Speaking in front of a group doesn’t come easy for many of us. I was painfully shy for a long time, and though my career as a naturalist has helped me surmount some of my fears about public speaking, there will always be a part of me that wants to hide away. In the end, we are who we are.
Matt and I have spoken to small audiences about our books. We’ve found we enjoy sharing our passion with others. Do we get nervous? Certainly! Be it one person or thirty, the concept is the same: you’re putting a personal part of yourself before the public eye. We’ll be the first to admit that we’re not professional speakers or accomplished authors. We do our best to be presentable and friendly, because we believe in our mission. Our mission isn’t as much about self-promotion (heck, we do it for free!) as it is about encouragement. We dreamed of turning our story into a book, and through self-publishing, we did just that. You can check it out of the library or buy it on-line. It’s a real gosh-darn book! And you, yes you, can also turn your manuscript into a tangible novel. That’s our message. Persevere, and achieve your dreams!
Now, Matt and I are also on a mission of self-improvement. It’s an on-going mission that requires patience, an open-mind, and experience. We try to go and hear other authors speak, whether at conferences, at a bookstore, or in our library writers’ group. It’s a great opportunity to see how others represent themselves. Some are inspiring, and we fill our tablets with notes. Others are a marvel—in the opposite sense—and we fill our tablets with doodles, jokes, and commentary which we pass back and forth to one another.
We all recognize good speakers when we hear them. They engage us, keep our interest from beginning to end. They have a theme or a point they’re making, and they’re receptive to their audience. Their talk has a logical progression—whether formal or casual—and you can understand what they’re trying to relate. You walk away knowing your time was well-spent, and you may even feel inspired. That’s a good speaker!
Conversely and unfortunately, we’ve recently endured a not-so-good speaker. His ego was a direct road block in front of his audience. He could not see around it to realize that his listeners had stopped listening. What was his topic? I think it was self-promotion for his book. There’s nothing wrong with that if it’s done tactfully and in moderation. But when your introduction consists of listing the price of your novel—not once, but several times—you’ve immediately turned people off. Tell us why we should care before you decide to sell yourself.
The talk then droned to a near two-hour experience of torture. To leave—especially while on camera—would have been rude of us. I guess we’re just too polite. We were lost in muddle of abstract, psychological theory—coupled with painful blows by his ego. We had no idea what he was talking about or why, for there was no strand of coherency to be had. The conclusion we did reach was that he enjoyed hearing himself talk. When we finally had the chance to escape, we could not leave quickly enough. The car ride home was an explosion of emotion—mostly how insulted we felt by the author’s wasting of our time. We gained nothing new from the experience save a painful lesson of how NOT to present yourself.
That being said, we swear on the original copy of our novel that we are not purposely and malevolently trying to tear this author down. We do, however, strive to make a point. A first impression may be your only impression. What do you want your audience to walk away with? A copy of your novel and contented smile or a negative experience not soon to be forgotten? The decision is yours: you reflect your purpose.
-Stefanie
Matt and I have spoken to small audiences about our books. We’ve found we enjoy sharing our passion with others. Do we get nervous? Certainly! Be it one person or thirty, the concept is the same: you’re putting a personal part of yourself before the public eye. We’ll be the first to admit that we’re not professional speakers or accomplished authors. We do our best to be presentable and friendly, because we believe in our mission. Our mission isn’t as much about self-promotion (heck, we do it for free!) as it is about encouragement. We dreamed of turning our story into a book, and through self-publishing, we did just that. You can check it out of the library or buy it on-line. It’s a real gosh-darn book! And you, yes you, can also turn your manuscript into a tangible novel. That’s our message. Persevere, and achieve your dreams!
Now, Matt and I are also on a mission of self-improvement. It’s an on-going mission that requires patience, an open-mind, and experience. We try to go and hear other authors speak, whether at conferences, at a bookstore, or in our library writers’ group. It’s a great opportunity to see how others represent themselves. Some are inspiring, and we fill our tablets with notes. Others are a marvel—in the opposite sense—and we fill our tablets with doodles, jokes, and commentary which we pass back and forth to one another.
We all recognize good speakers when we hear them. They engage us, keep our interest from beginning to end. They have a theme or a point they’re making, and they’re receptive to their audience. Their talk has a logical progression—whether formal or casual—and you can understand what they’re trying to relate. You walk away knowing your time was well-spent, and you may even feel inspired. That’s a good speaker!
Conversely and unfortunately, we’ve recently endured a not-so-good speaker. His ego was a direct road block in front of his audience. He could not see around it to realize that his listeners had stopped listening. What was his topic? I think it was self-promotion for his book. There’s nothing wrong with that if it’s done tactfully and in moderation. But when your introduction consists of listing the price of your novel—not once, but several times—you’ve immediately turned people off. Tell us why we should care before you decide to sell yourself.
The talk then droned to a near two-hour experience of torture. To leave—especially while on camera—would have been rude of us. I guess we’re just too polite. We were lost in muddle of abstract, psychological theory—coupled with painful blows by his ego. We had no idea what he was talking about or why, for there was no strand of coherency to be had. The conclusion we did reach was that he enjoyed hearing himself talk. When we finally had the chance to escape, we could not leave quickly enough. The car ride home was an explosion of emotion—mostly how insulted we felt by the author’s wasting of our time. We gained nothing new from the experience save a painful lesson of how NOT to present yourself.
That being said, we swear on the original copy of our novel that we are not purposely and malevolently trying to tear this author down. We do, however, strive to make a point. A first impression may be your only impression. What do you want your audience to walk away with? A copy of your novel and contented smile or a negative experience not soon to be forgotten? The decision is yours: you reflect your purpose.
-Stefanie
