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| Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads. |
Armchair BEA is all about Networking today!
You can get to Armchair BEA's post with the links for Networking: here.
Here's the prompt that aBEA had on their agenda for today:
Have you ever wondered how bloggers get so involved outside the nuts and bolts community of book blogging? Well, now's your chance to learn from the experts! From partnering with their local indie bookstores to coordinating events at their local libraries, we've got tips to share with you to help you become more involved with your local bookish community. Today's suggested writing topic...we'd love for you to share a positive "real life" experience with books! Either by way of your own partnerships in your community, a book signing you went to or possibly even a get together with fellow book bloggers. Tell us all about it! Also today we'll have the following:
Twitter Party number two!
Guest post from top bloggers (Emily from Emily's Reading Room, Tif from Tif Talks Books and Pam from Bookalicious) about how they were able to work together with their local bookish community to benefit everyone involved.
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I've never really done any real life Networking, but I'm starting to think that I should try to. It would be so fun to get involved with local bookstores and libraries. :D I've thought about trying to do something with the elementary school I went to, but I'm not in my hometown as often as I used to be so that one would be tougher. I think I'm going to try and figure something out with them one of these days though because I'd love to share a love of reading with kids in my community...especially since I have young cousins still at that school. :)
I'm definitely going to have to check out these tips because real life networking sounds intimidating...but so fun! :D
I do always have fun talking about books when I go to Chapters though! :D I love meeting people who love books too, and talking about them! I've also met people through my classes that love books, too, which is always fun! It's definitely one of the perks of being an English major...generally everyone loves to read! ;D haha
What about you?
Have you done any real life networking?
Any tips you'd like to share? :)
And if you're like me and you haven't done any, what's holding you back?
Personally, I'm kind of intimidated by real life networking. I'm also not sure where to begin and how to start up a new real life connection. So, I can't wait to check out everyone's real life tips. I'm sure they'll be really helpful. :)
I think it could be fun, but I'm a little shy about stuff like that. Meeting fellow bloggers isn't nearly as scary as walking up and asking someone to work with you on a bookish thing. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI did however convince my local used bookstore to setup a YA section when I noticed she had a pile just kinda sitting alone. I'm happy to say she has a YA section now and more people seem to be coming to her store. ;)
Same here! :D Yeah, I think there is a bit of a buffer online too. If you get rejected online it's not as bad, and sometimes you just get ignored...in real life, that's always harsh!
DeleteThat's awesome! :D Way to go you! :D
True... online has that safety net. ;)
DeleteOMG! I just noticed that you have my button on your blog. Thanks so much Ambur. :) *hugs*
DeleteIt sure does. :)
DeleteAwe, you're so welcome! :D *hugs backs*
I haven't done any real life networking either. I haven't seen any events in my area to participate in and I don't feel comfortable just approaching people even if I had an idea of something to do.
ReplyDeleteI think today's posts will be great encouragement though. I'd love to just meet some of the people that I chat with online about books because I'm sure that would get something in motion!
Yeah, there aren't very many near me either. Or if there were I wasn't aware of them. I'm trying to not miss stuff that happens near me anymore. :P haha Yeah, I'm not totally comfortable with that either. Maybe I can work on it. :)
DeleteDefinitely! :D Me too. I've met my one online friend, Zoe, but that's about it. And we were still over 5 hours apart...now even farther because she moved. haha
You're making a great first step in just talking to people at Chapters! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteAmanda
Thanks, Amanda! :D
DeleteLike you, I haven't done much offline networking. I'm hoping to change this soon because offline networking sounds like something I would really like. I mean, talk to people in real life about books, people who share the same passion? Fun. :)
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like fun. :) I hope that you get the chance to do some in the future. :)
DeleteIf you have any bookstores in town or a library that does events that's a great starting point! I think,for myself, since I live in a small town I'm just going to have to start planning to go to conventions and the like. There's so much out there - it's just too far away! =)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea, Lydia! I'm from a small town too, but I'm in the city for school so I do have more things closer to me than I would've at home. But, there still aren't too many that come to Edmonton, either. It tends to get skipped and authors go to somewhere in BC and then Quebec and Ontario typically. I think I'm gonna have to start looking into things that like that too. Great suggestions! :)
DeleteI love giving suggestions to people browsing in bookstores. A bunch of times I get mistaken for working there!
ReplyDeleteI love doing that too! :D I had someone actually come up to me for help once because I was talking to my friend about a lot of books and I must've seemed knowledgeable. :P lol
DeleteSounds like you're in need of a book group! Have you asked Chapters whether they have one or would like to start one? Sharing books with others is great fun indeed.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Judith! :D I haven't actually. I should definitely look into one. :D That's so true. Thanks for your suggestions! :D
DeleteI like that you're willing to admit you're shy about real life networking, because I definitely am too! I've been lucky enough to attend some events, but actually putting myself out there to start a networking opportunity for myself? I think it's definitely hard!
ReplyDeleteHere's my post.
I'm a deceptively shy person. I try to pretend I'm not and I smile lots so people always think I'm a lot more outgoing than I am...but inside I'm a ball of nerves! haha I think the more you put yourself out there though the better it gets. I've even noticed that with making friends in classes. If you make the first move and continue to do it in all your classes it gets easier, and you make some awesome friends. :) It's so hard! It's one of those things that you hope will be easy, but definitely isn't always. Thanks for your comment, Ashley, and for admitting that you're shy about real life networking and a bit afraid of that too! :)
DeleteSometimes putting yourself out there is harder than anything else we do. I love networking in person, but I'm so much more articulate online! LOL. Set a date, pick a spot, and put the word out that you're hosting a meet up for writers and bloggers. I bet you'll get at least a couple people! I wanted to go to a meet up in a far away city, and I couldn't. So I planned my own...
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, Kristine! :D Thank you for sharing! :D
DeleteIf your as good at IRL networking as you are at getting followers you are going to be great at this! :)
ReplyDeleteThe mini cards sound cool! I love that idea.
Awe thanks, Laura! :)
DeleteThey're really cute cards. I really like them. :)
How do you make it so you can reply to people's comments? I use blogspot too and I can't directly reply to a comment. Thanks for stopping by yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI hate being shy about meeting other bloggers and working with libraries and stuff, but I agree that it's definitely something to look into. You should def work with your elementary school if you get a chance!
Nvm I googled how to enable replies haha. You can find anything on google these days it's crazy!
DeleteI replied on your blog either way, but I agree...google can solve almost anything! :D haha
DeleteYeah, I'm shy about that too, but I guess you can't do something great without putting yourself out of your comfort zone. :) Thanks, I think I'm going to try it the next time I'm home! I'm never around on school days though usually. :P lol
That would be amazing if you could do something book-related for the kids in your area.
ReplyDeleteI think I need to check out those tips too. I'm a terrible networker. And I really wish we had a Chapters. Those sound like great bookstores. We lost so many to bankruptcies and closures that we only have a few bookstores locally. It's so sad!
Hope you're enjoying Armchair BEA. Sorry I didn't get to stop by yesterday! :)
I think it would too. :) I even think it's awesome just to borrow my younger cousins books! Makes me so happy that they're reading! :D
DeleteMe too. Awe, Chapters are amazing! The chain also owns Indigo and Coles stores too, so there are plenty of them, and hopefully that means they're here to stay! It is sad. :( I feel so bad that all those Borders are closed. It sounded like they had amazing bookstores.
I am! Awe, that's okay! :D