Networking in the Writing Industry

I've started getting into more networking as a writer, and I wanted to share a little bit of my experience so far. I recently was fortunate enough to get to sit in a writer's group meeting, and I got the chance to network with published authors who are a part of that group. I got to exchange ideas and talk about my passion with people who have the same one. It was unlike anything I'd experienced before. I found myself in a room full of experienced writers with so much knowledge to give. I tried to take advantage of the opportunity and ask them what their processes are like and what publishing is like. I asked them if self-publishing or traditional is the better route. It was so refreshing to get to hear so many different takes and perspectives on it all.

I went to a second meeting and I decided that I'm going to sign up to be a member. They always have a webinar or a lecture for every meeting, and it's always something about writing. The meeting I just went to had a lecture on how to create diverse characters. I found it so incredibly interesting, and it was exactly what I needed to hear, as I'm in the middle of writing a dystopian that uses diversity. It allowed me to self-critique myself on my approach and if I'm going about it the right way.

The speaker, Annabeth Albert, gave me so many things to think about that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. She phrased incorporating diversity as a way of reflecting the world around you and the world you wish to see. I personally loved that because of the futurism of writing "what you wish to see." It's not about just focusing on the tragedies and inequalities of the past and present but it's also about envisioning a future of moving past those things. For me, it's a future where everyone treats each other with respect and is accepting of all people.

She brought up a lot of good points:

1. Read and amplify by reading outside your genre and seeking out media from diverse voices

2. Ask yourself: What stories are YOU best positioned to tell?

3. Diverse characters start with diverse backstories.

4. Dig deep for well-rounded characters with multi-layered backstories and complex, realistic lives. Break stereotypes!

5. Ask yourself who is this character?, What does this character value?, and What motivates the character?

6. Center the character!

7. Know limitations!

One of the authors attending also asked Annabeth about how to specifically describe diverse characters in the right way, and her response was subtly. An example she gave is writing that a character in wheelchair "zoomed past others" rather than "someone picked something up for him." The latter is ableism. It's about showing personality beyond diversity.

Annabeth echoed a lot of the things I've been learning recently but also gave me a lot more to think about as well.

At the writing meeting, they also passed out details for a Writer's Conference and, though expensive, I decided that I'm going to go. It's a great networking and learning opportunity.

Right now, I feel like I'm in that learning process of trying to learn all that I can and apply it to my writing. Of course I will always be revising and writing, but there's more to it. I feel like I'm getting more into the networking side which I love.

I'm excited to see what comes from it. Chicago Spring Fling here I come!