What's planned for Books & Networking in 2024?

As we get closer and closer to the end of the year - in addition to the next meeting in November, I've also started thinking about Books & Networking events for 2024.

Here are my plans and some of the things I'm considering for next year (all subject to change!). Any comments are welcome, and let me know if there's something you see of particular interest...

• 2024 events will have a similar pattern to this year, being organised seasonally.
• Planning three "main" networking events (with a guest speaker, etc.) - plus the possibility of one or two smaller catch-up meetings.
• Planning to review the meeting format, worksheet, etc. - there won't be anything radical (more updating documents originally put together in 2020 to reflect how the meetings have ended up flowing).
• At least one Books & Networking meeting in Stonehaven! At a few of our meetings in Aberdeen, almost half the people attending are from the Stonehaven area, so for a while considered organising an event in Stonehaven. I'd still encourage people to attend the Aberdeen events (rather then waiting until an event is in your area), as the reason I'm considering a meeting in Stonehaven is the fact that a number of people attending are from the area!
• While I don't believe there will be another COVID lockdown, I'm not ignoring that there are increase in COVID cases, and rumours of more restrictions reported in the press. While I've never used Zoom, I am considering backup options (just in case!)
• Market style event for local authors to showcase and sell their books (similar to craft markets for local businesses - but for authors). This is a VERY ambitious idea, that's in very early consideration, so this one is definitely an idea that may never happen.
• No workshops planned (e.g. for writing/self publishing) - although I was seriously tempted.
• The original Facebook group - where it all started - will celebrate it's fifth birthday in May 2024!

At the moment, these are early plans, and subject to change! Any comments (or anything that's of particular interest) are welcome.

This year, I promised four meetings - and that's what I delivered! It's great to see growing interest in Books & Networking - two of the four meetings ended up selling out, and November's meeting is most likely to sell out too.

While the above list/plans may seem quite long - these are still being worked out, so some of them may never happen. My main focus is on building the main Books & Networking meetings.

I'll also continue to help and support business owners who are interested in writing and self publishing their own books.

One of the exciting things about organising Books & Networking is that as fairly new events (November's meeting will be the 10th event I've organised) is that the events become what the people attending make them.

For more info on Books & Networking (including the meetings, Facebook group and writing/self publishing support), contact me or visit: booksandnetworking.co.uk