Comments on This Too...: On Networking, Attending the SCBWI Winter Conferen...

I really hate small talk, but I genuinely love mee...

2012-01-23T21:32:09.148-05:00

I really hate small talk, but I genuinely love meeting other people who are excited about writing for kids. I have found that the meeting and greeting at SCBWI events feels so much more sincere than "networking" at other events. It's not fake and schmoozy, it's a bunch of excited and nice people who are happy to be there and meet each other.

I hope you have a great time! I go to the summer conference every year and I love it.

I'm really uncomfortable being in a situation ...

2012-01-23T18:37:21.734-05:00

I'm really uncomfortable being in a situation where I'm supposed to be "networking" with people I don't know. It's not so bad if you're all at least sharing a common interest (like a writing conference), but in my day job I've been thrown into things that are basically like a "mixer" where people from a lot of different professions are thrown together to network.

It's ghastly.

I think it's good to attend those things with a buddy so you have someone to help you brave the lions den!

I'm with you aguja. I would make the worst sal...

2012-01-23T14:33:39.822-05:00

I'm with you aguja. I would make the worst sales person. I both welcome and dread the day I have a book to promote. Perhaps I shall move to Spain (Have I told you, I am travelling to Northern Spain in May?)

I feel quite the same about "networking."...

2012-01-23T13:53:27.568-05:00

I feel quite the same about "networking." I hate to shmooze...but your approach is a good one. Enjoy meeting new people who have the same goal as you. Please take notes and post :)

I'm not a comfortable networker either...I don...

2012-01-23T12:52:02.510-05:00

I'm not a comfortable networker either...I don't mind small talk, etc, but I feel like I suck at any interaction that isn't agenda-free, on my part at least. I don't mind other people's agendas, though that doesn't mean I buy into them either.

Have fun at the conference! Wish I could go.

I wish I were going, but it's a little too nor...

2012-01-23T12:52:00.928-05:00

I wish I were going, but it's a little too north for me. I've enjoyed meeting the other authors at conferences. You should enjoy yourself.

I've never been to a conference, but I've ...

2012-01-23T12:46:23.801-05:00

I've never been to a conference, but I've made up my mind to attend one or two when my book comes out next year. Me -- I'm a social wallflower, standing in the background, not knowing how to enter a conversation and not feel like an interrupting buffoon. It's a bad habit I've got to kick, being too shy to converse with strangers. Conferences seem like a good way to go about it.

Hope all goes well for you, Melissa, and that you ...

2012-01-23T11:53:22.995-05:00

Hope all goes well for you, Melissa, and that you enjoy the occasion.

My thoughts ... echo your own. I am not that sort of person and prefer to know where I stand with someone. I could never have been a sales person in business, unless I was promoting something in which I truly believed ... and then I would add that the person did not need to order or sunscribe or whatever, if he/she did not want to. I find it hard to promote my books as well.

My next thought is that if you are just yourself that people will respond to your personality ... and you can just listen politely to those who are talking 'crap'.

The Spanish are a very direct people - and I like that about them, which is part of why I enjoy living here.

I attended my first conference last year, and I lo...

2012-01-23T11:49:20.582-05:00

I attended my first conference last year, and I loved it! I think the key to really networking well is to sincerely be interesting in people. I'm with you, it can feel false if you feel like people are only interested in you for what you can do for them. I hate that!

Cassie, you crack me up! Brevity is not my strong ...

2012-01-23T11:34:47.046-05:00

Cassie, you crack me up! Brevity is not my strong suit either, I may not survive as well as I thought...

Oooh, I hope you enjoy the one in Chicago. And I l...

2012-01-23T11:31:55.420-05:00

Oooh, I hope you enjoy the one in Chicago. And I love this story. I can't wait to attend this one and meet some new folks.

Lol, when I read Hot Pot, you had me worried for a...

2012-01-23T11:13:30.094-05:00

Lol, when I read Hot Pot, you had me worried for a minute! I'm like, you don't eat pot, you'll die!!! Haha.

And I like this culture. Sounds a lot like cave woman. Direct. But I don't think I'd survive. I usually say about twenty words instead of three, lol.

Not attending that conference, but going to a loca...

2012-01-23T11:04:36.929-05:00

Not attending that conference, but going to a local Chicago one in the spring.

I attended a young adult books conference last year that was mostly for educators and librarians, and that was really cool just to be in the room with so many people excited about kids books. It was open to anyone, but everyone I met asked me which library I worked for or what grade I represented. Nope, just a fan and an aspiring writer! One woman must not have heard the "aspiring" part and looked around the book table and asked, "So what have you written?" I told her I wasn't published and she looked confused. Oh well! I made some other friends there who I've since seen at book signings in the area and we chat on twitter.