Features and blogging

First rule of Networking Club (ours, at least) is that we don’t duplicate professions: so if another writer wants to join our group they can only do so if I’m either away that day, or if I leave the group. This doesn’t apply outside of the meetings, of course – in fact, second rule of Networking Club is all about finding connections wherever we can and we are advised to get to know others who have the same job. So there’s nothing stopping me from seeking out other writers for a spot of work chat, in fact it’s positively encouraged.
Thanks to meeting a handful of writers through the Athena Network and also through other sources, I’ve made some useful connections and have been in a position to pass work on, as well as finding work as a result of such contacts.
The keyword in all of this is support, the idea being that a good networker doesn’t breeze into a meeting just to hand out all their cards like a postman, and neither do they lock themselves out from associating with others who have the same career. We listen, refer and collaborate.
During a phone call this week with a copy editor from another Athena group, we got to talking about our personal preferences. The copy editor in question is predominantly an editor and I'm a writer, though there have been crossovers in both our careers.

‘Is your “idea of heaven” really writing content?’ she asked, referring to a comment on my home page (which has since changed, as I try to update my intro page fairly regularly).
Yes, I said, providing it’s a subject I love, in which case I really am in my absolute favourite place, career wise. Obviously creative writing tops the lot but lifestyle content comes a close second.
For my copy editor friend, a solid day spent proofreading hits the spot – for me, a bit of editing is perfectly fine but I would always put writing first. We do almost the same thing, with a few key differences.
Talking for the best part of an hour about preferred clients, pricing plans and working methods was time so well spent; it means we now have a colleague to whom we can refer potential clients, if ever a referral is needed, as well as someone we can turn to if we need help in any aspect of our work.

I never knew the subtle difference between collaboration and sharing, but I do now. All hail the networking tribes and those who sail in them, especially if we’re a little bit samesamebutdifferent.