Why you shouldn’t worry if networking makes you timid

by Fiona on January 30, 2010

Oh no, not the N-word…

See, it's easy!

Do I have to join in?

Book launches, industry events, writers’ conferences and festivals. There are all sorts of opportunities for the emerging writer to engage in that most dreaded of marketing activities. Yes, networking. In an ideal world all writers would be allowed to stay on the sidelines, doing that writerly thing of observing, analysing, noting down all the fascinating quirks of people behaviour. OMG, she’s stuffing the prawn vol au vents into her handbag! If only.

Can’t I just stay home instead?

wildgarden

Plant a little seed...

No, and I’ll tell you why. You know those packets of mixed seeds you can buy for cultivating a wild flower patch? The idea is you sprinkle them on the soil and in a few months you have a riot of beautiful varieties of poppies, marigolds, love-in-a-mist. Networking is like chucking a handful of seeds into the earth. You never quite know what seeds are going to make it, or when, but you can bet if you’ve sown enough seeds then some amazing opportunities will spring up, almost magically.

If like me you’re an introvert by nature – as many writers are – then don’t let those feelings of terror and timidness put you off networking events. Believe me, shyness is fine. In fact shyness seems endearingly sweet and quite cute compared to some of the behaviour I’ve encountered at networking occasions over the years.

My top 4 networking turn-offs

#1 Rudeness By this I mean those people who always look slightly past the side of your head when they’re talking to you, as though there might be someone of far greater interest/importance/influence on the other side of the room.

#2 Drunkeness and other immaturity Call me a control freak who likes to be in control of her faculties, but just because the wine is free doesn’t mean you have to get blind drunk. I was at an awards ceremony once where an industry colleague lurched towards me in a very drunken state and (accidentally I believe) tipped his glass of red wine all down my blouse. And then tried to dab at the stain with a napkin! Cool, huh?

#3 Insensitivity to the body language of groups. It’s usually obvious when pairs or groups of people are deep in conversation and don’t want to be interrupted. All the non-verbal clues are there: the speakers will be facing each other and forming a exclusively tight or ‘closed’ group, unlike an ‘open’ group where the speakers are standing side-by-side, facing slightly outwards. The open group is more amenable to being approached; the closed group will be severely irritated if anyone gatecrashes their private conversation, believe me. [For more reading on how to identify different groups then check out Andy Bounds' brilliant business communication book, The Jelly Effect.]

#4 General crassness/trying too hard. What’s really toe-curling is when complete strangers are clearly in sales mode. You’ve barely said hello when they’ve launched into the 10-second pitch of their book. Actually I’ve just come to enjoy myself, so show me you’re a human being not a robot. Tempt me first with some general conversation, crack a joke, even flirt a little. (Maybe scrub that last point but just, you know, chill out a bit.) And chances are I’ll be very interested to hear about your book.

Having read all that, aren’t you glad it’s only shyness you have to worry about?

What about you? Do you love networking events? Or are they your idea of hell? What have been your best, worst or funniest experiences? I’m dying to know.

Fiona Joseph

{ 4 comments }

Are you a writer of ‘day’ or ‘night’ books?

by Fiona on January 14, 2010

The other day I came across an article in the winter edition of The Author, the trade journal for members of the Society of Authors. As always, their magazine is full of useful stuff for writers, but one particular feature stood out, and it’s been niggling away at me ever since.

Bonnie Greer

Bonnie Greer

In the article, ‘Something of the Night’, the multi-talented writer and critic Bonnie Greer writes about her realisation that there are two kinds of books: ‘day’ books and ‘night’ books. (Greer is a playwright, novelist, writer of memoir and poetry, as well as a regular panelist on BBC2’s Newsnight Review, where you can bet she always has something interesting and relevant to say.)

‘Day’ or ‘Night’ writing – what’s the difference?

Okay, let me clarify that the terms ‘day’ and ‘night’ have nothing to do with the time of day that you do most of your writing. It matters not whether you’re a night-owl writer, or if you’re up with the lark, or (like me) a bit of a ‘grabber-inbetween’ of any scribbling opportunity, day or night.

Rather, the mark of a ‘night’ book, Greer argues, is that it’s driven by a ‘daemon’, or at the very least a form of interiority where:

“…the reader is a kind of intruder. This isn’t to say that the reader is ignored, not wanted, discouraged; just that there is something private happening, something that the reader herself cannot understand and is learning … as she writes.” p134

I liked this. It made sense instantly. To illustrate her point, Greer compares Oscar Wilde’s children’s stories (his ‘day’ books) with The Picture of Dorian Grey (the ‘night’ book). And Robert Louis Stephenson’s Treasure Island (his ‘day’ book) with Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, (a ‘night’ book if ever there was one).

I get your drift Ms Greer

day or night?

day or night?

In my own mind, I see ‘day’ books as safer, more commercial, written to please readers. They’re good little children – they sit still in church, eat their greens without a fuss. People love them because they do what’s expected.

Whereas ‘night’ books are bolder, liable to controversy, less controllable. They dig their heels in, refuse to get up off the supermarket floor. Other people look on with disdain. But you love them just as much, in spite of the runaround they give you. And maybe that makes the personal rewards of writing the ‘night’ book so much sweeter.

I’m not sure yet. I’m still thinking about it. Maybe the trick is to do both kinds of writing, like the versatile Ms. Greer.

So how about you? How far does this distinction between ‘day’ and ‘night’ books make sense for you as a writer? I’d love to hear your thoughts on your past and present writing projects.

Fiona Joseph

{ 7 comments }

Interview with Vanessa Gebbie on ‘Short Circuit’ and short story writing

December 14, 2009

When I heard earlier this year about a forthcoming book from Salt Publishing on the short story I was so excited, not to mention a bit impatient for its publication! My copy of ‘Short Circuit: A Guide to the Art of the Short Story’ arrived last month and, honestly, the wait was well worth it. [...]

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Building an author website, Part 2: putting your assets together

December 6, 2009

So, you’re an emerging writer and it’s time you launched yourself into cyberspace? That’s great. I’m going to share with you some steps to getting started with a simple website that you can build yourself on a modest non-existent budget. Just one thing though, and sorry to be a nag, but you did do your [...]

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Writer’s block: do you need some tough love?

November 19, 2009

In a recent post I wrote about the relationship between creativity and productivity, niftily summed up by my formula, the more you write the more you write. But what happens when the well of creativity suddenly dries up? How much sympathy can you expect from writing professionals? Not much as it happens.
Writer’s block – yeah, [...]

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Going back to school: writers-as-volunteers

November 4, 2009

SATS smother children’s creativity!
Writing standards tumble for under 7’s!
GCSE examiners shocked by txting slang!

We’ve all seen the headlines. (In fact, I’m amazed that armies of creative writers aren’t already storming the school gates to rescue our poor children from the tyranny of the National Curriculum.) But seriously, sometimes in life you get an urge to [...]

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It’s the moment of truth: when your character has an epiphany

October 16, 2009

Gosh, how tough is it to write a good short story ending? Surely it ain’t just me who finds this. A loose thesis goes like this. If a plot-driven story requires a twist or surprise ending, then the character-driven story often, though not always, leads to a moment of truth for the hero. But how [...]

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Writeboard: an editing tool for creative writers

October 4, 2009

A couple of years ago I surprised myself by having the urge to write a poem. Yes, I actually sat down and wrote a poem! Now you might believe that poetry should be composed on sheets of handcrafted paper bound up in a leather notebook, preferably whilst sitting in a gentle breeze in the park [...]

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Building an author website, Part 1: gathering your assets

September 24, 2009

Do I really need to have a website?
I don’t know, but my guess is that if you’re asking the question then perhaps the answer’s yes – especially if you’re at the stage of wanting to achieve the following aims:

building your credibility as a potential author with agents, editors and likely readers, and
connecting with like-minded [...]

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It’s no good asking Ruth Rendell

September 15, 2009

Is Ruth Rendell, aka Barbara Vine, the most prolific writer ever? Her output is truly phenomenal: 21 Chief Inspector Wexford novels, 26 ‘non-Wexfords’ and 13 Barbara Vines, as well as 6 short story collections and a few non-fiction titles. And it’s quality stuff too. I just can’t get enough of her compellingly twisty storylines (A [...]

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How do I love my NEO? Let me count the ways.

August 16, 2009

The Alphasmart Neo is a mini-word processor that looks like it comes straight from the ’80s but don’t be fooled as this is one of the most useful pieces of kit for a writer to own. Why do I love it so much? Read on and you’ll see why.
Speed
Switch on the NEO and you’re ready [...]

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I need a hero. I’m holding out for a hero on a Tuesday night.

August 25, 2009

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. It’s Tuesday 8pm and the latest episode of Holby City is about to start on BBC1. (What’s that face for? Too lowbrow for you? Try it; you might like it. And it won a BAFTA two years ago.) Bear with me anyway because I’m using my favourite [...]

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Why I’m glad to be part of the union

September 5, 2009

The county of Dorset, England, has to be one of the best holiday destinations for the aspiring writer. Think Dorchester and the Thomas Hardy trail, John Fowles’ Lyme Regis, not to mention Bridport, home of the coveted short story and poetry prize. Much as I enjoyed all of these places last week, it was a [...]

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