Comments on: Freelancer’s Survival Guide: 2 Personality Types (Networking Part 6)

By: Kris

Kris — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:21:09 +0000

I actually whisper, as I leave the hotel room, “Show time!” Then, when I’m done for the night, I add, “And…off.” It helps.

By: Geri Jeter

Geri Jeter — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:03:32 +0000

There are also some of us out there who appear as extroverts, but are in actuality reformed introverts. Every time I go to a party, convention, conference, whatever, I have to convince myself to go. I take a leaf from Bob Fosse’s book (“It’s show time!”) and stuff the fear way down deep.

Like ballet, the whole thing never becomes easy, but it does become possible.

By: Pati Nagle

Pati Nagle — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:12:22 +0000

Yes, volunteering can be dangerous, in more ways than one. Sadly, I had a bad experience at Worldon long ago: I volunteered to be the door minder at the SFWA suite. I was supposed to check that people coming in were members and give them a badge sticker. Some of the pros took offense that I didn’t instantly recognize them.

I had hoped that volunteering for that job would be a way of meeting folks. Turned out not so well, that time.

By: Kris

Kris — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:00:24 +0000

Volunteering is a double-edged sword. You can get too involved and become caught up in all the group dynamics stuff that I mentioned before. Or help too much. We actually had to do an intervention for a writer friend who volunteered too much. That left her with no time to write. So while it might work to take the edge off, realize that volunteering can cause its own problems.

Conventions/workshops/continuing ed becomes easier with time. Going into new situations is tough for some of us. I think Patrick’s advice is good; go to the same convention more than once. Practice really does help–and becoming familiar with the world helps as well.

By: Annie Reed

Annie Reed — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 05:24:01 +0000

Boy, did your description of your first Wiscon remind me of exactly how I felt at Worldcon in Anaheim. I’m a little bit better these days, but I felt so totally out of my element at Worldcon, and I reverted to what I usually do in such situations: sit or stand on the sidelines and observe, not interact. Oh — and take copious notes.

What about volunteering at cons/workshops a way for a shy or introverted person to meet people? That’s how I met Dean all those years ago – volunteering to work on a workshop committee. I know there has to be a balancing act with volunteerism so that it doesn’t infringe so much on a freelancer’s time that she can’t get her own work done, but it’s one way for a shy person to learn to interact with a small(er) group of professionals.