No fear …

• Posted in On Writing

So, as I mentioned yesterday, I did a little cable access channel promo spot for one of my regional libraries. Wheezley and I were talking about this later, and he said that he didn’t know if he could do something like that because it was basically public speaking.

Maybe I’m weird, but public speaking doesn’t bother me anymore. At least, not much.

That’s one of the things nobody ever seems to mention about this author gig — you have to do some public speaking. Schmoozing with folks at conferences, giving workshops, talking to folks at book signings. It’s all really public speaking. And if you’re lucky enough to blow up big like J.K. Rowling or Nora Roberts, more folks will want to hear you talk — heck, some will even pay you to come and talk to their group/conference/whatever.

Don’t get me wrong — I always get a little nervous before speaking, especially if I’m doing something like an RWA workshop. I start out talking really, really, really fast for a few minutes before I manage to relax. But once I’m in my groove, I can usually breeze through the rest of it. A good, interested crowd always helps too. And Q&A sessions? I totally rock at those. 😎

I’m also pretty good at dealing with people one-on-one. As a journalist, I’ve interviewed hundreds of people over the years, and I can almost always find something to talk to people about. With book crowds, it’s easy because we all love books.

I don’t like actually reading from my books, though. I always think my Southern accent sounds completely hillbilly (think Paula Deen on crack). And I think the give-and-take of a Q&A session is more interesting for folks in the audience than me sitting on a stool droning on about character development or reading quirky descriptions of spandex costumes. 😉

What about you guys? Do you have the dreaded fear of public speaking? Share in the comments.

4 Responses to “No fear …”

  1. Susan Helene Gottfried says:

    I’ve always been comfortable with public speaking, but I must say that four years of college radio ruined me. Why?

    ’cause when you’re on the radio, no one can see you pick your nose. Or eat. (although they may hear that if you’re not good) Or play with things you’d rather not have seen.

    I had to give a reading in grad school. It was my first non-radio appearance. Having actual people there watching me felt wrong — for ten seconds. Then I forgot about them.

    Not sure if I wound up so comfortable that I picked my nose or not… I’m guessing not ’cause no one commented.

  4. David Portney,The Public Speaking Training "Wizard" says:

    Hi Jennifer,

    Most of my students report the same as you – some butterflies right before at the get-go, but once they start rolling, those butterflies fly away and they’re fine.

    Keri’s comment also reflects what I’ve seen over time – when we’re in school, our self-image & self-esteem is tied up in what our peers think; as we age, not so much.

    Bottom line to me in all this is this: once the focus is off of ourselves, nervousness goes away. Seems like an oversimplification, but it’s true.

    Best,
    David Portney

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