Because I have events in the next couple of months that will involve speaking, I decided to pull up my tips from a year ago and review them. (I haven’t done any public speaking for a couple of months and I get rusty quickly.) In case anyone else is in the same boat, I’m running the post again here:
Five years ago, public speaking was a dreaded, but necessary, horror for me. You’d have had to shoot me with a tranquilizer dart and prop me up at the lectern to prevent me from looking like I was about to pop out of my skin. If you’d looked up the phrase ‘nervous wreck,’ it would’ve pictured me for illustration.
Nowadays I’m speaking in public so often that the biggest danger is that I look bored. Frequently, I am bored! If you’ve been listening to someone repeatedly give the same spiel, as I’ve listened to myself, then boredom does set in.
A while back, Helen Ginger did a great series on public speaking at the Blood Red Pencil blog with a lot of wonderful tips.
I have a few tips of my own, learned the hard way.
Bring water. Sometimes the venue organizer will provide it, but more often they’re so busy that they don’t think about it. I’ve had coughing fits before and just had to get up and leave. (I’m sure SWINE FLU!) was going through everyone’s mind.
Bring money. If you’re speaking in a library or to an organization (and are selling books), bring lots of ones and fives. I’ve forgotten to bring money to several of mine and when the people asked if I had change, I said, “No. But what do you have?” Bartering at its finest.
Arrive early. I don’t like surprises and events are very different from each other: with microphones, without mikes, standing, sitting, sharing your time with other writers…it’s just good to know what’s expected of you before your talk starts.
Arriving early also puts me more at ease. If I meet people as they arrive to listen to me, I feel a lot more comfortable talking to them later.
Watch eyes and faces. They’ll let you know if you’re getting too boring. If I signs of sleepiness, I’ll change my talk’s course.
Too short is better than too long. Notice when you’re starting to ramble. This can be a symptom of being too comfortable with public speaking, but there’s also a nervous rambling that happens with newbie public speakers…I did it whenever I lost my train of thought or forgot what the original question was. Now I just wrap up my segment quickly when I feel blah blah blahs coming on.
Have fun. Be funny. Those in attendance are so appreciative if we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
How about everyone else? Any good tips to share?
My July 6th release is right around the corner. Click here for my book release contest. Entering is easy…and you might win a $25 bookstore gift card, a signed copy of “Delicious and Suspicious,” and a “Delicious and Suspicious” tote bag. :)
Elizabeth – I think a lot of people feel the way you do about public speaking. Your tips are terrific, too. I’ve learned over the years to get the audience involved. Ask a question of the audience and have some people answer. Integrate their answers. It keeps one “fresh,” and engages the audience.
Barry Eisler greets everyone who enters the room, handing them a card, bookmark, or whatever. He “refuses” to wait in the wings until he’s introduced. I tried it at a conference panel. Works well, and I hand-deliver my handouts.
Also, if you’re doing a program with a small enough audience (which is always, if you’re me), take a minute to go around the room and ask the attendees a little about what they do, or why they came–readers, writers, etc. Then you can adapt the program as necessary.
Yup, public speaking is the #1 fear people have–more so than death. This is a great list. For me, I’d add one more. Have notes. My memory isn’t what it used to be and it makes me feel more confident to know what I want to say and have the safety net of it being written down in front of me.
Karen
All great tips. I totally agree about keeping it short and having fun. It’s wonderful when you can interact with your audience, but that doesn’t always happen.
Luckily, public speaking has never been one of my fears. If you have notes and water you’re half way there. Talk slowly. Take questions. Maintain eye contact. Remember to smile occasionally and don’t shift your weight around. You’re good to go.
Do research, you can say the same points but try to relate it to the audience. Use current events. Understand what the audience may want to hear.
CD
I am not looking forward to this aspect!
I did a couple posts on public speaking a while back, since that’s what I do! You have to know your material – and the audience.
And to keep it fresh, as I’ve done my seminars countless times, before I begin I look at the audience – and remember that these people have never heard most of what I’m going to say. It’s all new to them. That spurs my excitement and desire to deliver only my best.
Margot–I love that! Asking a question helps engage people, too, I bet.
Terry–The couple of times that I’ve spoken to people in the audience before I spoke, I was a lot more relaxed. Nice idea to hand out materials when visiting with the attendees.
I like the way you change the program based on the people attending the talk. Great idea!
Karen–Notes are VERY important! Because when I can’t remember what I’m supposed to say next, I start rambling…and that’s boring.
Carol–And short is good for the writers, too! Nice to tell myself that I can do *anything* for 20 minutes.
Clarissa–That’s a good idea–keep it fresh by working in current events or new topics instead of giving the same exact talk each time.
Alex–It’s definitely not what I do best, but at least I’ve moved past the “deer in the headlights stage.” :)
Diane–That’s a good point..remembering that the people we’re talking to have never heard us speak. It’s all new to them!
Elspeth–My eye contact is usually with one poor person in the audience and I don’t shift it around much. :) I like having a focal point–too bad for the person who IS the focal point. No napping for them!
Be prepared…over-prepared, and yes, crack a joke. Be real. The only way to get more comfortable doing it, is doing it!
Found your fabulous book: Delicious & Suspicious at the biggest bookstore I’ve ever visited when I was on my trip to Portland, OR. Yes, I bought it. *grins*
These are great tips, thanks! I haven’t been in this situation yet, but I hope to be someday :)
Mary–Thanks so much! I’ve been hearing people say they’re finding it on the shelves–it’s technically not released yet, but it certainly seems to be available. I’m delighted you found it there!
Jokes are good for public speakers, aren’t they? It always makes me relieved when I hear one at a lecture–I know the speaker isn’t going to be too dry.
No. I wrote that wrong. I found Pretty is as Pretty Dies. Looked for the other one. They didn’t sneak them out, yet. Sorry.
Excellent tips, many thanks.
I haven’t managed to overcome my fear of public speaking – though I am better – so I appreciate these tips and those offered in some of the comments.
I’m doing this kind of things once or twice a year, at science conferences.
Last fall I had a presentation in Moscow, with simultaneous interpretation to Russian. That was cool. They told me to speak veeeery slowly, so that the interpreters could keep up.
By the way, did I tell you about my presentation in Vienna many years ago, when I said “Oh Shit!” from the podium? A British colleague of mine told me afterwards that it wasn’t a good thing to do >:)))
Cold As Heaven
Thanks for these tips, Elizabeth! :-)
– Corra
The Victorian Heroine
Mary–Actually, that’s even better! It’s been out since August, so if it’s on the shelf, I’m a happy camper. Thanks, Mary! :)
Jemi–And, since you’re a teacher, you’ll be great. :)
Martin–You do a *lot* of public speaking…I know you do well. :)
Jane–I’m not sure I’ll ever really be over it…but I’m so much better than I was.
Cold As Heaven–Ha! Ohh…I have to bite my tongue so many times. I think I have a fear of having a moment like that when I’m speaking–Gen. X is big into cussing, so it sort of pops out when least expected.
These tips are great, thank you! It seems like they can also translate into querying in person.