Should writers attend breakfast clubs?
Nope. Not talking about the movie!
Are you a fan of breakfast clubs? No, not the Breakfast Club, the iconic 1985 coming-of-age-film. Breakfast clubs for business owners.
Attending a breakfast club is a networking opportunity. One way to attend is by purchasing a ticket from an organizer, as said ticket covers your entry and a buffet breakfast. Alternatively, in more informal settings, you just have to confirm your attendance and then you pay for your own breakfast at the cafe. You’ll find them advertised on Eventbrite and local Facebook groups. These meet ups are often offered monthly and organized by a local business owner, an entrepreneurial organization like the chamber of commerce, or even by restaurants (what better way for a new group of people to discover your pancakes?!) In some of the larger settings, there’s a presentation and you might mingle with folks in the entire room while others are very informal and you’re all gathered around one large table. Sometimes the conversation is very “…and what do you do” and other times it’s just a group of semi-strangers talking about life, community, and work.
Breakfast clubs and other networking activities are on my mind today because of a coaching call I had this morning. My client and I were talking about ways to find work and make connections in this challenging economy for writers and breakfast clubs came up. In a world of wildly expensive social media consultants, old fashioned marketing efforts like sharing a cup of coffee with a new connection seem curiously refreshing. But are they really valuable for freelance writers? And am I ready to revisit them next year? Are you?
First, let’s talk about the general pros. Breakfast meetings are great because there’s no pressure to stay out late or have alcohol. Breakfasts are usually cheaper than dinners. And if you live in a city like Ottawa where it gets very dark, very early in winter, it’s much easier mentally to push yourself out the door for breakfast instead of cocktails. You’ll often hear interesting discussions which can be quite helpful for your business. Listening in as someone talks about what led them to switch to a new bookkeeping software or how they trimmed their bank account fees is time well spent.
Now for the general cons: The buffet style breakfasts at the larger events are mediocre. At the smaller events where you just order what you want from the wait staff, I found I was often one of the only people who was actually ordering breakfast. Everyone else was going for coffee or maybe a croissant. I’m sorry, why are none of you inhaling the strawberry waffles like me? So sometimes the food stuff is awkward or disappointing and sometimes the presentations are blah and you might feel stuck. Attending with a friend can boost your confidence but make a promise not to talk to each other for more than 20% of the time!
Now let’s take a look at what it’s like specifically for writers. Attending breakfast club networking events is a great way to get out of our offices, see new neighbourhoods, try new cafes, and meet people who are also self-employed. I found I always came across someone who would be a good source in a future story or who worked in a field where I could make referrals. Sometimes I even picked up a story idea or two. It was useful but not life changing.
However, if you are a writer who is strictly freelance, pitching articles to editors, generic breakfast club encounters might not prove all that valuable. On some level, folks are here to sell. They’re hoping you’ll need their services and they’re on the lookout for people who can possibly help them. It’s very helpful to think of a concise introduction speech that clarifies not just who you are and what you do but also why you’re attending. Like “I’m Vanessa and I’m a writer. I often work with other small business owners to edit their newsletters. I also pitch community stories to magazines” or “I’m Vanessa and I’m a writer. While I usually work with magazine editors, I love these meetings because I connect with great people who inspire my work.”
Many industries and archetypes are over-represented in breakfast clubs (and I’m not talking about “a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, AND a criminal” from the movie!) Be prepared to meet a lot of real estate agents, lawyers, chiropractors, and “direct sellers”. (Direct selling is industry speak for multi-level marketing “businesses”. 99% of the people who sign up for direct selling, massively so. Little Bosses Everywhere by Bridget Read is a phenomenal book on this subject.) Regardless of who is in your breakfast club, you can be assured that a hearty majority think that AI can take care of all their writing needs and that can be exhausting.
So why am I talking about this if it’s not all sunshine and roses? I want you to feel like my honest feedback has helped you make a more informed decision. Based on what you’ve read, I hope you can either say “You know what, probably not hugely helpful for me so I’m gonna stop feeling guilty about not attending events like these” OR “I’m gonna try it a few times and see if it can help me get the word out about my newsletter/memoir editing/blogging services.”
As for me, I’m going to spend some time in my next planning session thinking about what I liked about past events (I’m a fan of the smaller groups and ordering my own breakfast) and what I didn’t (downtown traffic + winter weather kills my enthusiasm). I’m going to reflect on what offer I might bring to the table (hmmmm…. Perhaps my LinkedIn Learning coaching package is what I’ll promote) and what measured responses I’ll use when someone says “Well, can’t you just use ChatGPT for that?”
Until then…
Vanessa
PS: I hope I’ll see you at my year-end planning workshop on December 5th! It’s perfect for writers who are pondering questions like “should I network more in 2026?”