Where to Start Networking
Jackie Hosking
Networking. Now what exactly do I mean by the word 'networking'? I
looked it up in the dictionary, because I like to be
accurate, and to my surprise found that firstly, the verb
'to network' did not exist at all and that secondly, the
noun 'network' could only be found as part of the word
'net'. Mind you I did use a 1983 version, however it read -
Net ~work (n) arrangement with intersecting
lines and interstices recalling those of net, complex system
of railways, rivers, canals etc., chain of interconnected
persons or operations or electrical conductors, group of
broadcasting stations connected for simultaneous broadcast
of same programme.
'Chain of interconnected persons' is about as close
as we're going to get so let's start from there. The first
writers that I came into contact with, I met at my local
Community House. John Bartlett, a freelance writer, was
running a course in creative writing for beginners. That
course, and those people were the first links in my chain.
I joined my local writers group and subscribed to their
newsletter where I learned about local writing events,
workshops (many of them free to members), competitions and
other writing opportunities.
I joined my state's Writers' Centre and was introduced to an
even richer writers' community.
Three years later I find myself at a Children's Writers'
Forum organised by a writer that I met through a Yahoo!
Group - remember them?
(see
http://www.writing4successclub.com/jackiehosking1.htm
to jog your memory)
Meredith Costain was one of the guest speakers at the Forum.
Meredith is a full-time children's writer who writes both
trade and educational books. She is also an editor (and
literary editor) for the Victorian school magazines.
The first thing that Meredith did, at the beginning of her
extremely informative session, was to write on the board, in
big bold letters, the words NETWORKING. I smiled and nodded
and had to refrain from jumping up and down and clapping my
hands with glee. Here was a highly successful author
confirming that I was on the right track - what a relief.
All those lunches and emails and friendships, were not only
enjoyable and wonderful, but they were also adding links to
my chain.
So even though the definition that I found in my
twenty-year-old version of The Concise Oxford Dictionary is
not the most up to date, it still enables us to understand
the concept. A chain without links is, well, broken.
If you haven't done so already, I urge you to reach out and
touch someone. Start your chain of connections today. Get on
the InterNET (isn't language clever). Surf the WEB and find
support - it's everywhere.
I spent some time, the other day, searching for places to
start you off and here's what I found.
And of course if you aspire to be a children's writer
then you can't go past PASS IT ON (free every Monday until
July 2005. After that there will be a small subscription
fee). For back issues visit
www.jackiehosking.com
Until next time, happy hunting.
Your writing buddy,
Jackie
© copyright Jackie
Hosking
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