The development and use of complex systems models can involve many common
problems, problems that are solved again and again by different researchers
with various backgrounds and experience.  The application of the software
engineering patterns paradigm to complex systems modeling will enable
capture of the wisdom of the network modeling community in such a way that
proven solutions to recurring challenges can be identified and tailored to
the specific problem at hand.  The use of networks for simulation and
analysis are two areas of complex systems modeling that stand to benefit
from the patterns approach.  The use of networks to guide thinking, as
analytic tools and as visualizations is ubiquitous in the field of complex
systems.  However, various methods of using networks (e.g. design, updating
functions, visualization, analysis) are not always obvious to a newcomer
and are often assumed as general knowledge in the literature.  This paper
is a first step towards a pattern language addressing these issues for the
complex systems community.