Most of you reading this have published somewhere. In newsletter, magazines, or blogs. Maybe you’ve done podcasts or YouTube episodes. Or you’ve published in an anthology, or even published a book or two. Along this journey, you’ve met people in the business. Don’t forget these people.

Some will be editors and others marketers. Some helped you design your cover, and others selected you for a book of anecdotes. Someone interviewed you live, or on a blog.

You may even run into peers who praised you. Peers who have done well for themselves, or may have knowledge of people you don’t have connections to.

The point is to use your connections. If you’ve worked with anyone who can speak to your writing, publishing, or editorial skills, then ask for a testimonial, or a referral to someone you don’t know but wish you did.

Using your contacts doesn’t come natural to many writers, especially the introverted ones. However, the moment you are give a positive reaction to anything you’ve done, ask the following:

1) Can you refer me to your person?
2) Can you write a testimonial I can use?
3) Can you make an email introduction between your person and me?
4) Can we meet for coffee?

As much as you’d love to remain in your hole to write, sooner or later, if you expect to be read, you’ll have to talk to people, collaborate with people, and connect with people. Just don’t forget who you’ve already met, and let them help you meet others halfway. You cannot do everything yourself.