An Essential Guide to Networking For Writers

Get in on the real juice, before its too late

Writing is a lonely job. If you are writing as a side-hustle or full-time, the only interaction you have is with your laptop. What makes networking with fellow writers easier is also that it only requires a few clicks.

The word networking can make many of you slightly uncomfortable, and that’s what I felt too because I’m always the person in the corner during a party. It’s awkward to talk to new people. And in the writing community, there are so many of us that the feeling of not feeling good enough is common.

I once messaged an editor on LinkedIn complementing something, but I thought I’d look like somebody who just wants to suck up to get their piece published. Get rid of these negative thoughts.

Networking doesn’t always need to be uncomfortable. It also doesn’t need to be very active; it’s okay to step out of your cocoon one step at a time. I realized the importance of networking when it opened the door to opportunities and growth that I otherwise couldn’t tap into.

Here is why you should network with fellow writers.

The feeling of a tribe is incredibly warm

I know a small set of people who read everything I write and make sure they like/clap and comment. Me and them — both gain nothing out of it, no money or popularity. I don’t do the same for all of them, but there’s a set of writers whose work I adore and do the same for.

It feels so warm when you have people rooting for you.

Many celebrate your small win, and a setback also leads to several people lifting you up. They gain nothing from doing this but do it out of their own will. Serious writers want other writers to succeed. We want to lift the fellow who fails because we know their desire and potential. It’s a super encouraging community!

Serious writers want other serious writers to succeed.

You open the door to opportunities

I got a freelance gig because I interacted with a writer by replying to their newsletter and later via LinkedIn. I had no intention in mind, nor did they have a boutique agency back then. I was being honest; I provided feedback for their newsletter and recommended some things I’d like to see as a reader.

I will also need help with a gig I am currently working on. By regularly interacting with a few writers daily, I know their writing voice. It will be easy for me to choose, and my necessity can be somebody else’s opportunity.

“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.” — Steve Jobs

You don’t have to network for the sole purpose of getting a gig. Be honest with people; we all know when somebody sucks up to us (just imagine me complementing your hair right now when I do not know what you look like).

We’re all human and need help. Sometimes we will pay people to help us because they add value. And it’s just not writing gigs, but also knowing about events or tools which could benefit you and which you may not know about.

Speak to people who you feel you’ll vibe with; it can take you to good places.

Your writing will improve, you won’t even realize it

When we have a conversation and exchange perspectives, our thinking horizons widen. We don’t even realize it. Think of something cool you told somebody recently, which you learned in a book, podcast, or by an experience — it just happens. This also affects your writing, but you won’t explicitly know it.

All writers function differently. I have a friend who will constantly check his stats, whereas I never check my stats. I don’t see a point in it, but it helps my friend improve by seeing how his audience reacts to various posts.

Discussing your writing habits, success metrics, perspectives, all leads to growth in your writing because you learn something new.

It’s also a common practice to ask your fellow writers for feedback on your work. They can help you find mistakes that you overlooked (happens when you work on your piece for hours) and often pass their opinions to improve your piece.

Serious writers like to lift other serious writers because they know how important writing is to them.

There is a lot of kindness in the otherwise evil virtual world

I deleted my Instagram account with 11,000+ followers because of the negativity which surrounds it. While most people found my content valuable because it was about health and travel, there was a lot of jealousy around. I, too, would criticize some accounts for no reason. Negativity is a vicious cycle. Once it gets to you, you act it without realizing it.

When you become a part of a tribe, it’s a place of like-minded people. You all want to learn, grow, become better at your craft, and of course, be successful. We all have different journeys, and this isn’t a 9–5 job we force ourselves into because of our conditions. We do it out of our will, and uncovering this journey by paving our own path is a beautiful experience.

The above points require a lot of time, effort, and good-will by people. Nobody’s getting paid for it; it’s out of kindness. Yes, it exists. Your vibe attracts your tribe.

Now that you’re ready, how can you start?

The most important thing is that you network because you want to and not because you have to, don’t attach a benefit to it. Doing things from your heart is not just more fulfilling but will bring out more value.

You can start with the following actions.

Interact

Comment on pieces that resonate with you. Not just an ‘I enjoyed reading this’ comment, but why did it resonate? Is there something you can add? Do you have a personal experience you can relate it to? What I usually think before commenting is, if an article made me go in complete awe, what can I write to make the writer feel how I felt?

Support

Like and promote, but only if you like the pieces. Spamming by sharing pieces doesn’t help. If you genuinely like something, share it on social media. Most of the people with who I’ve exchanged numbers and regularly reach for help and advice are the ones with who I interacted for months.

When you support others, they’re also likely to support you! If there’s an article which you need help with that also falls in their niche, you’ll get help by running it through them first. This is just one of the many ways you will learn from each other.

Connect

Add the writers you admire on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social media apps you’re both active in. This way, you’ll follow their updates and be in touch. After you’ve interacted and supported writers, they recognize you. There’s a writer whose stories I used to love and commend on, and after a few months, he left me a private note about connecting on email and exchanging views. At another time, I asked a writer on LinkedIn if we could connect on WhatsApp and follow our monthly writing goal together. Once you’re visible to an author, it’s easy to build a relationship.

Networking is a great way to meet writers across the globe and improve your craft and skill. The feeling of having a tribe is incredibly warm, and it helps you open doors to opportunities. You can start by interacting, supporting, and connecting with fellow writers. Do this by leaving comments, sharing what you enjoyed, and adding the writers you admire on social media platforms so you can stay updated with their work.

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