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A fellow author reached out to me to collaborate with them on a book. Others have reached out to me over the last few years, and it has always fizzled out.

Knowing me already from a couple of local conferences where he was the lead speaker, he reached out for my expertise.

Yet, this post is not about me collaborating. It’s about making contacts through your writer’s group, online form, webinars, and conferences. I can’t stress enough how valuable it is in making contact.

I’ve said this many times in the past. I met someone through social media in a writer’s group. He told me about his editor, and at the time, I didn’t have one and couldn’t afford one. Reaching out, she soon became my editor. Nancy is worth her weight and gold and then some. But that’s how I found my editor. How did I find my first publisher? It was through LinkedIn. My second? Another contact

I stay vigilant when it comes to my social media, paying attention to everyone else, watch what’s going on. I keep my eyes out on people who I can help and who can help me. And from that, I’ve been fortunate in having some books out. I have met editors, illustrators, and just amazing people who have been supportive and helpful.

But it comes back to making contacts. If you want to do this alone, go for it. The journey is more interesting when you don’t.