… well, speaking: I’ve been doing a lot of it lately, and listening to others do it, and have concluded that it’s a real skill, being able to make a clear presentation in public and not put people to sleep.

I think that my years in academia, spending hours in front of a classroom, taught me that without my really realizing that I was learning it, so it always comes as a shock to me to hear some really poor speaker. What were they thinking?

I’m speaking most specifically here of authors. While we all agree that we need to market our books (and we all pretty much agree that marketing one’s book takes a very differnt skillset than writing it), authors often don’t prepare themselves adequately for the task. The result is, too often, a mumbled, fast, difficult-to-follow presentation by an author who doesn’t understand why he or she sold so few books at the event.

So here are Jeannette’s Speaking Tips, for anyone interested:

• Don’t read! Unless you’re reading a passage from your book, reading is the best way to put people to sleep. This is especially true of people who make the Dreaded Powerpoint Presentation in which they simply read the words off the screen. Never a good idea. Instead, make bullet-point notes for yourself on index cards, and …
• Practice! Go over and over and over what you want to say with each card. Practice enough so that you can consult the cards less and less. Practice doing it by not looking at the cards. Practice in front of friends and family. Practice, practice, practice!
• Slow down! You always talk faster than you should; take my word for it. Take deep breaths, speak clearly and speak slowly.
• Get help! Join a local Toastmasters club and get the experience you need.

We know that all writers just want to sit in a room and write. But public speaking can enhance your marketing and, in odd ways, your writing as well.

– Jeannette
www.jeannettecezanne.com