Your Author’s Journey Beyond the Page – Embracing Public Speaking
I was almost in tears.
The audience was silent. I had just told a joke, and no one laughed. I gulped, went on with my presentation with shaking hands, and was so glad when it was over. I slunk off into a corner and curled into myself. If I make myself small, I reasoned, no one will notice me.
One audience member cornered me afterward. “Well, that didn’t go too well, did it?” He was quite smug. He’d heard of me, the Lipsticking lady, talking up women’s rights and how we are so ignored on the web (this was the early 2000s). He’d expected more and seemed gleeful that I had failed in the first true public presentation I’d ever given.
“No,” I admitted, trying to slip away from him. I was mortified enough. I didn’t need him to make me feel worse. “But next time will be better.” And I turned and almost ran away.
That happened. To me. I was invited to speak, and I accepted, and I went into the whole thing woefully unprepared. I vowed, never again!
Now, I vow never to let my authors experience the guilt and shame of such an experience.
When we work together, I want you to know the written word is a means to an end, and often, that end is public speaking.
Yes, you want to engage your reader. Your words speak in each reader’s head with a voice all their own. When you have an audiobook, the reader is further engaged by hearing your voice (or your voiceover actor’s voice).
However, adding the role of public speaking sets you up for greater success and increases your book sales. Let’s talk about that a bit.
Authors need to think beyond the writing
As we’ve mentioned many times before, the need to build your platform starts with the first word you write. We’re not going to belabor the point here.
Read Tom’s blog post, “Timeless Advice for Authors,” to learn more about all the elements of an author brand. And this blog post I wrote, “Your Author Brand,” for a deeper into your brand. Your brand, after all, is an important part of your platform.
One of the highlights of being a published author is connecting with readers on a personal level.
My daughter, Chloe DiVita, a story and speech choreographer, offers this advice:
- Start with your idea
- Create an outline
- Decide what are the most important points to include – this can be done via data, stories, anecdotes, analogies, etc.
- Then, write a script or a storyboard of your talk.
- Read it out loud and edit it and edit it
And here’s what to avoid – don’t create your slides and then put words to them. Slides should support the talk, not the other way around.
What I want you to understand is that your book is a tool that admits you to places you’ve never been before—events looking for authors who know how to talk about the meaning and message in their book. The personal connections you make there can catapult your book sales and your business.
Remember, the gig you get might buy a copy of your book for every attendee ahead of time. Or you might be able to sell books (at a discount) in the back of the room.
This is great because you can buy books at the author’s cost—much lower than the actual retail price—then sell them at a discount while still making a profit. Plus, attendees get a signed copy. It’s very impressive.
I want you to start preparing your public speaking opportunities the same way you will prepare your marketing.
It’s a part of your marketing, but because it requires so much more of an investment (time, energy, and $$$), being prepared well ahead of publication gives you an in others might not have.
I recommend creating a speaker sheet that shines – with all the relevant info on what you talk about, who you are, your book, and how to contact you. Plus, a really nice headshot photo.
And a media page that sets you up as the best person to talk about your topic, in public.
Common Fears and Misconceptions About Public Speaking
📝 I hear you saying, “I’m a writer, not a speaker.”
I get it. You want to write. If you’re a novel writer or a memoir writer, you might not be thinking of public speaking as a way to enhance your sales and your message.
Novel writers also need to speak, however. You need to connect with your audience and share your secrets about writing. Your audience – at book clubs, fan groups, or genre events will want to hear about your characters and the worlds you write about, too.
Memoir writers need to reach out and meet their audience in person to show camaraderie. To show empathy. Your readers need to embrace you as you stand on stage and share the stories you’ve written about.
But most of all, nonfiction writers need to speak. So, if you’re writing a nonfiction business book, public speaking needs to be at the top of your marketing plan.
I say, write with the expectation of speaking.
😨 If you’re afraid, as so many of us are – I was petrified when I was asked to speak at the event in the true story above. I’d never considered speaking. I hated being in public.
But I did it. I did it because it was important to my message, my book at the time, and to me. Fear of public speaking. If you need coaching to get out of the fear of speaking in public headspace, get it.
📝 And yes, I know your work speaks for itself. Yet, how much more powerful will it be when you give it a voice beyond the page. When you speak to an eager audience hanging off of your every word (because you prepared well and could do this speech with your eyes closed)?
Seven Types of Speaking Opportunities for All Authors
- Book readings and book clubs
- Book signings (collaborate with other authors on these)
- Panel discussions
- Keynote speeches
- Workshops and seminars
- Podcast and radio interviews
- Virtual events and webinars
All of these require your expertise. We’ll be doing a book signing for Tom’s and Michele’s book, I Am Perfectly Flawsome, in California, in November. Because Michele took the initiative and asked Barnes & Noble how it could be arranged.
Panel discussions are my favorite. I love the banter and open discussion format.
Keynotes are harder to get but not impossible. Be persistent.
Workshops and seminars – plan for these well ahead of publication.
Podcast and radio interviews – these can happen while you’re writing the book. Create a great media page and pitch letter to send via email.
Virtual events and webinars, your own or one you might do with other authors. I’ve done a number of these, and they are fun and educational. We got one of our recent clients from a webinar we did last year.
Don’t discount volunteering to speak at libraries, networking groups in your local area, and on LinkedIn. I’ve done some fun panels on LinkedIn.
My LinkedIn friend, Tara LaFon Gooch, who is an author and keynote speaker (her new book Talk Your Way To The Top will be out soon!) has this advice:
“For authors looking to transition into public speaking, the key is confidence and maximizing your opportunities. First, hone in on your message. As an author, you already have a powerful narrative—use that to create a signature talk that resonates with your audience.
Second, build speaking engagements and workshops around your book’s themes and lessons to further extend your reach. This not only elevates your brand but also allows you to make the most of each opportunity by offering more value beyond the pages of your book.
Finally, be authentic. Audiences connect with speakers who are genuine and relatable, so don’t be afraid to share personal stories and insights.”
Building Your Speaking Skills
- Know your material inside and out
- Craft your author’s story
- Develop engaging talking points
- Practice techniques and tips
Learn how to share/narrate a good story. Do not merely read from your book. Prepare some stories no one has heard before. Be comfortable telling them.
Practice in front of a mirror.
Practice with an audience you create (friends, family, colleagues).
Prepare your own Q&A. Your audience will surely have their own questions, but many will have the same ones. Get your event planner to ask the audience beforehand what they want to know or learn from your presentation.
- Join local speaking clubs (e.g., Toastmasters)
- Start small with local groups
- Seek feedback to continuously improve (learn how to give good feedback also)
- Consider working with a speaking coach – I know one who is fantastic.
Where Are the Speaking Opportunities?
From the Thought-Leader blog: “Speaker Opportunities Near Me: Guide to Speaking Gigs in the U.S.”
“… it’s crucial that you start by determining the ideal criteria for the stage. Think of your particular niche and/or industry, and consider the relevancy of speaking opportunities you want to find. For example, maybe you’re a motivational public speaker for recovering addicts. With this in mind, you wouldn’t want to pitch your speech to just any audience or platform. While there may be some people who find your speech relevant, others may not. You want to find relevant opportunities that align with your messaging and target audience, because that’s how you can leverage the most impact – by speaking to audiences that your message resonates with.”
Recommended from this resource:
From my own Google searches:
And from an email Tom sent me today:
Speakertunity – the Ultimate Speaker Toolbox
Of course, you should also attend events and learn more about their needs if you can. The more you know about how an event operates and who chooses the speakers, the easier it will be to get listed in the database for future opportunities.
Remember that speaking in public is just another part of being a published author. Check out the links I shared here. Each of them offers valuable information about becoming a better public speaker and finding places to speak.
So, what did I miss? What’s not here that you wish was here? Any questions?
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