Public Speaking for Writers

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

By this point, I’ve made my peace with public speaking.  I’m even able to look forward to it with a small sense of anticipation—that I’ll get an opportunity to share information.

I think that my main issues remaining with public speaking are that I don’t enjoy:

Talking about myself
Talking about my books

And I know this seems bizarre…after all, isn’t that the whole point of public speaking as a writer?

But the truth is, I’m rarely asked to talk about myself or my books.  I’m usually invited by writers’ groups or conferences or schools. When I am asked to talk about myself, I frequently fudge a little and talk instead on the writing life.  Because I’d always rather talk about writing than about me.

One thing I’ve learned is that things frequently are a lot easier if I have some sort of a prop with me. That’s because my memory is so awful and I can get so easily distracted that I can lose my place.  PowerPoints with images and little text on the slides can really help me out.  I don’t use text on them because reading what someone is talking about is incredibly boring.  But a slide with an image that fits into my lecture works really well.  I use free design program Canva to make my presentations and they usually look really professional when I’m done with them (even though my design skills totally stink).

I also have learned that I’m too high energy to sit and talk.  Well, I can sit and talk if I’m on a panel, but I always wave my hands around a lot if I do.  Better if I can move around a little.  I purchased a device that wirelessly advances the slides on the PowerPoint and even lets me know when I’m running out of time (you can set a timer on the pointer and it vibrates in your hand to let you know when the timer goes off). You basically just plug a receiver into the USB drive of your laptop and it talks to the device somehow.  Nice range of 100 feet.  I doubt I’ll walk that far (someone should yank my leash if I start to).

Just in case there’s a big technology fail when I’m speaking (it happened in October) I do have a note card with one line of each point that I’m planning on touching on.  That way I can keep talking while someone works on the tech.

If I’m speaking to a group of readers, I’ll actually write interview questions to myself on a note card so my prompts to myself sound a bit more natural and I’m not simply reading off my notes.  Why did I start writing mysteries?  Do I have a favorite series?  I make a list of the usual things I’m asked by readers both online/via email and in person when I’m speaking.  That way I’m more confident that I’m touching on things they’re interested in hearing.  I do still leave room at the end for any remaining questions.

I practice a lot.  I likely overpractice.  I give my speech to myself, to the mirror, to my teenage children, to my husband, to my Toastmasters club (this is a good way to get feedback on your speaking, by the way—I do recommend Toastmasters).   I also record my talk on my smartphone and listen to it as I’m driving around.  I don’t like being unprepared.

My biggest failing is that I’m a very fast talker.  I usually have a lot (too much?) information that I want to impart and I race through it.  I know I’m going fast, but it’s hard to slow me down.  The only times I do speak slower is when I have a much older audience—frequently at library talks.  If I’m worried I can’t be heard, I speak slower and enunciate better.  I have a strong voice, so my volume isn’t usually a problem.

To combat the fact that I might lose people I’m speaking to, I set up a protected page on my website for each talk, give everyone in the audience the link and password, and let them know that the text of my speech with all links and more in-depth information is available on my site.  This usually elicits a sigh of relief at the fact that they don’t have to worry about taking notes.  And it makes me feel as if I’m offering more value for them—which makes me even more relaxed and confident.

I’m always, always early.  To feel prepared, I need to know how the room is set up and if my technology works. I also like to greet people coming in and get a feel for the audience—it can also help with any jitters.

Have you done much public speaking?  How do you prepare for it? Any tips?

Tips for public speaking for writers:
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Image: MorgueFile: DodgertonSkillhause  

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