My Best Writing Tip Has Nothing to Do With Writing

Trust me when I tell you that you can be the best writer in the world and you can fail miserably.

I’ve been at this for a fair amount of years. I’ve wanted nothing more than to make a living from my writing.

But it’s never lead anywhere because I’ve tried to do it alone.

Every path I’ve taken has been a solitary one, and while writing itself is indeed a solitary pursuit for the most part, success at the venture is not.

So, what’s my best writing tip?

Learn to network.

I know… ugh, networking.

If you’re like me, you may be a bit introverted and networking of any kind takes a lot out of you mentally.

Sometimes, I feel absolutely drained trying to do this one thing.

• Answering emails.
• Responding to articles and comments on articles.
• Trying my best to participate in groups.

I personally have a significant anxiety problem, and all of this is mentally draining to the point of exhaustion sometimes.

That being said, once I learned how to do it, my results started compounding.

Here are 7 tips to help you out:

• Plan and Prep: Before reaching out or engaging, research the people you want to network with or your audience. Having talking points or questions prepped eases anxiety and gives you direction.
• Small Victories: Don’t aim to conquer the world. Set achievable goals, like interacting with to 2–3 people or establishing a clear opening conversation. Celebrate these small wins!
• Quality over Quantity: Focus on deeper connections instead of making it a numbers game. Be attentive, ask thoughtful questions, and find common ground.
• Embrace Your Strengths: Introverts tend to excel at reflection and deep thinking. Use these skills to ask insightful questions and engage in meaningful conversations.
• Find Your Comfort Zone: Opt for smaller groups or online forums. One-on-one conversations can be less overwhelming than a large crowd.
• Start Small, Scale Up: Begin with low-pressure situations like a simple hello email or online communities. As you gain confidence in yourself, gradually expand your reach.
• Be Yourself: Authenticity shines through. Don’t force an extroverted persona. Your genuine passion and knowledge will resonate with the right people.

This is not a “go big or go home” situation.

Just seek out and find meaningful connections. Support others in their endeavors and generally they will reciprocate.

However, don’t make it a transactional relationship. This type of networking is pretty easy to spot. Make these connections out of a genuine search for community, fellowship, and engagement.

Doing this with lead to some extraordinary compounding results, especially if you’re operating a newsletter.

By using this technique, I’ve managed to make real friends support my efforts as much as I support theirs.

When they share my links, I get a LOT of engagement opportunities.

That’s not the point, though. It’s just a nice side effect.

The point is to network and build lasting relationships, because relationships offer benefits you can’t get with a catchy headline, a clever landing page, or an enticing offer. They can’t be bought and they can’t be forced.

They can only be built on trust, and they are the most priceless tool you can have in your toolbox as a writer.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I'm Joe. I help creators share their unique voices simply and effectively. Here's how I can help you:

• Join my newsletter.
• Get 1 email every week.
• Access multiple actionable links.
• Learn focus, clarity, efficiency, & consistency.
• Profit.