Networking: Utilizing an Unknown Resource

By Regina Allen

Last year, I read a networking article in the e-zine Administrative Professionals (http://www.adminprof.com) that focused on networking. The article suggested staying in contact with mentors, past business associates, and colleagues. After reading the article, I realized this principle applies to writers as well. Writers should stay in contact with their mentors, peers, and people in the publishing industry like editors and agents. However, there is one overlooked area that writers should explore: book dealers.

Get friendly with book dealers at conferences. The reason is if you have a book then you can alert them and they could try to carry your book at the next conference they’ll attend. This is free advertising and, if the book dealer does carry your book at a conference, mention the bookdealer to your mentors, peers and friends. This relationship benefits both of you. For instance, if a bookdealer wanted to get an audience with a well-known author who happens to be your mentor and friend, you could be the liaison for the bookdealer.

At conferences, take time to catch up with friends and mentors but also take the time to speak to book dealers. They are an invaluable network resource.

Regina is a fiction writer who lives in Exeter, Rhode Island with her cat named Isis. She is collaborating with author, Joel S. Ross (http://www.joelross.net) on a medical thriller. You can meet Joel Ross at the World Horror Convention April 7-10, 2005 in New York City.

As always, conferences, workshops and retreats are featured in The Writer and Poets & Writers. Also, Shaw Guides (http://writing.shawguides.com) has an exhaustive list of conferences and workshops.

Here is a potpourri of conferences, festivals, workshops, and more:

National

The Alaskan Cruise
For Writer and Booklovers
May 28-June 4, 2005
Programs include Fiction Clinic, Screenwriting, and the Booklovers Program
For information contact:
Maui Writers Conference, Post Office Box 1118, Kihei, HI 96753
Toll free telephone: (888) 974-8373
Telephone: (808) 879-6233
Email: Writers@mauiwriters.com
Website: http://www.mauiwriters.com

Romance Writers of America (RWA) Annual Conference
July 27-30, 2005, Reno, Nevada
Includes author autographs and workshops. For more information contact:
Roman Writers of America, 16000 Stuebner Airline, Suite 140, Spring, TX
77379.
Telephone: (832) 717-5200
Website: http://www.rwanational. org
Email: info@rwanational.org

Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Workshop
June 12-July 22, 2005, East Lansing, Michigan
Intensive training in science fiction and fantasy writing. For more
information contact: Clarion Workshop 2005, 112 Olds Hall, Michigan state
University, East Lansing, MI 48824.
Telephone: (517) 355-9598
Website: http://www.msu.edu/~clarion
Email: clarion@msu.edu

Cave Canem Spring 2004 Prize Reading
April 22-23, 2005, Poets House, New York, New York
Admission is free. Prize winner Amber Flora Thomas will read from her work
Eye of Water. For more information, visit their website at
http://www.cavecanempoets.org
Telephone: (212) 941-5720

The Sixth Annual Freshwater Poetry Festival
May 6-7, 2005
Asnuntuck community College, Enfield, Connecticut
Includes workshops, readings and book signings by Robert Cording, Pit
Pinegar, and Gray Jacobik.
For more information visit their website:
http://www.acc.commnet.edu/freshwatr.htm
Email: etrentham@ac.commnet.edu

International

A Poetry Workshop in Ireland
County Galway, Ireland
July 23-30, 2005
The poetry workshop is held at Cnoc Suain with poet and teacher, Eva Burke.
For more information call 00-353-91-55703 or visit their website
at http://www.CnocSuain.com

Aegean Arts
Andros Island, Greece
June 27-July 7 and July 11-July 21, 2005
The workshops will focus on writing, editing, structure and rewriting
Reservations: A $500 deposit, along with the application, is required.
Deposit is
refundable until May 20, 2005. Refund requests will not be accepted after May 20,
the application deadline.
For more information visit their website at http://www.aegeanartscircle.com
Accepts personal checks and international money orders. Please make checks out to Amalie Melis, 6 Cambria Road, Syosset, NY 11791
Email: info@aegeancirclearts.com and request registration form