster, whatever is necessary. You will feel better from being prepared and that will make you more open to meeting people calmly rather than feeling stressed because you’re unpacking books five minutes after the book signing is supposed to start while a customer stands waiting for you to talk to him.

3. Build Rapport With the Staff

Whether it’s a public speaking event or a book signing, getting there early also gives you the opportunity to befriend the staff. This contact is extremely important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to book signings where the store staff have told me horror stories about other demanding, late, or rude authors whom they haven’t invited back. You want to make friends with the staff. If you make a good impression, the bookstore employees or conference planners are just as likely to say good things about you to your potential readers. Being friendly with them will also make them more likely to lead customers over to where you are signing books and to recommend your books to customers in the days and weeks following the event.

4. Greet the Audience Individually Beforehand

If you are speaking in public, it’s a good idea not only to get there early but to engage the audience members individually so you have friends listening to you. Don’t hide in a nearby room so you can make a splashy (cheesy) appearance or sit up front looking uncomfortable. Stand by the door and shake hands or walk among the audience, introducing yourself to people and getting to know a little about them. Ask them why they came and what they would like you to talk about. Remember, you’re the guest speaker—you’re a celebrity in their eyes—they will love the personal attention. Even if they are shy, they will remember you and like you. I once was asked to speak to a group of teachers, which included dinner before my talk. I sat next to a woman who was not a member but just a guest of the group. I heard afterwards from one of the teachers present how privileged the woman had said she felt to sit next to the guest speaker at dinner even though she wasn’t a member of the group.

5. Prepare Remarks and Comments Beforehand

If you’re shy, thinking of things to discuss beforehand can really help to break the ice. It may be as simple as commenting upon the weather, about a recent event in the community, bringing up something about your book that will relate to your audience, or even simply planning to notice things about people that you can comment on (not their personal appearance, but if you’ve been to Rhode Island and someone is wearing a t-shirt that says Rhode Island on it, you can use that as an icebreaker). Being friendly is a soft-sell—you’re selling yourself as a nice person, and that will help to sell your book, even if you don’t mention your book. Once you make people feel comfortable with you, they are likely to ask you about your books and then you can sell them.

6. Don’t Hide

Recently, I went to an event where numerous authors were signing their books. I knew one of the authors quite well—had spoken to him on several other occasions, but I didn’t speak to him at this event. Why? Because he had his laptop propped up on his table and was busy typing away. Twice I walked past him and not once did he look up so I did not talk to him, and I certainly didn’t buy his book. No one wants to feel they’ve interrupted a writer, not even to buy one of his books. I’ve seen other authors sit and read books and never glance up. I understand you’re shy, but what these behaviors tell the audience is, “Don’t bother me.” Trust me, they won’t, and you won’t sell any books.

7. Don’t Build an Invisible Line

Some authors sabotage themselves when speaking to their public. While you may not be shy, something as simple as introducing yourself as “Mr. Richardson” or “Ms. Lovelace” is going to turn customers off more quickly than if you say you’re “Fred” or “Ellen.” Readers want to be treated like friends, and formal names create a distance with readers. Body language, looking bored, or ignoring customers by not saying hello will also build invisible lines which make customers feel you don’t really want to talk to them.

8. Sell Yourself

In selling your book, you need to sell yourself. When you meet people at book signings or other events, they will do business with you if they like you, so be personable. Rather than say, “My book is about” say, “I wrote this book because of an interesting experience I had.” Tell them about yourself. Give them an interesting presentation about you—your book is only an extension of you. Make them want to know more about you, which in turn will lead them to wanting to purchase your book.

9. Give Them Something Tangible so They Remember You

Even if people don’t seem inclined to buy your book, be friendly. Hand them book-markers, offer them candy if you have some at your table, or at least a brochure. Few people will refuse to take such items if only to be polite. More importantly, they have something to bring home with them. Many will throw away your marketing pieces, but when they clean out their pockets or shopping bags, it will at least remind them one more time about your book.

10. Stay in Touch

The best way to stay in touch with your readers is to invite people to sign up for your email newsletter. Always have a signup sheet on your table, and don’t be afraid to ask people to sign up. That way, you can stay in touch with them in the future through monthly updates or just to let them know when you are doing a book signing or have a new book out. For the shy author, a newsletter will allow you to stay in touch with your audience without having to talk to them in person and you may be better at presenting yourself through writing in the newsletter than speaking to them. Plus, you’re building a relationship with those readers so they will keep coming back, and next time you do a book signing, people on your newsletter list will show up—ready to buy your book so you won’t have to work so hard at selling.

Follow my advice to overcome your shyness in meeting your public, and then follow it again and again. Do as many book signings and public speaking events as possible. The more you do, the more you will become comfortable being a public figure. Remember, people are already pre-programmed to like you just because you’re an author, a celebrity, so you have nothing to fear. You wouldn’t want to meet your favorite author, only to have him or her only say two words or ignore you completely, so make sure you give your potential readers an experience that will delight them and that they will long remember, simply by your being friendly.

Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books.

Networking and relationship building, like most good things, doesn’t happen instantly, it takes time. It must be developed in stages, nurtured, step-by-step, with patience, care and persistence. Relationship building starts the moment you see a target, even before you say a word or stick out your hand and say hello.

Never underestimate the impact of a first impression and how long it lasts. People long remember initial contacts and those impressions affect the manner in which they deal with you. So make a strong initial impression. Stand tall, smile, look directly at your target and offer your hand. Don’t try to bowl him/her over, just try to connect.

Don’t sell, build. Approach targets with the intention of getting to know them, building friendships and solid relationships. When you meet and get to know people, think what you can do for them and with whom you can match them. Can you give them leads or connect them with someone in your network?

Be selective in choosing your targets because you only have limited time and resources. Develop your instincts to hone in on targets with the best potential and avoid those who only want to take from you. These people have few good contacts and want entrée to your network partners.

Business expert Mitch Axelrod has developed a system that he calls “Rejection-Proof Networking.” The core of his system, which Mitch has refined over a 20-year period, is explained below.

NETWORKING NUGGET
In 1982, when Mitch was a financial planner, he wanted million dollar clients. So he developed a 5-step approach that he called “Take a Millionaire to Lunch.” Using this approach, he increased his income 600% in two years – from $16,000 in 1982 to $100,000 in 1984. From 1990 to 1995, he used his method again in a different business and increased his fees by 1000%. Mitch’s approach is:

1. List your 20 best centers of influence!
List the names of the 20 people you know who could help you most. Don’t pre-judge, pre-qualify or pre-determine if they will help you. Aim high! You can also make a second list of the wealthiest people you know.

2. Categorize each person as an A, B, or C resource.
A= Absolutely can help
B= Better than 50/50 chance
C= Can; maybe, but maybe not!

3. Send a letter to or call your A List. Ask them to meet you in person for 15 minutes.
Tell them, “I value your opinion. I trust you to tell me the truth. I’d like your advice, counsel and help.” Be genuine, sincere and really mean it! Don’t even think about trying to sell them anything. You want their advice and help. Period! Their help will be worth a small fortune to you.

4. When you meet them, explain What – Why – Who – How – Where.
What – you are doing and what your goals are. Be clear about what you want and where you want to go.
Why – you decided to do what you’re doing. Demonstrate your passion and commitment.
Who – you are looking to reach. Make a list of the type of people who would be in the best position to further your quest and give you access to their resources and relationships.
How – you want help. Describe the resources, relationships and results you are looking for. Be as detailed as you can.
Where – should I go next? Where can you send me to get what I’m looking for?

5. Now, ask one or all of these BIG questions:
“What would you do if you were me?”
“What advice would you give your best friend?”
“How would you handle this situation?”
“Who can I talk to – where should I go from here?”

Keep in mind that most people want to help. If you’re courageous and determined enough to ask, you will find the help you need. When people are approached to sign up for, or buy into something, they often get defensive and put up their guard. If they don’t buy the product or service, they may find it awkward to recommend it or the person who offered it. Their sales resistance will make it harder for them to be a networking resource for you.
When making a request of a contact, be direct and specific. State what you need clearly and descriptively. Be honest and up front about what you want and don’t be greedy. Be grateful for every effort made in your behalf.

Reprinted from “Rick Frishman’s Sunday Tips”
Subscribe at http://www.rickfrishman.com and receive Rick’s “Million Dollar Rolodex”

The more you know as an author, the more successful your book can be, and while you can read books and attend lectures about writing and publishing, the best and most enjoyable way to learn is from your friends. In the book world, networking, which is really just about making friends, will make you both a better writer and a better marketer of your books.

Many writers are shy, but when it comes to writing, publishing, and marketing your book, you have to think of that book as more like a child and be a nurturing, caring, and—when needed—assertive parent. That means, you have to find out what is best for your book, and you can do that by talking to other people in the publishing industry—learning from other parents of books.

You might start as early as when you are just thinking about writing a book to get advice from people, but definitely start when you have finished the book and it’s time to find a reliable editor, printer, distributor, or people who offer any other services you may require or want.

You won’t know unless you ask, and I’ve found that people in the publishing world are the nicest people imaginable, almost always willing to be helpful. Even in cases where you need to pay for services, you can find people who will go out of their way for you so you are provided with the best service and quality possible.

Join a Group

Start by joining a local writing or publishing group. If you look, I bet you will find one. Look online for groups in your city or state. Look in the newspaper. Ask at the library, bookstores, or the English department at the local college. A group probably already exists, but if not, start your own group. Put a notice in the newspaper that a group will meet. Hang up some posters around town, especially at bookstores, English departments, libraries, or coffeehouses where potential writers are most likely to see them. You may attract a bunch of amateurs, but you’ll probably find at least one person who has written and published a book. Soon you will all be learning from each other.

Online Groups

Even if you find a local group, don’t neglect finding an online group. Yahoo groups and MySpace have many writing groups and forums for starters, and many similar places exist. The book-publishing world is large, yet small, and the Internet is making it smaller. Simply by participating in an online group, you can meet people from all walks of the publishing industry, including writers, printers, publishers, editors, book reviewers, distributors, bookstore owners, and website designers. You’ll quickly find that people are only a couple of degrees of separation from each other, and if your friends are not their friends, they soon will be. The biggest names in the publishing or self-publishing industry probably know your friends’ friends, and many of them will be happy to help you if approached the right way.

Ask for Help

So you’re ready to publish your book. Now that you have all these friends, ask them what are the best ways to do it. Do you self-publish or look for an agent, use print-on-demand or offset printing? Depending on your book, one option may be better than another. Just because one author tells you something worked for him doesn’t mean it will work for you. Especially ask for help from authors who have written books similar to yours.

Don’t Expect Things for Free

No one likes a freeloader. Don’t expect someone who makes a living by reviewing books to read your book for free. Don’t expect a professional editor to edit the first three chapters of your book for free. Many people who provide services to authors may be willing to read a chapter of your book, or edit a few pages to help you out, but they also deserve to make a living. Don’t bombard a fellow author with requests for help. Be willing to help him in exchange. If you don’t know how to help, ask him what you can do to promote his book in exchange for his assistance. For example, exchange books with each other and post reviews on Amazon, or offer to print a testimonial from an author on your book listing his name and book cover to give him some publicity. A “You promote my book, I’ll promote your book” mentality can go a long way toward creating mutual success for author friends.

Ask for Referrals

Before you purchase any service, ask your friends for recommendations. If none of them have ever heard of X Printers, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use that company, but if three of your friends recommend Q Printers, then you are more likely to be in good hands using that printer. Let the printers, website designers, publicists or anyone else know that your friends recommended them, and after they do a good job for you, let them know you’ll recommend them to other authors—that way you’ve made friends because they want to do a good job so they keep getting repeat business.

Ask for References

Make sure if you are going to hire the services of individuals or companies, and your friends are not familiar with them, you ask for references. Then you can call the references, and besides getting information about the company you want to hire, you can tell the references about your book, and they might also give you other pointers you hadn’t thought of before. Call three references and make three new friends who might also spread the word about your book.

Make Friends Outside of the Publishing Box

Beyond your friends in the publishing world, many other people exist who can help you make your book a success. Make friends with the mailman, the people at the post office (you’ll be mailing lots of books), people in bookstores and gift shops (where you might sell your books), people in TV and radio, people who operate festivals and craft shows, and don’t forget your dentist, barber, hairdresser, optometrist (not only can these people tell a lot of people about your book, but they might let you leave a review copy in their waiting rooms or lobbies so all their clients will see your book). The garbage man might not seem like the best friend to have, but if he knows a few hundred people in your town and starts talking about your book, you might start wanting to buy him coffee.

Offer Help to Others

Once you get your book published and people start noticing, you’ll find a lot of people coming to you who want to write and publish themselves. You can tell these people you’re too busy to help them and send them off, or you can offer them your help and in a year or two, you may find they can help you, whether it’s sharing the cost of a booth at a book festival, or buying advertising together, or just sending other people your way. In time, you might branch out from being an author to being a consultant, editor, or book reviewer and growing your own business because a few people asked you for help. Trust me, I know many authors who ended up owning their own businesses as a result of helping out other authors and finding that their services would fill a need.

Will Rogers famously said, “I never met a man I didn’t like.” Treat everyone you meet with that kind of enthusiasm. Sure there’ll be a rotten egg along the way, but if you keep your energy up and are excited about your book and share that excitement with others, you will attract readers and friends. Not only will you end up having the best in the business help you to produce the best book possible, but you’ll also have a quality book to make you proud, and some wonderful people in your life who will support your

Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books.