MODERN networking

I found my agent on
sarcastic or bitchy. Enter into a
dialogue. Be generous in retweet-
ing others’ interesting tweets.
Don’t use Twitter only to pro-

FACEBOOK
mote your writing, and don’t send
manuscript queries via a tweet – I
have sometimes felt quite stalked
by aspiring authors and have had
to block a few.’
Whether you find your agent
through social media networks
or via more conventional means,
establishing a strong internet
platform could stand you in good
Many aspiring authors complain that the literary world is stead once you get that contract.
Publishers and agents all now
an exclusive club closed to new members. But, as Emily expect their writers to have social
media platforms and to be active
Carlisle found, the internet can offer writers a way in on them.
Peta Nightingale of Lucas,
Alexander and Whitley, explains
how they encourage their authors

I flicked through my dog-eared

copy of The Writers’ and Artists’
Yearbook for the hundredth time,
wondering where to start. So
many agents, so many slush piles…
What I needed was a contact –
someone in the publishing world.
A swift trawl of my address
book yielded nothing more liter-
ary than the newspaper delivery
man. In desperation I turned to my
blog’s Facebook page and posted
a rather tongue-in-cheek status
update:
‘If any of my followers are literary
agents, now would be a great time to
get in touch!’
Less than an hour later I received
a message from someone working
in the industry, offering to put me
in touch with an agent. Within a
fortnight I had bypassed the slush
pile and now I’m under the wing of
a top London agent, working hard
to get my novel ready for submis-
sion to publishers.
It seems I’m not alone in turning
to social media to make connec-
tions with the publishing industry.
As competition grows fiercer and
agents take on fewer new authors,
networking becomes ever more
important.The relationships which
five years ago would have been
Rachael Moore
You have to tune in and listen to
get the best from social media –
just talking doesn’t work
struck up at literary festivals or
conferences now take shape on
Facebook, blogging platforms and
over Twitter.
Blogger Rachael Moore was
approached by an agent after
posting an extract of her work-in-
progress on her blog, Tales from
the Village. Rachael uses a fan page
to promote her blog posts, and
one day she noticed a message on
her Facebook wall.
‘It was from a literary agent who
said she’d enjoyed the excerpt I’d
posted, and would be interested
in reading the manuscript when it
was finished.’
Rachael is now in talks with the
agent to produce a non-fiction
book based on her blog, as well as
continuing work on her novel.
‘Just getting a full manuscript
read by a literary agent is such
a challenge nowadays.’ Rachael
says. ‘It seems extraordinary that
Facebook provided me with this
opportunity, but it just shows you
have to shout about what you’re
writing – otherwise how will peo-
ple know about it?’
Alexis Grant, author of The
Traveling Writer blog, agrees.
Alexis connected with a number
of fellow writers on Twitter when
she was writing her memoir, an
account of her solo backpacking
tour of Africa. One of these writ-
ers became a close friend and put
her in touch with her own agent,
Rachelle Gardner of Wordserve
Literary.
‘When Rachelle called, I actu-
ally thought she was going to offer
feedback on my manuscript to
be nice, since we had the mutual
online friend. But she offered me
representation. It was a great
moment for me.’
It wasn’t the first time Alexis had
benefited from links made through
social media; some time previ-
ously she had been approached by
an agent who had read her blog.
Although ultimately the agent
didn’t take on her manuscript, the
experience gave Alexis confidence
in her writing and highlighted the
opportunities available to her
through online networking.
Alexis believes you’re much
more likely to land an agent if
you have a personal referral – in
the way that you’re more likely to
network your way into a job than
land one from a cold call.
‘Social media’s not the only
route into publication, but it can
open doors for unknown writers
that were closed before. Now we
can build our own audiences, make
connections and find support net-
works as we write.’
Founder of global business net-
work Ecademy Penny Power isn’t
at all surprised to see writers
making more of social media.
‘If a writer isn’t using online
networks they are missing out on
inspiration, ideas, support – the
very drum beat of what the world
is saying.’
She warns against using net-
works such as Twitter purely as a
business tool.
‘You have to tune in and listen
to get the best from social media
– just talking doesn’t work. Don’t
just tweet about the fact you’re
Emily
writing a book, but stimulate and
participate in inspiring, thought-
provoking conversations. In time
you will gather followers who
will be the very best advocates of
your book.’
Alexis agrees with this approach
and suggests aspiring authors don’t
think of social media solely as net-
working tools.
‘Don’t go on Twitter looking to
meet agents. Get to know lots of
interesting people and connect
on a personal level. It’s these rela-
tionships which will lead to other
opportunities.’
One literary agent who has
embraced social media is Carole
Blake, joint managing director of
Blake Friedmann literary, TV and
film agency.
A prolific tweeter, recently fea-
tured by the Independent at number
89 in the top 100 ‘Twitterati’,
Carole shares publishing industry
Alexis Grant
to develop a web presence to sup-
port their work.
‘Many have websites and blogs,
or use Facebook and Twitter to
develop relationships with their
fans and draw in new readers. It’s
a very effective way of developing
a voice outside the books them-
selves, and of talking to readers on
news, gossip and events in her a level that feels – and indeed is –
stream. quite intimate and direct.’
‘I find it an excellent stress Becoming active on social
reliever in between periods of media sites should be considered
intense concentration.’ a positive step for aspiring authors,
She recognises that many of whether or not you look upon
her 4000 followers are aspiring them as a networking tool.
authors, and warns them against Many writers are attracted by
using Twitter the wrong way. the creative element itself; there is
‘I am quite fierce in squashing surprising skill involved in crafting
any outright pitching via Twitter pithy Facebook status updates, or
– it is not the right platform for summarising your stance on a cur-
author queries.’ rent affairs issue within Twitter’s
Instead, Carole recommends limit of 140 characters.
using Twitter to find an agent you Social media provides you with
think is a good fit for your book, an instant publisher for your writ-
and using social media tools to get ing, and a ready platform on which
to know them. to build future successes, so if
‘Becoming friendly on Twitter is you’re not already on Twitter and
likely to make me agree to accept Facebook, why not sign up and
a pitch via email.’ give it a try?
Last month Carole took on her Start chatting to people with
first debut novelist in years, thanks similar interests to your own and
to a relationship which formed on who knows – one of those new
Twitter. She offers her own advice contacts might just give you the
to writers. foot in the door you’ve been wait-
‘Be amusing and friendly, not ing for.
LINKS
■■ Emily Carlisle blogs at www.morethanjustamother.com. Her
Twitter ID is @MTJAM
■■ Rachael Moore’s blog is at www.talesfromthevillage.com. Get to
know her on Twitter @Karamina
■■ You can read more about how Alexis Grant found her agent at
www.alexisgrant.com or chat with her on Twitter @alexisgrant
■■ Carole Blake’s Twitter ID is @caroleagent You can read more
about her on her company website www.blakefriedmann.co.uk
■■ Penny Power can be found on Twitter as @pennypower, or on
her website www.pennypower.co.uk. Her book Know Me, Like Me,
Follow Me is published by Headline Business Plus, priced £14.99
■■ Peta Nightingale’s submission guidelines can be found at www.
lawagency.co.uk

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