As nice as it is to enjoy casual dress every day of the week and labor in solitude behind a computer, there are times that require a writer to get dressed, leave home and speak in public. I will be doing this next week.
Washing my face and finding clean clothes aside, I’m looking forward to it. Speaking in public allows me to meet readers, network with colleagues, and connect with potential clients.
There are several types of public speaking a writer can expect to do in the course of her career. What they all have in common is a chance to build audience organically, by showing, not telling. Just like writing.
Know your audience.
Like writing, it’s essential to know your audience. Next week, I will be talking with the New England Adobe Users Group about writing for the web. My audience is primarily one of web developers. They have a lot of computer savvy, and they’re technically oriented. I will talk about the technical aspects of language and syntax for clear web content and short, powerful, blog posts.
Educate and entertain.
As with writing, content matters. I have to deliver worthwhile information, and I have to deliver it in an interesting manner. In short, I have to educate and entertain to make attending this talk worth my audience’s while.
Suit the medium to the message.
For this talk, I will use projected visuals to demonstrate how diction, word order and concision work to hone a message with laser precision, and I’ll give attendees lots of examples, so they can see these techniques in action.
A technical talk like Words on the Web is more about education than entertainment. When I give author talks, it’s the reverse.
Entertain and educate.
When I make an author appearance for Into the Wilderness at a library, historical society, reading group or bookstore, I have a chance to give readers extra content, similar to “web extras” offered in print journals – only in reverse. Instead of going on-line for extra content, they show up to meet me in person.
Readers are curious about the historical background to the novel’s setting and the backstory to writing the book. Readers frequently want to know what’s autobiographical and what’s made up and how I create and sustain a fictional world. Because fiction is magical, readers want to hear about the alchemy of writing it, whether I use a pen or a keyboard, write in the morning or at night.
Meet and greet.
Just as an author appearance allows readers to see the writer in the flesh, it also allows a writer to meet her readers in person. This kind of validation is a wonderful change from the months – sometimes years – of working in the relative isolation of one’s imaginary world.
Public speaking.
Because I’m also an editorial writer and a radio commentator, I’m sometimes asked to speak on a specific issue or for a particular event. These are the hardest public speaking events for me, because they require me to think in real time and speak without the benefit of revision, which I always do before sending anything out for publication in pixels or print.
Speech making is theater.
These events also require some theatrical talent to insure a lively delivery. For me, this means speaking from an outline rather than reading from a script. Reading a speech is guaranteed to send your audience to sleep; do that and you miss your chance to be heard.
Dress up.
But being heard isn’t enough. If it were, my radio audience would be satisfied with the broadcast of my voice. When a writer is invited to speak in public, the audience wants to see the person behind the words. And for this reason above all, speaking in public requires a writer dress up.
Deborah Lee Luskin is an author, blogger and pen-for-hire, as well as a frequent public speaker.
marubadiyumpookkum says
good post..needy expression about direct appearance to a writer in front of readers
Deborah Lee Luskin says
Thanks!
marubadiyumpookkum says
welcome Deborah lee luskin
Feel says
Thoroughly enjoyed this.
Deborah Lee Luskin says
Thanks for letting me know!
marubadiyumpookkum says
I am also a orator and writer..So I understood this article very well and enjoyed it very much
Deborah Lee Luskin says
Thanks for letting me know – and for the validation!
marubadiyumpookkum says
nice to know about you.Deborah Lee Lusking..thanks to share with me.please keep contact
philosophermouseofthehedge says
“Speech making is theater” – thinking like that does make it easier. Whew, talking live on radio – now that would be difficult. Impressive skill. Security is having an outline.
Deborah Lee Luskin says
Yes, yes, yes! And accepting that one always thinks of the best replies afterwards!
Paula Kelly-Ince says
Thank you, I found this very helpful. I’m just setting out on my writing career and have recently started doing open mic nights to try and promote my work. This post helped me to consolidate my thinking on the subject. I wish you the best of luck with your future work.
Deborah Lee Luskin says
Glad you found this helpful – and thanks for the good wishes. Sending them right back to you!
Wysjoyfulcompany says
Good guidelines
Deborah Lee Luskin says
Glad you found them helpful. Thanks for letting me know.
resoplayer says
I enjoyed your perspective on a subject many beginning writers such as myself rarely consider. I am lucky in one sense: I have been a musician for years, and being on stage in front of people should be a positive. I do realize it isn’t the same. Hopefully one day I’ll see just how different it really is.
Deborah Lee Luskin says
I’m glad you found this helpful. I’m sure your experience on stage as a musician will be helpful. Thanks for commenting on this post.
patiencebanks says
I think that this a great post! I have dreams of one day doing many things, and writing is one of them.. This shines a light on my future!
Deborah Lee Luskin says
May your future be bright! Thanks for letting me know this was helpful.
Cristina says
Reblogged this on Crazy Beautiful.
Cristina says
Great article and very helpful indeed ! Thoroughly enjoyed it .
Deborah Lee Luskin says
Thanks for letting me know – and for reblogging it to a wider audience.
pattisj says
Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom, Deborah. Wishing you all the best!