Networking - When is it Too Much

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I have been in the writing business for about a year now. Ever since I became involved with marketing my children's bedtime story, Day's End Lullaby, all I've heard about and read about is networking. You have to network to get the word out there and you have to drive traffic to your site. Join this group, use that tool. So, that's what I've been trying to do. Click here on helium network to get more info about our site.

The problem is there are so many networking sites that it becomes daunting to choose the ones that will be of the most benefit. When I started my journey the first group I joined was the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). While there is a fee with this group, it is well worth it. SCBWI has a large member base with very knowledgeable writers, authors, editors and publishers. I found it very helpful. Next, I joined a children's literature critique group.

Again, this was a beneficial move.because no matter how many times you go over your own work, it's not the same as having several other pairs of eyes doing the same. I also joined Writer's Digest and Writer's Market. Then came JacketFlap, another great tool for authors. And, after this came Suzanne Lieurance's Children's Writers Coaching Club. For a nominal monthly fee you are shown how to move your writing career onto a marketable path. There are also free online teleseminars through various sites that provide lots of useful information - I tried to attend as many as possible.

About this point I was still able to work on my manuscripts everyday until The Muse Online Conference in October 2008. This was a wonderful opportunity to attend numerous workshops. I focused on the marketing and freelance workshops. As a result of one of the workshops with publicist, Denise Cassino, I created a yahoo group called Virtual Book Tours. It is a group of authors and writers. We host each other on a perpetual blog tour. While it has been a challenge at times and time consuming, it has been a great experience.

I have since joined two other writing groups with large member bases as well as follow a number of blogs and co-moderate a children's literature critique group. In addition I post articles to Ezine and Helium. And, let's not forget emails. I am working diligently on networking and promoting my book and myself, but there is a cost. I have much less time to actually work on my stories and articles.

With time slipping through the fingers faster and faster as the years go by, it is important to note which strategies, tools and groups are worth the time and effort. While it's necessary to promote yourself and your work, it shouldn't be at the expense of your writing.