Jul
National Networking: How to Meet and Greet Writers from All over the Country
Thanks to everyone who emailed me or left a comment or question here. You can still leave comments or questions on any post this week and be eligible to win the free critique from Editor 911 (www.margodill.com, click on Editor 911). I really appreciate Amy and Candace hosting me this week, and it has been a great experience. Now on to today’s topic. . .
There are two large writing groups that I belong to, and I plan to always belong to. They are Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI www.scbwi.org) and the Missouri Writers’ Guild (MWG www.missouriwritersguild.org). In this post today, I thought I would share with you why I joined a large group, how to network within the large groups, and some of the benefits. Even if you don’t live in Missouri, you can join the Missouri Writers’ Guild and be a full member. If you don’t write for children, there are several national writing groups for all sorts of genres—just do a Google search for romance writing groups or national writing groups or your genre, and see what you come up with. If you have a specific question about your genre or you belong to a national writing group, please leave us a comment below for other writers to see! Thanks!
Why did I join?
I joined SCBWI because I had learned that this was the organization to belong to if you wanted to write for children. I wanted to write for children, so I joined. Other writers told me that some editors and agents would accept queries and manuscripts from SCBWI members but not other writers. Joining the group showed that I was taking this writing journey seriously. When I joined SCBWI, I automatically joined my state chapter also for no extra cost. It is extremely helpful to belong to a group of writers who live in my region and who I can meet with throughout the year.
I joined MWG because several of the members of my critique group belonged, and they suggested I join once I met the membership requirements. I wanted to belong to this group because it showed that I was a published author and again, taking my writing seriously. For both of these groups, there are numerous benefits, which I will explain next. Most national/state/large writing groups have similar benefits, so be sure to check them out if these two groups do not fit your career goals.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of both of these groups are endless. I’ll start with SCBWI. One of the biggest benefits is their members’ only section of their website. I love this section because as a member, I can go to a pdf file and find the name of an editor to send my manuscript to. Some of the listings in this document will also tell me what the editor has previously worked on, so I can see if she would be a good match for my work. Another great benefit is belonging to the Illinois chapter. This chapter has a wonderful listserve, and every day, I am connected with children’s writers through email. This listerve provides publication opportunities, good news from other writers, questions, and announcements. It is a valuable tool I use on a weekly basis. SCBWI also provides several workshops and conferences each year, and if you are a member, you often get to register early AND at a cheaper rate.
With MWG, the benefits are also helpful to my writing career. They have a website where I can post my bio, speaker information, and my book when it gets published. I can write articles for the MWG website or post ones that have already been published, and then I can put my contact information with the article. The MWG also has a Google group where members can send publication opportunities and announcements. Like SCBWI, the MWG has chapters, and my chapter, Saturday Writers (www.saturdaywriters.org) has given me endless opportunities to hear writers, publishers, editors, and agents at their monthly meetings and workshops. MWG also has a yearly conference with wonderful speakers and chances to meet editors and agents. As a member, I can register early and at a cheaper price. Both groups also send a quarterly newsletter full of industry news, member news, markets, contests, and articles about the writing craft.
But how do you network in such a large group?
My answer to this is you have to get involved. In both of these groups, I have volunteered my time, and I am active. You have to attend the conferences and local workshops. You have to take advantage of the opportunities presented to you.
With SCBWI, I try to post on the listserve when I can. I don’t just sit back and read everything other people post. I also volunteered to write an article twice a year for their newsletter. I lead a critique group, made up mostly of members from SCBWI. I also attend the workshops and conferences when I can. While I am at these events, I talk to other members and the speakers. Even if you are shy, you have to come out of your shell and talk to at least one person at a conference. You never know where this contact could lead you. You can always start the conversation like this, “So, what are you working on?” or “So, what do you write?” Because I volunteer for things and lead a critique group, some people know my name even if they don’t know my face, so this starts conversations also.
With MWG, I took a much larger role—I became the president. When you are president of a large organization, you meet a lot of people in the group as well as meeting and talking to a lot of the speakers. If you have the time and opportunity to become an officer of a writing group, I do recommend it. I started as the 2nd VP, and now I am the past president. Although these offices took a lot of my time, I have made valuable contacts and learned new skills. I know how to put together a weekend-long writing conference and not go broke! I know how to write a grant, and I know how to contact speakers and negotiate contracts. I have had to write copy for the newsletter to fill-in blank spots and for the president’s message. You don’t have to be the president to get the benefit. But I know writing organizations always need volunteers. VOLUNTEER—this is the way to meet people and connect within the larger group.
I want to thank Amy and Candace again for hosting me. If anyone has questions on anything, please let me know. Again, my email is margodll@aol.com if you are having trouble posting. I will be happy to answer anything or just to hear about your experiences! Please share with all of us.
Happy Writing!
Margo
www.margodill.com
Margo,
Joining groups such as you suggest keeps you up-to-date on market trends, what your friends are writing, and it gives you a kick in the pants. I always come back from conferences and meetings motivated. And when I hear a speaker talking about successes, I think, “I could have done that.” Well, yeah. But only if I keep my butt planted on my chair and focus on what I’m supposed to be doing.
How do you balance your writing with all the other “stuff” it takes to be a writer, like trolling the internet for opportunities, doing the business-end of writing (submissions and such) and the research you need to write your articles?
July 18th, 2008 at 3:23 pmDear Margo:
I was reading your July 16th entry entitled “When Your Dream Comes True: Getting Your Book Published” on the Scribe’s Tribes site. What an inspirational story! Congratulations and best wishes!
I did have a few questions about joining various different societies such as the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, etc.
My questions are as follows:
1.) I see that to be a full member in many of these organizations you often have to be a published writer. Do you know: does being a published writer mean publishing articles in local magazines and newspapers or does it mean a writer must have a book published?
2.) Do the professional organizations you mention in your entry often publish lists of agents/publishers who are open to new/young writers?
Thank-you very much and I wish you the best of luck with your new book!
Regards,
Mary Windhorst
July 18th, 2008 at 7:46 pmFrom Margo:
Hi Tricia, thanks for your questions and comments. The way I balance the business-end with the actual writing is the same way that I do all the writing–I schedule the business-end like an appointment. I say something like, “Today, for one hour I am going to send out queries or research this market.” I do it for one hour, and then I quit. I guess I am pretty disciplined. I always have a plan, and I always have a list of what I want to accomplish. I don’t always finish the list, but I also really try to prioritize. I also move unfinished items to the next week’s list.
Mary,
Thank you also for posting some questions. Here are the answers.
1. Generally, being a published author for these organizations means publishing in magazines, anthologies, and/or online or your own book, of course. Sometimes, you need more than one magazine publication to become a full member–in the MWG, you need 3 magazine articles. But article publications usually count.
2. The SCBWI does print lists with agents and publishers. I am not sure about other groups, but this is a question you could ask before joining. Generally, there will be a contact person for these large writing groups. I would email this person and ask all the questions you have before you join.
If you have any more questions, please let me know!
Have a great weekend everyone!
July 19th, 2008 at 2:45 amMargo
Margo, again, I’m blown away by the amount of information you’ve provided for us. Obviously, from what you’ve told us, it takes time and comittment to be successful. Not to mention staying on top of the to-do list.
I have a question going back to getting your book published. I know this is your first (of many) so you can’t really compare . . . but how does it feel to be working with a smaller publisher vs. a big NY house? Do you feel like you are getting more attention and have more control than you might otherwise?
Again, I know you can’t really say because you haven’t done it the other way, but I’m just wondering what your sense of it is from talking to other writers and what you read on the loops or hear at conferences.
I’m sure there are pros and cons to each, but with your direct experience doing it the way you are, can you comment?
Thanks and cyber hugs and chocolate for spending all this time with us this week.
We owe you!
Candace
July 19th, 2008 at 2:58 amFrom Margo:
Candace,
I’m not sure. I feel like the smaller house considers my feelings and opinions more, perhaps, but they are busy and there are fewer employees, so sometimes I don’t feel like I get that much individual attention. I’ve just learned that if I feel worried or don’t understand something, I have to ask. Yes, the staff is busy, but they have taken the time to answer all my questions and help me with the process.
Hopefully, I will have something to compare it with in the future, and you will, too.
Thanks again for having me!
July 19th, 2008 at 11:13 pmMargo