On the morning I left for BEA, I found that Sean Keener had picked a “discussion” with me on the BootBlog regarding my past posts about Namebuilding.
I'm glad he opened it up to public opinion, and I'd like to do the same here.
Personally I keep my stance on the subject. Building your name in the community through connections and relationships — in addition to bylines — is an immense help in advancing your career.
I had the pleasure of working with Jim Benning of World Hum, Ken Vollmer of The Wanderlust Survival Guide,Christine Michaud who came all the way from Canada, Deborah Garner, and Bradley Charbonneau. All of them are working on books in one way or another and to see all that they got out of their BEA experience should be testimonial and encouragement to any doubters.
If they feel like sharing their BEA stories here, they can, it's not my place to tell it for them.
Though most of my energy went into Sand promo and helping the authors I just mentioned, I did take my own advice and used BEA to further my connections for future work.
Last year I had talked to an agent who said that the book I’m working on was perfect for Andrews McMeel Publishing. But when I went to their booth last year and saw all the sales reps in meetings at tables, I just looked at the titles and left.
This year, I asked for the sample book copy I wanted and shamelessly chatted up their rep. I even offered to be his rodie when I heard he covered Australia and New Zealand. Then all joking aside, we talked business and I asked for what I wanted. The name of the editorial person on staff who handles submissions and could talk to me about which agents they like to work with. Bingo. In addition to him telling me the story behind one of his best sellers and the makings of a millionaire author, I got the name and contact info I wanted. All for the price of asking.
It does work people. Getting out there. Talking up who you are and what you’re working on.
And the more prepared you are, the better your chances.
I will make one ammendment. Know your limits and don’t feel pressured to go too far outside of them. Sure we all need to challenge ourselves and take that extra step, but as I watched the BEA rookies do their thing, I saw them quit when they knew they needed to quit. And that’s important. On the second day Christine was already commenting on an experience that was worth the whole price of the trip, Bradley had already accomplished more than he had set out to. And Jim had got what he wanted and needed from only one day at the convention.
Anyway, kudos to all of you who made the effort to come and advanced your connections. Hopefully you have returned home with new inspiration on your projects. I know I have.
Yes I came all the way from Montreal, Canada to the famed BEA. It cost me a 3 days of vacation and an international plane ticket. but that was a small price to pay for what I learned and the contacts I made.
My book (based on my online travelogue “Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string”)is in its very preliminary stage of being written. And this is exactly why BEA was so helpful. It gave me an understanding of an industry in which I aspire to be actively involved. How could I want to be part of something I don’t know? You gotta know who’s who, how things work, how deals get done, what power plays are at work. the publishing world is HUGE, one needs to understand what they’re up against.
Also, writing is about people and for people. I write because I love to tell stories, I love to entertain and help people escape the sometimes depressing or boring reality and take them where they can’t physically go. Writing is about establishing connections with other human beings. BEA is about meeting those people who have learned how to make a living out of telling good stories. Those who care about stimulating human imagination, and are willing to give you hints on improving your storytelling skills simply because they love good stories.
In a nutshell, anyone serious about becoming a writer has to work hard on making contacts. No matter how well you write, in the end, it’s always about who you know. There is power in numbers. Surrounding myself with competent, motivated writers willing to share and learn has been the most rewarding of experiences.
Thanks again for convincing me to come. I have not had a shadow of regret.
Right on. BEA was great. I’m definitely glad I went, and happy to have made so many new friends!
“In a nutshell, anyone serious about becoming a writer has to work hard on making contacts. No matter how well you write, in the end, it’s always about who you know. There is power in numbers.”
As a reader, it distresses me to think that no matter the quality of a person’s writing, ultimately, their success rate will depend on those they know. If so, the writing is secondary to the network/namebuilding.
I may be idealistic in hoping that good writing and namebuilding have value in the making of a good writer, with perhaps a little slant towards the writing side of the equation.
I think that getting to know people in the community and networking will only expedite your career. I’m sure there are plenty of success stories about writers who were “found.”
It’s truly shocking to discover how many hands touch a book between the author and the reader. In some ways, what the author does is the smallest part, as demeaning as that may sound.
Agents, Editors, editorial assistants, production coordinators, permission coordinators, publicist, marketing directors, art directors, marketing reps in distribution, their assistants, multiple sales reps, special sales reps, international sales reps, book buyers, fulfillment,warehouse reps, warehouse staff, warehouse packers, warehouse accountants, delivery drivers, bookstore staff, bookstore cashiers.
I’m sure there’s even some I’ve forgot. This business and how to succeed in it is mindexpanding. All businesses are, really. For me anyway.
Though familiar with trade shows from working in other industries, this was my first BEA and I’m very grateful to Jen for recommending it. Even fresh off the road and exhausted from four months of travel, I found a wealth of information and some great new contacts among the rows and booths in those halls. Three days later, I’m still sorting through catalogs, business cards and personal notes to organize market contacts and reference materials. I was able to meet with many editors, both from major houses and from smaller, regional companies, many I wouldn’t otherwise have known from normal market listings.
Call it Networking, Namebuilding or Just Getting Out There, this type of event offers everything to gain and nothing to lose. The discussion (between here and BootBlog) about this strikes me as somewhat humorous, as this just isn’t an either/or issue. It’s a given that writers need to work on writing and that excellent, well-crafted writing is key, but writing for publication requires contacts. Just as being qualified for a job usually won’t land one without interviews, being an excellent writer will rarely lead to work without stepping away from the writing table. Like it or not, it’s a numbers game. You’ve got to roll the dice, again and again. Make contacts, take phone calls, send out queries, follow up on leads, and offer the same in return.
As always, I commend Jen for the inspiration and solid information she dishes out here in Written Road. It was fabulous seeing the long line for the Sand in My Bra autographing session. Well deserved.
I also was delighted to meet Larry, Sean, Susan and Alex, from Travelers’ Tales, as well as Ken, Christine, Bradley and others. Great event, well worth the tired feet 😉
My communication skills must stink since there was never a reference as to the unimportance of networking, attending BEA or any other process in the becoming of a published writer. Jen’s role and others like her are vital, plus, as Jen noted, the numerous people involved from the initial to the final stage of a book’s life.
I’m thrilled those who attended BEA have come home with more contacts, more ideas, more knowledge, etc.
All I am saying is that without the author’s writing, there is nothing else. It is the beginning of the chain link assuming less importance as steps towards publication progress. Rightfully so.
I am getting the impression that the author and his/her writing are secondary to marketing. And that’s where I differ.
Getting the book out there is a tremendous job. No debate on that. But, no book – no job.
“I’m sure there’s even some I’ve forgot.”
You left out book reviewers…
Thanks Andie! I did forget book reviewers. They are a very important step indeed. Writers and publishers are always hoping to get positive reviews! They do help sales, yes they do.
Just for the record, my comments above were in response to Jen’s opening statement in the original post about Sean picking a “discussion” with her regarding her past posts on Namebuilding. I totally agree with Mary about the importance of quality writing.
I also agree that it’s distressing to think that success is not always linked to that quality, but to inside contacts and networking. Unfortunately, lesser quality works do make it to print, just as the radio tends to spout some scary-sounding music on occasion. I think it comes down to our own personal commitment to keep up a standard of quality, rather than to just give in to a paycheck or fame. Tough choice sometimes.
Interesting discussion, enough to bring me out of my usual, passive Rabbit nickname 🙂
Perhaps I needed to use the word “quality” one more time above, to make it an even more repetitive streak of five 😉 Hehe. No more coffee for me this morning 🙂
I wondered who Rabbit was. Hello Deborah.
I love repetition and I overwork it to the annoyance of my family.
I’m smiling with you.
I found BEA to be a fantastic experience, having finally met a few people I’d been hearing about a lot (Jim Benning, Christine Michaud, and Don George, amongst many others). For those interested in concrete ways in which BEA can improve your writing, I was also able to get direct feedback from an editor about one of my submissions.
In addition to all that, I built up a reasonable amount of interest in my book, which has resulted in the mailing of a half-dozen pitch packages this week. Worth its weight in gold, I say.
For the gory, blow-by-blow summary of my BEA, check out https://www.brainwoofer.com/blog.html
I’ve been meaning to get back to the BEA blog here, but I’ve been busy this last week … writing.
I was talking to an agent the other night who was razzing me because I went to BEA and spent so much time marketing my writing and not writing my writing. I do both. You have to find the balance. He said that marketing was the agent’s job and that, with a good agent, the writer shouldn’t have to worry about that stuff. Sure, maybe I shouldn’t worry, but I like to be informed. Very informed.
The more you know about your industry, the smarter your questions, answers, and decisions will be. An agent can lead you by the hand through the forest of the publishing industry, but it’s good to know a few things for when you get tripped up, when his/her hand is gone, and you’re on your own. The more I hear about the publishing industry, the more I realize that it’s going to be a long walk in a dark forest and I want to have a compass, a map, and an idea of where I need to go.
Thanks for being our tour guide at BEA, Jen. It was a good helicopter view of the forest and I got to talk to a few rangers.
– Bradley