NB: I’ve seen my fair share of posts about how introverts and authors have been preparing for social isolation all our lives. After this is over, whether thirty days or four months from now, these are tips that you can use if a networking event, a conference, an in-person coffee, or another extrovert-biased networking opportunity just isn’t your cuppa. Go forth and conquer!

Over the past week, since much of the world has moved to self-isolation and social distancing in hopes of mitigating the spread of coronavirus, I’ve seen inspiring folks network and promote their books on social media. Agents and editors have held informational interviews with graduating college students who want to know more about book publishing over Skype. Other professionals have answered questions on Twitter under the hashtag #AskEditor. And everyone from children’s book authors to writers of coding manuals are hosting readings, Q&As, and lunchtime doodle sessions on Zoom. I’ve even seen a few digital conventions being promoted, like this listicle called “AWP Virtual Book Fair” that Entropy Magazine shared and like #VirtualJaneCon for you Austen fans out there!

So, that’s great for them, but what about you?

 How can you keep moving your writing career forward when the vast majority of us are practicing social distancing and a coffee date is out of the question? Well, aside from the obvious (keep doing the work of writing!), the brunt of your networking in the age of COVID-19 will be through recorded and live video platforms, via email, or over the phone.

Related Articles:

• “The Introvert’s Guide to Networking.” Jessica Hatch. Babes Who Hustle.

• ONLINE COURSE: Writing, Editing & Publishing Your Novel from Square One to “The End”

With email and phone calls, be patient, not pushy.

A lot of people aren’t focused on entertaining requests from those they don’t know these days. Many are getting used to working from home, and others are stressed out due to any number of reasons, including the incessant amounts of information and misinformation pumped out on social media.

With this in mind, be compassionate in your emails, calls, and follow-ups, especially if you don’t have a direct connection to the recipient of your networking request. I typically follow up on an initial pitch three days after I first called or emailed, but I broke my own rule on Monday. A bunch of caca hit the fan in the States over the weekend, so I decided not to check in right away on a conversation about a guest post I’m providing to Writer’s Digest.

We’re midweek now and most of us have settled into our newest normal, so you’re probably fine to gently push at this point. That said, if something happens in the news cycle that incites mass panic (e.g., the stock market crashes, they shut down any interstate borders), take a day or two to check in instead of flooding what is likely an already flooded inbox.

With video, be of value.

As much as you might want to network with those who can benefit your growth as a writer, perhaps this is your opportunity to supply writing knowledge to those on a beginner or intermediate level below yours. If you’re a published author, perhaps you can reach out to your readers and make them feel less alone.  

First, though, you’ll need to figure out what’s of interest to your readers and/or potential students. To figure out what may be of the greatest value to your audience, you can do two things: 

1.) Go ahead and ask them! If you have an author page or website, ask your audience what would help distract them from any social-distancing cabin fever they might be experiencing. Assess which ideas you get most excited about and make plans to move forward.

2.) Think about the thing you miss most about your pre-pandemic writing life. Is it your weekly writing group? Why not coordinate a group video chat to take its place for now? Or, if you taught an in-person workshop or lecture, why not put together a video-based course and see if you can’t post free (and upgraded paid) versions of it to YouTube, Teachable, or the like?

*On the note of paid versions, content creators are behaving admirably when it comes to serving all interested audience members these days, including those who may be on a tight budget since they’ve been sent home without pay. For instance, Quarantine Book Club charges $5 for its Zoom sessions, but also has a coupon code that’s used on an honor system for anyone who can’t afford to pay.

However you decide to network and better your writing career, I hope that above all, you’ll stay safe, stay healthy, and be kind to yourself. If you need a minute not to network, if you find yourself unable to write, whatever is going on, accept your reaction to it. This is a new situation for many of us, and there is no shame in having a human response.

Sending love and light,
Jessica