One of my goals for this year is better networking. There are wonderful people I follow on social media and I learn a lot from them. But I'm not a big enough fish to warrant engagement. At best, there's a token heart to note my comments were seen.
Not exactly networking.
There are highly successful authors I chat with from time to time. I've even been lucky enough to meet a few. But I don't want to take those careful relationships for granted or abuse them and so I don't lean on them for anything professional. I like them for their work and who they are as people, not as resources.
Again, not really networking.
I struggle if I feel like I'm "using" people. So when the opportunity to learn a new-to-me side of the biz crossed my path, I jumped on it. I didn't have to chase it down or beg for a chance. It was offered. That right there is gold, people.
Without getting into details I'm not sure are open for sharing yet, I'm learning how to properly edit for publication. Not just a quick spelling/grammar check, no no. The Real Stuff. I'm starting with flash and very short fiction and that's a good thing. Crawl before running a marathon, right?
I've also been recently inspired to revisit an idea that was back-burnered. It'll be coming in two parts - the first, an article I hope to see published in an up-and-coming magazine and then an online class on the same I'm Not Telling You Yet subject.
So why all the shadowy implications and no solid information? Well, if I've caught your interest, you'll follow along to see what I'm blathering about, right? If not, the hints won't matter.
But also, maybe you'll feel inspired yourself. Either to reach out for a chat (networking!) with someone in your field or to tackle some of your own secretive projects you may have let languish. There's something exciting about diving into a new/renewed adventure. There's something equally exciting about meeting new people with the same enthusiasm driving you.
Keeping the details to yourself can be a key to actually getting it all done. I've found I lose momentum if I talk too much about what I'm doing... as if saying it outloud marks it as "done" on the never ending To Do List. No scheme worth considering deserves such dismissal. But having someone (neeeeeetworrrrrrrrking) in the know to help keep you motivated? Yup. More gold.
Wherever your journey is taking you, ponder a side quest... and come say hi! I'd love to get to know you. Who knows, maybe we'll start something wonderful together. Or at least whisper about foggy dreams.
https://twitter.com/Kimberly__Rei
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