Networking in YA-- a call for help

juliesondra · May 23, 2013

I reaaaaally want to find new writer friends too. I'm on submission to publishers and it's starting to make me want to eat my hands. It really wasn't like this at first but now I'm going stir-crazy and would like to have other people to talk to--to teach and learn from, to discuss our lives with, to share the ups and downs, and more than anything, just to understand. I have a lot of friends but they really don't get it and I know they get tired of me talking about this crap all the time.

I write YA also (and SF and fantasy and nonfiction), and I'm looking to get more writing pals and trying to find a niche for myself on Twitter, but one suggestion I haven't seen mentioned yet is try to participate in bloghops! I just did my first one (the theme was "secondary characters"), and it's one cool way to meet a bunch of people, comment on each other's blogs, and start following each other everywhere.

Would love to hear from you (the OP) and anyone else anytime.

nomadictendencies · May 23, 2013

Hi Anna, I also totally understand. Writing can be so very isolating and sometimes feels a little like being on the outside looking in and wondering how to break down those barriers. Amanda Palmer has an inspiring video floating around Youtube called 'The art of asking'. It totally changed my outlook on connecting with others, asking for help and not being afraid to put yourself out there.

Jessie · May 23, 2013

Hey there, I am also a YA writer in her 20's, and I totally understand where your coming from. I just recently re-discovered my love of writing so I've started to work on it again but most of the people around me don't really understand and I would love to find people I could talk to about it.
Please feel free to message me if you want, I would love to chat!

Forlorn-ember · May 23, 2013

I've just joined twitter and I have no idea how to navigate the thing/find people let alone break through my anxiety disorder and start at conversation. Forums seem more my thing, not that I've got anyone to talk to here either. Guess that comes with time

.

wampuscat · May 23, 2013

I totally get you. I'm an introvert. People scare me. Even on the internet.

Twitter people seem really nice though. I've kind of just started following people who use writing hashtags and seem to post interesting stuff.

Windcutter · May 23, 2013

ellewest said:
I know that Kiersten White had quite a few crit partners who went on to be published around the same time, most recently here:

http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/transparently-elated-contest.html

Also, Kiersten is my sister-in-law! Lucky me : )

That's so cool, traveling the pub road together with a close friend.
*
So blogging is now yesterday, Twitter is all the rage? I never really got into blogging...

TMCan · May 23, 2013

Hey I'm another 20-something trying to write. Right no my main focus is on a romance, but my second focus work and my favorite is a YA fantasy. I've been trying to meet writing friends, but my progress hasn't been to great either. Honestly the people I have tried to reach out to on Twitter have just ignored me and rarely reply back which is pretty discouraging for me.

Renée A. Price · May 26, 2013

MrsBrommers said:
Twitter's been a good resource, especially with #YALitChat because you get writers who are all in different parts of their journey: newbies, veterans, published, unpublished, self-published, agented, unagented, the list goes on and on. You'll see the same people circling around for a while. Follow them. Interact.

Blogs are helpful, but I don't think they're as necessary as they were a few years ago. That said, I have connected with other writers by commenting on their posts and then recognizing them elsewhere online.

After I signed with my agent, I began building relationships with my agency siblings. Of my critique partners and beta readers, I've only met a few in person. Most came via the Internet. It takes time, but after a while, it becomes less about networking and more about supporting other writers and receiving support in turn.

I have been hearing about twitter becoming a great tool for writers, but never really got too much into it.
I'll try #YALitChat now.

Renée A. Price · May 26, 2013

TMCan said:
Hey I'm another 20-something trying to write. Right no my main focus is on a romance, but my second focus work and my favorite is a YA fantasy. I've been trying to meet writing friends, but my progress hasn't been to great either. Honestly the people I have tried to reach out to on Twitter have just ignored me and rarely reply back which is pretty discouraging for me.

I have been feeling the same lately, but AW has been great. I've just joined here, but it's funny how you always find someone going through a similar problem or asking the questions you wanted.

I am in my 20's and writing YA, so if you ever feel like talking, I am here!

Ann-Marita · May 28, 2013

Hello! I'm in my 30s and I write YA as well. Also having a hard time connecting with fellow writers. None of my friends or family writes and they just don't get it. I have no one in my life to talk to about writing and it's driving me crazy. Hope to keep chatting with you all!

Renée A. Price · May 29, 2013

Hey Ann-Marita, welcome!
It is hard to share my passion with people I know too.
My problem is that I am still very insecure about my writing. I am trying to be more active here, so I can learn more.
Maybe I'll even post on SYW. Who knows? It sounds silly, but it is a big step for me.

Ann-Marita · May 29, 2013

Hi Renee,
I hear you. I am insecure about my writing, too. But recently I decided that if I want to be a better writer, I need to put myself out there, and it's definitely easier talking to people who understand what I'm going through.

Renée A. Price · May 29, 2013

It's true. I hope we find what we are looking for here at AW.

KSavoie · May 29, 2013

I actually met one of my closest writer friends on a NaNo forum. We messaged each other and eventually became closer and now we're friends on facebook. We live hours away from each other so we won't be meeting in person haha. I've also talked to many published authors on twitter that aren't "as known" and they're very open to talking to others. I'm always open if you ever want to message me! =D

Renée A. Price · May 29, 2013

Thanks KSavoie!

TMCan · May 29, 2013

Renée A. Price said:
Hey Ann-Marita, welcome!
It is hard to share my passion with people I know too.
My problem is that I am still very insecure about my writing. I am trying to be more active here, so I can learn more.
Maybe I'll even post on SYW. Who knows? It sounds silly, but it is a big step for me.

People tell me I write well, but I am still super insecure about my writing. I am part of a writing group, but they don't help much. If anything they make me feel worse because I don't write in the same process as others.

Ann-Marita · May 30, 2013

TMCan,

I've had some good feedback on my writing, too, but I still have trouble believing I have any talent. lol I even recently sold a story, but I just tell myself that was a fluke.

Btw, I love your ticker - great way to keep track of your novel's progress!

Jessie · May 30, 2013

I know how you all feel. I am very insecure about my writing and the idea of showing people is nerve racking. Especially since I used to struggle with writing mechanics and puntuation, and since I went into accounting the skills I had got kind of rusty. So I am working on a refresher, but it makes for a lot of second guessing when it comes to my writing.

Cathy C · May 30, 2013

Hi, guys!

It's great you've discovered AW as a way to meet other writers. I know it can be lonely, plus most of us writers are introverts, so it's hard to throw yourselves out into the mix.

I'm a big fan of Twitter and I have a lot of friends who are YA authors over there. Some big, some small, some aspiring. Interestingly, I've met most of them as friends of friends at conventions. A lot of people think that conventions are for after you're published or if you're a reader, but that's not true. It can be a GREAT place to meet new people who write what you do. We're pretty much all introverts, so it's a big gathering of people who sit alone in corners. But eventually all the corners are used up and you wind up sitting next to someone who's hiding too. :ROFL:

For Twitter, if you look at the "Search" box in the upper right corner, just type in "Young Adult Author" and see how many people pop up! You'll see authors you recognize, publishers you want to get to know, articles about the future of the business and lots of other stuff. It's not just hash tags that will get you a list of people to follow.

Specifically, look to see who has re-tweeted things about YA articles and interesting promos from publishers. Likely some of the people you want to know are those RT-ing things.

We'll do our best by you here, too. We want you to feel welcome and not overwhelmed by the size of this place. :Hug2:

Ann-Marita · May 30, 2013

Hi Jessie - welcome!

Cathy - thanks for the great tip about Twitter. I am a Twitter user but didn't realize there were so many YA resources on there.

TMCan · May 30, 2013

Haha the ticker is my motivation because I hate that it is so far from the end and that makes me write more.

Ann-Marita said:
TMCan,

I've had some good feedback on my writing, too, but I still have trouble believing I have any talent. lol I even recently sold a story, but I just tell myself that was a fluke.

Btw, I love your ticker - great way to keep track of your novel's progress!

wampuscat · May 30, 2013

Cathy C said:
Hi, guys!

It's great you've discovered AW as a way to meet other writers. I know it can be lonely, plus most of us writers are introverts, so it's hard to throw yourselves out into the mix.

I'm a big fan of Twitter and I have a lot of friends who are YA authors over there. Some big, some small, some aspiring. Interestingly, I've met most of them as friends of friends at conventions. A lot of people think that conventions are for after you're published or if you're a reader, but that's not true. It can be a GREAT place to meet new people who write what you do. We're pretty much all introverts, so it's a big gathering of people who sit alone in corners. But eventually all the corners are used up and you wind up sitting next to someone who's hiding too.

For Twitter, if you look at the "Search" box in the upper right corner, just type in "Young Adult Author" and see how many people pop up! You'll see authors you recognize, publishers you want to get to know, articles about the future of the business and lots of other stuff. It's not just hash tags that will get you a list of people to follow. Specifically, look to see who has re-tweeted things about YA articles and interesting promos from publishers. Likely some of the people you want to know are those RT-ing things.

We'll do our best by you here, too. We want you to feel welcome and not overwhelmed by the size of this place.

There are also a bunch of people who have put together lists on Twitter of YA writers or just writers. Those are a good place to find new writer friends. Talking about contests or writing or being involved in #YAlitchat on Wednesdays are other good ways to find people.

Renée A. Price · May 30, 2013

TMCan - Try not to worry about the process, because different writers have different ways to get it done. I also love your ticker, it's a great way to stay motivated.

Ann-Marita - Congrats on selling your story. It's a big thing, in my opinion.

Cathy C - Thanks for being suportive of other writers. It's great to see experienced people trying to help us.

Cathy C · May 30, 2013

No problem.

People seem to think that pubbed authors are somehow jealous of aspiring authors--like somehow you're going to steal our slots or something. But readers don't buy books like laundry detergent (Oh no! I can't buy Jackie Morse Kessler's books! I already buy Heather Brewer's books!)

Pfft! :roll:

Readers read. They read lots and LOTS of authors when they love a genre. There's plenty of room for everyone in the pool. The better books sell, the more publishers will buy.

Go forth and write and know we're here for you, wanting you to succeed! :Hug2:

ellewest · May 30, 2013

Regarding not getting responses, I think it's a combination of people not being aware of how to use 'Connect', having too many messages or using Twitter sporadically --so they don't get back to you for hours/days/weeks. Just keep plugging away and be yourself + have fun.

I've only been on for a week but it's been really encouraging to be able to talk with people about writing as a profession + it also encourages you to consider blogging/guest blogging + just take writing seriously in general.

They also have events like #pitmad (which is a day where writers post twitter pitches and agents are encouraged to read + request more material) and other events that bring you more to grips with the larger publishing scene.

I don't mean to bang on, but I think it's opened my eyes a lot; it's really helping me get more serious about my craft.

--It's kind of hard to look at the 'real world' when writing to me has always been about creating a fake one, but I know that I have to do it if I want to stand any chance of getting published + reaching a bigger audience, so, yeah, join twitter + if all else fails, you can always tweet me + get a response!!

Networking in YA-- a call for help

juliesondra

nomadictendencies

Jessie

Forlorn-ember

Returning Writer

wampuscat

Recovering adjective addict

Windcutter

TMCan

Renée A. Price

Renée A. Price

Ann-Marita

Renée A. Price

Ann-Marita

Renée A. Price

KSavoie

Renée A. Price

TMCan

Ann-Marita

Jessie

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Ann-Marita

TMCan

wampuscat

Recovering adjective addict

Renée A. Price

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

ellewest