Building Relationships (May 2020)

This episode is a re-run from May 2020. Making connections with other writers, editors and creatives is essential to building a freelance business that lasts throughout the years. When a gig ends or a client runs out of budget, having a strong network can give you a starting point for finding new work. But we know that networking can be challenging, too. It often feels forced or inauthentic, and it can be tough to know where to start with building a network if you don't think you have one already. (Chances are, you do. But we'll get to that.) In this episode, Jenni and Wudan talk about relationship building, how to make connections without feeling gross, and the best ways (and worst ways) to reach out to someone you respect. They share stories of networking gone right and wrong, give insider tips for chasing down editors, and offer thoughts on what to say if you're sending someone a cold email asking for help. Now that season one is over, we've compiled every episode's resources into a workbook, which you can buy here. And we have a brand-new new offering: If you're just getting started with your freelance business, you'll want to enroll in freelance biz school @ The Writers’ Co-op Academy! We're offering two courses: One that helps you build a business plan (Biz Basics) and one to help you understand media contracts. It's like 1-1 coaching, but cheaper. You're invited to support the podcast by becoming an official Writers' Co-op member on Patreon. All members $3 and up get access to event discounts, a Q&A form, and more. All-Access members receive special worksheets and other downloads along with each episode, plus an exclusive episode at the end of each season, and access to our Slack channel. And if you're a VIP or Pod Squad member, you also get monthly coaching sessions along with the aforementioned resources. If you're not a member, you can buy each episode's accompanying resources a la carte on our website. Episode transcriptions are also available there.