© Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, Networking Member, NAIWE Board of Experts
Based on September 2025 webinar for NAIWE
Moving to a new place is both exciting and a little scary, especially if you don’t already know anyone there. Whether you move for personal or professional reasons, think of networking as a way to feel more connected to your new location and to keep your independent publishing business going. You can use the networking concept or process to meet new friends, find new colleagues, and land new clients or projects — not to mention retaining connections with your previous location. These thoughts are an expansion of my September 2025 webinar for NAIWE.
It’s important to make the effort to connect — either socially or professionally, you can’t just sit back and wait for people to find, meet and hire you. And rein in your need for new contacts; be patient. Do make yourself make the first moves, but don’t be greedy for information, resources or connections that you might need. You often have to make those first moves, even if you’re an introvert. If you find it hard to engage, limit your initial networking efforts to small groups or one-on-one meetings; save the conferences and other large gatherings for when you feel more comfortable in those situations.
In fact, the online world these days can be ideal for the shy and introverted; you can “attend” events remotely and manage your amount of interaction and visibility.
When to start the process
If you’re wondering when to begin network in a location, the answer is easy: ASAP — start looking for networking opportunities as soon as you know you’ll be relocating.
Before the move, or as soon after as possible, get business cards with your new contact information and stash a handful in bags, briefcases, and pockets so you always remember to take them with you — not just to meetings, but also to social events and on errands.
The obvious networking starting point approach for professional reasons is to look for local or regional chapters of work-related associations you already belong to, and expand that to ones new to you. You can often join the local versions before you get to the new place. This approach can also work for organizations that don’t have local versions. NAIWE, for instance, doesn’t have chapters — but we do have members all around the country.
Once you’re there, send a message to an association’s email list or Facebook/LinkedIn group to let colleagues know you’ve arrived at your new place and would like to get together for coffee or a meal to get acquainted and learn about the local landscape for everything from favorite restaurants to possible work opportunities.
Whatever you belong to, be sure to update your contact information so you don’t lose touch with association resources — and members. Once you find and join a local chapter, show up at Zoom and in-person meetings. Hand out those business cards and ask about ways you can contribute to the group.
Use Google and other browsers to find local publications that might use your professional skills. Think outside the usual box as well, and look for other ways to find projects: Contact businesses, nonprofit organizations in causes you believe in, alumni groups, etc., and offer your services.
You can apply networking to social efforts by joining a neighborhood group or association, book club, church or temple, hobby group, high school (yes, high school!) or college alumni group, etc. Use Facebook, LinkedIn and things like MeetUp to find groups, both formal and informal, that speak to your interests. There’s even something I just noticed: jeopardybarleague.com, for places where people gather to play the “Jeopardy!” game. If you don’t one in your new town, you can join a player list to find out when new venues are added.
Examples to consider
With the understanding that I’m the poster child for extroverts and am known for staying in touch with friends and colleagues everywhere I go, here are a couple of examples from my recent move to Albuquerque. I have a whole nest of family here — it’s why I made the move — but I didn’t know anyone on a professional level.
- My new condo community publishes a quarterly magazine. Guess who not only was asked to be co-editor, but was profiled in and wrote an article for the latest issue? Yup.
- Chatting with neighbors at one of our occasional community potlucks has yielded a connection to a neighbor’s daughter, who needs writers for an alumni magazine she manages, and a potential opportunity with another neighbor who wants help with polishing some writing by her late mom — and is willing to pay for that editing.
- My new place has a garden (my first ever!), and a high school classmate who has lived here for several years introduced me to a program for making it into a Backyard Refuge. Not only is that fun and good for the environment, it’s an opportunity to write, edit and/or proofread for the organization.
- One of my professional associations has a regional chapter here, and I’ll be attending a meeting later this month. It’s in Las Cruces rather than where I am in Albuquerque, but another high school friend lives in Las Cruces, so it has the double benefit of a chance to hang out with while I’m there.
- My brother told me about a local writers’ group that a friend of his belongs to, and I’ve joined it. I’ve attended a couple of meetings via Zoom, plan to be at one in person this month — and had an offer to speak accepted for later this year.
Where to network
Local bookstores (even ones affiliated with national chains) can be a great source of networking opportunities. They usually host readings and book clubs, which are an excellent way to meet people who might need an editor or proofreader, as well as get feedback on your own writing projects.
Again on the social side, but with the potential to learn about freelance opportunities, you can use networking to find something like help with childcare if you have young children. In fact, business connections might be good sources of such information.
Another thought: Find a restaurant for Sunday brunch, a pool (swim or billiards!) or tennis club, a gym to join — somewhere to appear regularly. You’ll make new friends, and some of those connections could lead to editorial projects. I’ll never forget sitting at the pool of the Washington Hilton years ago, marking up a manuscript between dips, and chatting with an acquisitions editor at the hotel for a conference of academic publishers, who noticed what I was doing and started a conversation. We’ve been connected professionally ever since. Talk about a seren“dip”itous connection!
Maybe get a dog, if you don’t already have one. Taking your dog to a dog park or daycare is a great way to make new friends through your shared interest who might also turn out to be colleagues or potential clients.
How to make those first connections
It can be challenging to attend an event in a new place for the first time. Not every organization introduces new members or visitors, or does ice-breaking activities to make attendees feel more comfortable.
There’s nothing wrong with being the one to offer to shake hands and exchange introductions. If that’s hard to do, create an opportunity for someone to come to you: Wear something that might spark a conversation, such as interesting or unusual jewelry, a pin from an alumni association or organization, a themed outfit — think of those newspaper-print shirts or dresses that journalists often wear to a conference. I have a couple of cat-themed outfits for meetings of the Cat Writers Association!
For a conference or local event with a speaker, prepare a question or two to ask the presenter (keep it short and relevant). Many organizations make their event schedules public ahead of time, or at least available on arrival, so you can see which sessions you want to attend and prepare questions or comments accordingly. That positions you as someone who’s engaged, attentive and worth meeting.
If you’re very shy and introverted, consider inviting a friend or neighbor to go to a meeting with you. That gives you someone to talk to, so you don’t feel alone, and who can be a kind of “wingman” in introducing you to attendees.
What not to do
There can be pitfalls to networking efforts in a new place (or online community/platform, email discussion list, etc.). Probably the most common is to make your first appearance be about looking for work and asking for referrals to colleagues’ clients. Do introduce yourself with brief details about the kind of work you do and where you moved from, but give it a few meetings before (if ever) asking for recommendations or referrals. Colleagues need to know who you are before they’ll consider recommending you for projects.
By the way, networking isn’t just for those of us who are independent writers, editors, whatever, but there’s a difference if you’ve relocated for an in-house job versus aiming to continue or start a freelance venture in your new place.
If you’ve landed in a new city for a “regular” job, you have a built-in network with co-workers in that new workplace, and the new employer might support memberships, or let you attend networking events on company time. Getting connected will take less effort than if you’re freelancing. For freelancers, making new networking contacts in a new place is on you. If you’re already freelancing and/or belong to a professional association, you should be able to keep those clients/projects no matter where you are.
It’s also important to stay in touch with your colleagues and friends in your previous location. That’s easy for me, again as the poster child for extroverts — I often say that once you’re in my network, you never escape. I stay in touch with friends (going back to childhood!), colleagues and clients in places I’ve lived before through email, Facebook/LinkedIn, memberships, even phone calls and — gasp — letters, postcards and birthday cards. Keeping those connections going can be a huge help as you adjust to the new place by reducing any feeling of being alone or isolated.
On either the social or the professional level, but especially the professional one, if there is no association chapter, book club or hobby group you can join, see if you can create one. National organizations usually have resources and processes to help members start or revive local outlets. Being the one who makes that effort positions you as a valued colleague, and even as a leader.
The bottom line
One key element to remember is that networking works best when it’s a two-way process — if you get results, be sure to serve in return. Try not to take unless you give.
Whether you move across town or across country, these are all effective ways to network and become better known among potential colleagues, colleagues, friends and family. Keep them in mind even if you don’t move anywhere new at all!
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