{"id":2589,"date":"2021-12-08T10:07:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T16:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.draft2digital.com\/blog\/?p=2589"},"modified":"2021-12-08T10:11:18","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T16:11:18","slug":"zero-to-indie-author-how-to-network-with-other-authors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.draft2digital.com\/blog\/zero-to-indie-author-how-to-network-with-other-authors\/","title":{"rendered":"Zero to Indie Author: How to Network With Other Authors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

First, a disclaimer. I launched this series a few months ago with a bold declaration: I\u2019d write and publish my first book\u2014blogging about the process all the while\u2014in just 12 months. But in the months following the post on creating a daily writing habit<\/a> \u2026 Crickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficult as it is to admit my failings and keep plodding along in the face of public embarrassment, my hope is that continuing the series (on a slightly adjusted timeline) will be inspirational in its own way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, we\u2019re people first, writers second. People fall prey to errant plans and countless flaws. Life (or our own brain) gets in the way, and our writing projects\u2014often the most important but least urgent items on our to-do list\u2014take a backseat. Without externally imposed deadlines, we often fail to keep the agreements we\u2019ve made with ourselves. (Or, at least, I do.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When that happens, all we can do is pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and keep doing the work. That\u2019s what Steven Pressfield<\/a> says, anyway, and I\u2019m inclined to believe him. Stay tuned for a post later this month about what we can learn from these \u201coff the wagon\u201d moments in our writing, when we aren\u2019t so much \u201cblocked\u201d as wholly derailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, we\u2019re deep into author conference season, which is the perfect time to explore the theme of Networking for our first post \u201cback\u201d in the Zero to Indie Author series.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Networking has gotten a bad rap over the years, which is a shame. It isn\u2019t about exploitation\u2014it\u2019s about learning. The purpose is to exchange information and develop mutually beneficial relationships. Many authors, including D2D\u2019s own Kevin Tumlinson and Nick Thacker, met their indie author besties by networking. It might just happen that way for you, too.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that spirit, here are the best in-person and online spots to develop your indie author network.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In-person networking for indie authors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Author Conferences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Author conferences are quite possibly the best place to network\u2014in real life, anyway. The internet offers quantity, but the contacts you make at an author conference are all about quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their recent <\/strong>discussion about author conferences<\/strong><\/a>, our resident experts unanimously agreed that the topmost benefit of attending an author conference isn\u2019t the information gained in lectures. It\u2019s networking. <\/strong>Networking is so valuable that Nick Thacker recommends posting up at the venue bar if you can\u2019t score a conference ticket. Some of the best interactions take place when the lectures are over and happy hour has begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Networking is a bit trickier as a virtual attendee, but not impossible. If joining a conference online is your only option, take advantage of any online networking opportunities available. Meeting just a few people is far better than meeting none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a list of upcoming conferences you may want to attend. Some are in-person only, but many offer hybrid online options.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n