by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I can go quite a while without doing any speaking, and then I’ll have a flurry of engagements. I used to have to put a lot more time into preparation than I do now (not that I don’t put a lot in…just that I don’t put as much in. And it’s very nice not to sink more time in than I need to. Here are my thoughts on the two types of talks I give and tips for making them easier.
The reader-facing talk:
I’ll be honest, this talk has not traditionally been my favorite. But now I seem to have a winning template that I modify for the audience…a template that seems to be a success after trying different things (and stumbling a couple of times).
I start out asking my audience how many of them grew up reading mysteries…Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, etc. I talk about mysteries in general (keeping my audience in mind and what might interest them as readers). I then go into how I went from mystery reading to writing, how I started my writing career, how mysteries are constructed (very generally), and then end up with the writing life and routine. I work in as much humor as possible and I don’t stand behind lecterns.
The asking-the-audience-a-question thing tends to go over very well. It loosens up the audience, makes the room feel friendlier, and helps me relax, as well.
The writer-facing talk
This is a much easier talk for me. Once I know the target audience (beginners or seasoned writers), I can tailor a presentation on a particular topic. I have several talks for areas that I know very well…I wouldn’t be comfortable speaking as an expert on something when I don’t have a lot of in-depth knowledge, especially during question time.
The nice thing about talking to writers is that you share a common experience and it feels like less of a performance and more of a conversation/resource share. Even when I speak to high school writers, it just feels a lot more natural than a reader talk.
Questions to ask the event organizer/host:
How long should you speak?
Is the room equipped for a slideshow?
Should you bring books?
Remember to:
Keep an eye out on the event organizer’s social media. If they post information/promo for your talk, be sure to share it.
Arrive early to be familiar with the room layout, technology, and to greet the audience as they arrive.
Pause during your speech for laughter and/or effect (this is tough for me).
Making it easier on ourselves:
Develop a standard talk or series of talks for each type.
Write out an introduction for yourself for both types of talks (you’ll likely be asked for the info in advance).
Have a newsletter signup sheet available at the talk
Bring small bills if selling books
Time our talk to make sure we have enough time for audience questions and that we have enough material for the allotted length of our talk
What I’d rather not do:
Push a particular book or any book. I simply suck at sales. It’s pointless to push a novel at a bunch of writers and I didn’t like trying to push it on readers, either. I’ve felt some guilt at that over the years (especially during a book tour in my Penguin RH days), but I’ve decided that I agree with the late author Pat Conroy’s (Prince of Tides) thoughts on book events (this is taken from his 2018 release My Exaggerated Life, as told to Katherine Clark via USC Press):
“Nowadays I am famous for never talking about the book I’m trying to sell. I have driven the book reps nuts in every company that’s ever published me…And I’ve always told the reps, “Look, here’s my theory. If they like me and enjoy me, they’ll buy the book. If I bore them to death about the book, they’re not going to buy a book.”
Have you given both types of talks? Any tips that I’ve missed? Done any public speaking lately?
Tips for Two Different Types of Talks Writers Give: Click To TweetPhoto on VisualHunt
I’d really rather not talk about my books either. And if it works for Pat Conroy, then that’s good enough for me!
That’s what I said, too!? The perfect excuse not to.
Thanks for your thoughts on this, Elizabeth. I agree with you that any time you can engage the audience – whether it’s writers or readers – your talk will be more successful. I’ve also found that, whether it’s other writers or readers, I do better if I share a couple of fun ‘behind the scenes’ stories about writing. Doing research, for instance, can go in all sorts of directions, and I’ve found people want to know that side of it. But you’re right: what they don’t want is to be harangued about buying the latest book.
That’s a fun idea to add into a talk! Good idea.
I prefer talking to writers and authors, especially since I have two full seminars of information prepared.
I do, too, although I don’t have nearly that much material, ha! I’m much more relaxed speaking to writers.
I agree to not push the books, but I do think if the audience is the reader type, then they will come up with questions about the newest book (or older ones) and the process of how ideas came up, or where did this happen, etc. Letting them lead with questions is a great way to talk about books. :) Thanks for the tips on speaking.
Good point Angie! And if we can make our talking about the book entertaining, then they figure our book will be entertaining, too! When it’s worked in naturally, I think it can be a good thing.
If a person isn’t going to buy a book after listening to you talk, pushing your book on them won’t make any difference.
Very true. I have gone to other author talks and have bought some books and sometimes have passed! ?
Hi Elizabeth – it’s about having options and knowing your own work … I like the idea of adding those little extras and engaging all the audience – well as many as possible, depending on the size attending …
I gave a talk recently … and was going to talk about Meghan and Harry … having not been watching tv at all and not really listening to the radio, or reading newspapers – so hadn’t realised the overload – but thankfully had taken out one of my ABC blog posts about Prince Philip – which went down really well … so was glad I’d had another talk up my sleeve.
It’ll be interesting to see what Meghan and Harry do about Meghan’s blog … they look to be resuscitating it in some form or other …
Another helpful post … cheers Hilary
Great idea to have a ‘pocket speech’ that you can give on the spur of the moment!
I was up early enough to see the wedding, but forgot until 3/4 of the way through! What I saw was lovely. I hadn’t thought about her blog…wonder if it will change a lot?
Great ideas for talks. They are one of the things that scares e most about being a writer. You make it sound easy.
I think once you’ve given the same talk a few times, you start to feel a lot more relaxed. It’s easy to be nervous at first.
I’m pretty sure I read that Lee Child approaches book tours the same way Pat Conroy did.
Seems to have worked out well for him :)
Most definitely!? Good to know.
I used to teach different technology classes. Through my job now, I speak some, but honestly I’ve lost my courage.
When I attend a gathering where an author speaks, I want to hear about their books.
Teresa
It must be very easy to fall out of practice!
And thanks for the different POV! I think I do talk about my books, but in a very roundabout way. I usually talk more about the series, very generally, and how I ended up writing/publishing them. But you got me thinking…I do talk specifically about books during the audience question time since sometimes they’ll ask specific questions regarding the stories.
Love the Conroy quote – it really is all about entertaining the audience for sure!
I liked it, too. :) I could just hear him saying it.