This has been on my mind lately, considering I'm nine days away from moving states. Firstly, I'm a people person, and do best with some of them around me. Also, even though writers are known for being anti-social shut-ins, there are many reasons getting out and meeting people can be good for us. Its healthy, refreshing and creatively inspiring. Get out and get ideas. Get the word out about your book. And you never know when your friends roommates grandmas first husband could end up being an editor at Random House or the New Yorker or something.
But just because I think meeting new people is a good idea doesn't mean I'm good at it, or that it doesn't scare me. There are casual places like malls and bars that make brushing by people easy, but those kind of 'meetings' scare me more than most, and I'm talking about ways and places you can really get to know someone. There are clubs and groups like writer/book groups. Those are classic. Participating in community theater. Church activities. Going to friends parties and meeting their friends.
Those are my ideas, but I would love more. Where are places you've had success meeting cool people? All kinds of people. I'd love to hear your advice and stories. Although, we writers should maybe come with a warning to those we do meet: be careful or you'll end up in my next novel.
Sarah Allen
15 comments:
Hehehe I like meeting people who have same interests as me, so I strike up conversations with people at libraries, or at some random fun thing I like to do. :-) More than that, I can't help you.
Meetup.com is a great resource for meeting new people. The person who started our writer's group moved from California to Houston and started it to meet new people and talk about WIPs. There are now over 100 members and 15 go to each meeting or so. You could start a new meetup group or join another.
Good luck moving!
Bookstores!!
And libraries!
Since I'm a hairdresser by day, I meet people behind my chair. May interesting stories are shared with me. Many strange and peculiar people are out there and they sit in my chair. People with nast scalp conditions and nail fungus, too. I'm entertained all day with strange and unusual smells, too.
I've met some great writers at forums and discussion groups. Also, at SCBWI conferences and other writing retreats. Good luck!
Well, I've heard that on Craigslist... jk! You might want to "put it out there" on FaceBook to your friends & family - Who knows somebody cool in Boise? (Or where ever you're moving?) Checking Meetup wouldn't be a bad idea, even starting your own Meetup group (though that'll cost you) for a writers group or book club.
Given that writers are shy critters, easily spooked, "picking up friends" in a bookstore or library might be tricky. I'm not sure how open I would be to befriending a stranger who just approached me in said place. You might want to have some business cards printed up with your blog address and twitter account - so if you do meet someone in a bookstore or whatever, you can hand them the card,and they can check you out and know you're not Crazy Stalker Woman.
I'm pretty bad at meeting people and talking to strangers. But the best places, for me, have been writing workshops and classes, and conferences. Then, of course, I've 'met' the most awesome people blogging!
I'm not the person to ask, I usually am not that talkative (until I get to know you, then I don't shut up!)
Btw, I have an award for you at my blog. :)
I think a great place to meet other writers is at writing conferences. I just got back from the ldstorymakers conference in Salt Lake City and it was awesome. It's a great place to network and to find people who are interested in the same kinds of things (not just writing, but also in your specific genre).
On my blog tademings.blogspot.com
I've included some tips that I learned from the last conference. Maybe for my next post, I'll write about some of the people I've met and critique groups I've found :)
I love writer's meetings. There are local chapters of RWA all over the place. Writers are some of the nicest, most giving people I know.
Best of luck with your move and congratulations on the new job!
Oh, should have mentioned libraries too! There are often speakers who come to libraries and it's a great place to meet like-minded people.
I meet people at conferences, running groups, and taking classes. I've taken some cake decorating classes where I've met some artistic people. And, when I was younger I too did community theater :)
I'm not great at meeting people either. But I have met a lot of mom's at the library or playgrounds. Nothing like talking about our kids to break the ice. :)
If you go to the local library there are normally events posted that you could attend. A lot of them invovle writing.
I agree with the others - conference workshops. I've been to several conferences, but only participated in the workshop portion at one of them. It was the best!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. :)
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