What Do I Say?
A lot of connecting with people at giant conferences starts with going up to someone I have never met, seen, or heard of before and saying hi and starting a conversation. Some people are naturally good at this. Then there’s me. But with practice, I’m getting better. Here are a few general lines to get and keep conversations going. (Start each one with hi and a smile.)
And a great tip from Susan Taylor Brown: Try to ask open-ended questions, not ones that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." So true, Susan! Some of these are yes/no, and then you’d follow up with, "Oh, really? Where was it held the year you attended?" Or whatever.
At a Publisher’s Booth:
Can you show me the new poetry/chapter books/vampire books you have coming out? (I heard Kelly Fineman say something like this many times at ALA, and it engaged the booth staff immediately.)
What’s your favorite book in the booth? (Thanks, Susan Taylor Brown, for this one!)
What’s a book here that has no buzz but you think deserves it?
What are your favorite new books for 6-9-year-olds (or whatever age you write for)?
Are you having a good conference?
Keep in mind at booths that you, as a writer, are not their audience. Marketers are generally happy to talk with you for a few minutes, but don’t monopolize them, especially when the exhibit hall is crowded. They really need to connect with librarians, reading specialists, etc.
At a Breakfast, Drinks Night, Awards Banquet, etc.:
Are you a librarian?
Where do you work/teach/write?
What kind of writing do you do? (Not "Are you published?", which always sounds kind of condescending to me.)
What are you working on right now?
What was your choice to win the Newbery this year?
What books were the favorites at your library/school this past year?
What’s the best thing about being a librarian/reading specialist/teacher?
What’s the hardest thing?
Have you gone to any really great sessions so far?
Have you ever been to ALA/IRA/BEA before?
Have you ever been to DC/Chicago/New Orleans before?
Someone You Have a Professional Crush On:
I really loved your book, XYZ. It ___________. [Fill in the blank with your favorite aspect of the book, like "I can always count on it to get my 4th-graders excited, even the reluctant readers." Bookmakers will be especially thrilled if this isn’t their best-known book, since they get asked about THAT one all the time!]
I’ve always wondered _____________. [Fill this in with a question that you truly have wondered about. How did you make such an unlikeable kid a likeable character? Or whatever.]
It’s really exciting to meet you. I’m such a fan of your work. [Hey, the basics are fine.]
Are you working on anything you can talk about now?
Will you be signing? [And then try to make it to the signing to say hi, buy a book, and re-introduce yourself.]
The one thing all these lines have in common is they’re about the other person, not you. Keeping the focus off of myself makes chatting easier for me. And as the conversation progresses, that librarian or marketer or whoever will ask what you do, and you’ll have your chance to mention your book. But if you charge up to each person with your business card out, and the first words out of your mouth are, "Hi, I’m a writer, and here’s my book," you’ll see people looking trapped and trying to slink away. That’s selling, not connecting.
Do you have any dependable lines that work well in social/professional situations for you? Please share them! I’d love to add some to this list!
I have a couple of tips topics left (what to wear and when you say the wrong thing), and that will wrap up the ALA series. Any burning questions you’d like to see addressed?