Working With Writers Toolkit
Some feedback from networking days
Following 2 days held in Sept 2005, a total of 35 events using 25 writers was organised across the NW region. These are some actual comments received from the networking days which justify their usefulness
From staffWhat have you enjoyed about the networking day most?
- Meeting lots of different people with bags of personality and ideas- and a chance to dispel the myth that libraries/librarians are boring
- Great buzz, great ideas, great contacts
- Great for sparking off new ideas
- Thinking out of the box
- Expanding knowledge of which poets are available in NW- generating ideas together
Any other comments?
- The atmosphere today has been fab- lively and enthusiastic
- Have finished the day with a head buzzing with ideas
- Great to be meeting as equals and generating event ideas together.
- Having direct contact with the authors makes them so much more approachable. I've also now got a list of extra books to add to my reading list
- Found the day inspirational and reassuring
What have you enjoyed about the networking day most?
- Informal contact with librarians
- Wide range of ideas
- Meeting other writers and generating ideas
- The enthusiasm of the librarians
- Loads of priceless info- good networking
- Chance to meet library staff and enthuse about poetry together- cuts down hours and hours of hustling and phone calls. Meeting new poets and feeling part of a wider community.
- Interfacing with library staff and the insider information on book promotion through libraries
- Good opportunity to network with a group of people I wouldn't usually come into contact with
- Enforced speed networking is great for reticents like me
- Bouncing ideas- the energy!
- Discovering exciting library initiatives in the NW
What have you learnt that will be useful in your work?
- Importance of angle, theme or link in planning good library events
- Probably about a dozen wheezes for promoting my writing
- That I must take more responsibility for events rather than just turning up
- The priorities for reader development in libraries
- All sorts of ideas to talk about to librarians
- Importance of branding
- I have a bunch of useful e mail addresses
- Many things- particularly the importance of identifying a library contact to exchange ideas with.
- That we need each other
- Ideas of ways to promote myself- especially in groups as well as solo
- There is great enthusiasm in library services
- What a general audience looks for, avoids, is apprehensive of
