Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Networking and Self-Promotion

Thoughts on Self-Promotion

As I close in on the end of my current writing project, the issue of self-promotion is much on my mind. I don’t mind admitting that it’s a prospect I contemplate with dread. I’m one of those I-just-want-to-sit-in-my-room-with-my-laptop writers who really is not constitutionally suited for a world in which the definition of “author” also includes “huckster” (or, if you want to be a bit more diplomatic about it, “entrepreneur”).

Tags: victoria strauss, Writer Beware

Thinking About Your Writer’s Platform? Consider Your Online Reputation First.

You’ve probably heard about the importance of developing a writer’s platform. Before you start thinking about your writer’s platform, consider what your overall online reputation is first.

Tags: Monica Valentinelli

The Pros and Cons of Having Your Own Website

Do you need to have you own website? It depends on what you want to use the website for. Having an online presence may or may not translate to your desired action, in part because your presence really is about “you” as a person rather than “you” the author. With today’s technology, the two are not mutually exclusive.

Tags: Monica Valentinelli, web

Resource: The Convention Finder

The Convention Finder searches a database of cons based on location, making it easy to find the convention nearest you.

Tags: convention, John Joseph Adams, Nathan Lilly, resource

Reading Aloud

There are few things that can destroy a good story faster than a bad reading. At the same time, a really good reading can make an audience excited and drive sales. Short of a background in theater, how can authors improve their reading skills?

Tags: Mary Robinette Kowal, reading aloud

Get Personal with your Marketing Efforts

The words “online marketing” are fairly generic, since there are quite a few components involved with this business practice. Marketers (like myself) often utilize web analytics, social media, blogging, natural and paid search, online advertising, etc. For authors, online marketing may be a little more targeted to our writing and publishing efforts via social media and blogging platforms.

Tags: business, Monica Valentinelli, Publishing

Networking 201: How to “work a room”

When attending a social function–whether it’s a small gathering at someone’s home, or a political fundraiser, or a room party at a convention–you are being gifted with the opportunity to meet, mingle, and make contact with a wide variety of people. What I intend to do here is give some pointers on how to get the most out of any social gathering, whether you’re there for business or for pleasure.

Tags: diana rowland

How to Network at a Convention

So here it is. You’re a fairly “new” writer, or at least new to the convention scene, and you desperately want to make some industry contacts in the hopes that it will make it easier to get an agent/sell your work/quit your day job and hire a cabana boy/any of the above. You decide to go to a convention, perhaps picking one of the “big” ones such as WorldCon, or World Fantasy, because you’ve heard that editors and agents are absolutely spilling out the doors.

Here are some guidelines/rules/suggestions to go by:

Does “SFWA Member” help sell your story? Top SF editors comment

The question arises from time to time, “Should I put SFWA member on my cover letter.” Here are what some editors had to say about that from an article in 1998.

Gardner Dozois says, “I take membership in a professional organization like SFWA or HWA as an indication that I should pay more attention to [...]