RW Makeover #2: From the Book Dork Wannabe
When I first read Kristin’s advice, I thought: “That’s it?” Sure, I know my problem is focus, which is what she told me – but isn’t she just rephrasing what I already told her? And, to be honest, I think the advice to prod editors is off the mark. I’ve been one before, and I know that an annoying contributor-to-be is never going to become an actual contributor.
Still, I’m going to take some of this advice and create a campaign. Today, I’m working on sending packets of clips again to editors – something I haven’t done in a long time. And even though it’s going to be bitter cold, I’m still going to trek up to NYC on Saturday night for an event with the National Book Critics Circle, of which I am a member, and network my little tush off. I’ve already been emailing book folks I know to see who’s going to be there. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s networking. I can walk into a room where I know no one and get a few business cards before the night is over. I get most of my work networking. I guess I just have to really zero in on it and give it a go, like Kristin says.
I’ll pass on the social networking sites for now, though. I’ve tried it before with zero results – if there’s anything I’ve learned from networking in the past, it’s that an in face meeting trumps just about everything else. And we’ll see how Saturday goes on that front.
And on a completely unrelated front, I just dumped a PIA client. I don’t see this as a loss of money — I see it as being set free and completely worth not worrying about the hassle. It frees me up to do better work — like creating a “Jen A. Miller” campaign!
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Jan 19, 2007 RW Makeover
Jen,
Glad to hear you’re taking the advice to heart and planning to network your way into the hearts of your favorite editors. Well done! Remain focused on that and you’ll make progress.
Also, don’t take my “prodding” word too literally. I agree you don’t want to be annoying to any prospective boss or editors. I owned a recruiting agency for many years and I know there’s value in making yourself known, as a candidate for a job, without being too annoying. I have total faith you’ll find the perfect balance.
Jen, I had the same initial reaction you had when I read Kristin’s advice. But then, as I told Linda later on, I gave it a second read, thought about it, and realized there was some really good stuff in there. Like picking one magazine and focusing all your energy on it. If I’m honest with myself, I usually go at a goal with 50 percent of my energy because I’m “busy” with a zillion other nickel-sized problems. However, when I look back at the times when I *really* wanted something — an assignment with a certain magazine or a new agent — I did things that were a beyond my comfort level. Calling up an editor at Esquire and saying, “Hey, your second cousin and I went to kindergarten together and here’s a story about …”? No, I’d never do that in a million years, and you and I both know the editor would roll his eyes and hit delete before he got to your idea. But when I moved beyond Kristin’s specific advice, I thought the real message here is coming up with your own ideas about how to make a connection. Where’s the editor going to be speaking in the next month or two? Sending a nice note to a writer who’s currently writing for them. Really learning everything I can about the magazine, analyzing it, and writing such amazing, in-depth queries/intro letters that the editor can’t help but respond to them. Really spending time figuring out how to build a meaningful connection. (All those things it sounds like you’re doing in the next week!)
It sounds calculating, but personally, I really do care about hitting the mark and making a connection with someone; it’s so true that people want to do business with people they *know.* I really don’t want an editor to think of me as a stalker/loser — my goal is to bring real value to them, so anything I do is with that in mind.
OK, I’m rambling, but I did want to thank you for being so candid.
What’s PIA stand for?
Kara, it’s a polite way of saying “Pain in the you-know-what.”