A little primer on "networking" from an introvert. Before #AppellateTwitter and so on, I would go to the big Texas appellate shin digs and execute my "stand next to the shrimp" plan. This was not effective, except at acquiring shrimp. The plan worked excellently for that. 1/

But #AppellateTwitter invented itself, and also I started joining various bar things ( @TexAppOrg, the @HBAFed, the Inns of Court) and kept going to the shindigs. Eureka, every time I go now, I know *someone.* These someones often know other people. /2

So now I can get shrimp and stand next to these people I know, and then I know some more people. Next time, I've already met that person (their name is usually on a magnetic name tag, which also helps) and so I stand near them with shrimp. It more or less works. /3

Anyway, I joke about not being good at socializing, but I do actually enjoy all these people I've met in the last six years, especially in the appellate world. My point is: it gets easier if you keep at it, and it is nice when the tipping point comes and you know the people.

Oh, one other note: knowing "the people" is good, but I've found that in any recurring group, there's like 5 people that are always there and know everyone else. So knowing them is good!