Networking is crucial if you want to make it in the world of freelance writing.
Even high-profile authors like Neil Gaiman and Stephen King had to build their professional networks in their early years and still regularly attend talks and conferences with similar peers like Sussana Clarke and Margaret Atwood.
You do not have to be a bestseller to benefit from networking, either.
Simply attending local writers’ meet-ups and freelancing conferences can put you in touch with like-minded professionals and help expand your network.
If you want to make the most of networking, you will need to follow up online.
Connecting with folks on LinkedIn is a great way to boost your credibility, and sharing one another’s work on Instagram or Facebook is sure to bolster your reach and engagement.
Benefits of Writing Communities
Most people think of writing as a solitary activity.
After all, you will spend most of your workday alone at the keyboard crafting sentences and revising your prose. However, in reality, freelance writing is all about creating connections with others.
Finding connections with your local writing community is key, as an effective support system can help you get out of a creative rut and help you find work when your clients dry up.
Other benefits of joining a writing community include:
- Workshops and writing events can hone your skills and help you learn more about tricky concepts like dangling modifiers or faulty parallelism.
- Finding peers who share your interests can lead to collaborative opportunities that may help you land work in the future.
- Signing up for networking events can help you stay motivated and disciplined — particularly if you are supposed to share work at the upcoming event.
- Some networking opportunities, like contests, come with cash prizes that can help you fund research trips and increase your exposure in the writing world.
Networking can put you in touch with more experienced peers who may become mentors in the weeks and months to come, too.
This can help you create a career plan that sparks a period of growth and helps you achieve your professional aspirations. Working with a writer mentor can help you:
- Set relevant goals
- Assess your current skills and identify areas for improvement
- Meet new people in the writing industry
- Visualize your long-term future and create a career chart based on your aspirations
Finding and working with a mentor in this capacity can be transformative if you are used to working in isolation with little regard for what the future may hold.
Reaching out to trusted peers can strengthen your resolve, too, as they will be familiar with failure and can help you find the motivation to stick with freelance writing.
Networking Strategies
Building a network can meaningfully improve your chances of finding lucrative, fulfilling work as a freelancer.
However, simply showing up to events is not enough to land work. If you want to make the most of networking opportunities, you should strive to make a great impression and adopt successful networking strategies while at events.
You can master the freelance journey and network yourself successfully by building a brand that represents your writerly interests.
This means that, before attending an event, you will want to take steps like:
- Design branded business cards in your colors and fonts
- Create a digital portfolio that can be easily shared
- Research recent events in your particular niche to make conversing easier
- Be genuine but brainstorm a few stories about your professional journey before you attend a conference or workshop
Preparing properly by building a brand can help you put forward a friendly, professional persona.
This is key, as you will want to show folks that you are serious about your work and are committed to growing your network.
Digital Networking
Networking at in-person events is not the only way to bolster your professional network and expand your reach.
Nowadays, you can use your web presence to network digitally.
This is crucial if you want to land clients from further afield and are keen to enter new niches.
You can use your digital network to find a job online today, too.
Get started by connecting on LinkedIn with the writers and editors you have met as a freelancer.
Be sure to ask for reviews from trusted peers and repost their praise on social channels like Facebook or Instagram. You can also use sites like FlexJobs and Monster to find freelance work online.
You must be prepared to respond quickly to requests for work when networking online.
This means you need an up-to-date, well-formatted resume that links to your portfolio and professional pages.
You will also want to keep easily customizable cover letters on hand so you can respond to job postings quickly.
If you’re struggling to land work online, consider revising your portfolio.
This may mean that you need to write some guest posts for low/no pay but that will pay dividends when folks ask to see examples of your recent work.
If you struggle to put together visually appealing portfolios, consider hiring the services of a graphic designer.
They will be able to reformat your work in an easy-to-read, aesthetically pleasing way that resonates with your branding.
This can drastically improve your conversion rate, as prospective clients are far more likely to hire you if your portfolio is stylish, easily navigable, and highlights your best work.
Conclusion
Networking effectively is crucial if you want to make it in the long term as a freelancer. Attending events like conferences and workshops can help you connect with peers and prospective clients.
You’ll also be able to refine your skills and sharpen your style while working on writing projects with trusted peers at networking events.
You can maximize the power of networking by crafting a strong digital brand, too.
Get the ball rolling by crafting a strong digital brand and work with a graphic designer to build a website and portfolio that reflects your skills.
This will help you land work from clients based further afield and will help you create connections with writers from around the world.
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