Two Different Talks As Writers
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?
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