Unless you’re a gazillion-selling author, you’ll need to do some marketing and networking. This book gives you a simple game-plan of how to connect with your key people (perhaps fellow writers, perhaps readers, perhaps cover designers, etc.) and promote your writing. It’s really down-to-earth and looks to be helpful no matter whether you’re an aspiring writer looking to publish their first book or someone with a considerable back catalogue. For each chapter, there are worksheets included so you can ponder, e.g. what a good website looks like, what your goals are and how connecting with others might help you achieve them. Recommended!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Useful guide for writers at any stage of their career and in any part of the industry. Ruggeri makes big promises of the book in the introduction and it delivers. What I enjoy about the perspective Ruggeri takes is that she gets writers to think about networking entirely differently than they may have done. She encourages writers to consider themselves as the entrepreneurs whose job is to sell their writing as a product. This shift in perspective can help writers successfully network and translate that way of thinking about their work and themselves to things like social media, and their online presence. Networking can feel stiff and clunky but Ruggeri takes the guess work out of how to make it work. Another highlight is the way she defines networking not as an event, but a series of behaviors that are the majority of a writer's work beyond the writing. It's a clarity that helps take the ick out of networking, and reminds writers that you need to take not only your writing seriously, but your writing as a business seriously in order to succeed at networking.

One of the strengths I found about the book was that is is about the "networking and...." that a lot of books for writers miss. For example, Ruggieri talks about your presence and where you network, which are the cornerstones of building a strong brand as a writer. Additionally, she goes into detail about how to organize the mechanics of that. I can easily see about 6 or 7 different books in this one, distilling the wisdom it took a lot longer to learn. Thankfully for writers on the path to crafting a career out of their work, Ruggieri has aggregated a lot of different industry threads in this book. The worksheets are a helpful way to think through this process so I recommend that writers picking up this book take their time with it and work through it at a pace that respects the positive outcome they want- which is to say that branding and developing a networking strategy isn't going to happen overnight, and Ruggieri's volume speaks to that fact.

There is so much more that writers are expected to do for themselves that was once left to publishing companies. Rather than lament these changes, Ruggieri's book can help writers of all kinds lean into the kinds of entrepreneurs they need to be. The book is about networking and marketing, branding, crafting a pitch, social media marketing, considering your marketing mix, and writing as an entrepreneurial endeavor even if you're just starting.

Thank you Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a great follow-up of Linda Ruggeri's Networking for Freelance Editors! As someone who works as both an editor and a writer, these books are proving to be invaluable to my business. I'll definitely be keeping this on top of my pile of go-to sources.

I found this book to be very useful to the writing community. It's full of worksheets, examples, valuable information and tips to make our lives easier. As a writer myself, it's a challenge for me to network. That's not my forte. Reason why I read this book and I'm glad I did.
I'll recommend it to writers who like me struggle with promoting or marketing their books. This book is filled with all the information you need to start ticking boxes and being able to train yourself to network and lose the fear once and for all. At the end of it you'll feel capable and ready to start.
Thanks for sharing this gem with us. Keep empowering writers out there.

A galley was provided by the author for review.

Very often, the writing books I look to are focused on the creative side. However, for those serious about their writing and hoping to take it to the next level of getting their work out into the world, networking is key. Ruggeri recognizes that and, through this workbook, offers steps and exercises meant to help you build that network. The book's approach is cordial and interactive; the author tries to make these processes easy to understand and follow. As writers, we just have to put in that work.

Drawing upon my time in software, I found the discussion about the importance of one's website to be of interest. The author keeps this to the level of the what and the why; the how can be a much more complicated endeavor depending upon whether you do-it-yourself or work with one of your connections to get it made. Also, the chapter discussing the important role of social media was of interest as well. This is very much a tool that writers need to harness for their self-promotion and networking.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A helpful resource for any author

Super helpful for writers, especially aspiring writers like myself who dream to be published traditionally one day.

For aspiring writers and writers who are looking to get their work known, this is a practical guide. The author shares insights and tips that we may take for granted that we know; as simple as having a conversation, listening, sending that first email, making a list of the people you know and what you could ideally gain from a networking relationship with them- all these sound very simple, but unless they are practiced intentionally and consistently-then they all fall short.
It's a great guide one that I loved reading especially as I am looking forward to self publishing a book this year.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

Networking for Writers Practical Strategies for Networking Success by Linda Ruggeri

This book is perfect for aspiring authors. Its advice is straightforward and practical. Networking is crucial for writers. Networking for Writers, defines networking and differentiates it from corporate networking. The book also highlights its benefits for writing careers. Additionally, it lists places to start networking, like professional groups and associations. Visuals like the mind maps are helpful.

NOTE: Some of the advice in this book is simplistic or even obvious, like "be a good listener." But it's also thorough. I wish I could rate this book a 4.5 but I'll round up to a 5.

Aspiring and developing writers will find this book invaluable. There are practical exercises and worksheets. This book will help you develop an effective networking game plan.

As an aspiring author myself, I am glad I read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetworkingforWriters #NetGalley

This book wasn't what I personally expected, since it was aimed towards writers who are looking to publish (or those who already have), and building connections focused on publishing goals and so on.
If that's you, you might really enjoy this book! It is fairly interactive and could give you some good ideas.
For me, though... I guess I was looking for ideas to make more writer friends and build a writing community (regardless of whether people in it want to publish or not -- I personally don't).
I wasn't sure whether to write this review or not, since I turned out not to be the target audience, but I thought I would anyway so other potential readers can go in knowing what to expect!

An accessible albeit introductory guide to practical strategies and techniques for networking as a writer and within literary circles, mostly online. The author gives guidelines for being a good citizen of the community, providing value, and keeping positive in your interactions, plus how to position yourself through your online presence and communications. Useful planning and brainstorming charts are included. Best for beginner writers.

This is certainly a very niche topic. I wondered, ‘do we need a book about this?’, and I came across some useful thoughts on networking, and building and sustaining market/industry relationships.
Where I live, a few local art spaces have networking events for writers and artists, and I enjoy these events a lot.
This book gives you a clear approach for such events and how to start networking. There are a few things that I tell my students about festivals, I found this book to me more beneficial for those who have never considered networking, do not know how to go about it, who are students of writing and arts, and who dread networking.
Even with those in mind, this fell short. I appreciate the idea.

Very helpful book with step by step instructions and space to take notes. I learned more about relationships as a writer and networking. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.