Public Speaking for Writers

November 16, 2015 / Business of Writing / 36 COMMENTS

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraigLECTERN

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:

  1. Talking about myself
  2. 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: Share on X

Image: MorgueFile: DodgertonSkillhause  

  1. I’ve always over practiced. And took notes with me, both paper and iPad.
    I can’t hold still either no matter how hard I try. My wife says it looks like I’m dancing sometimes.

  2. Public speaking is a skill that takes time and practice, Elizabeth. It doesn’t come naturally, and a lot of writers don’t think about developing those skills. But they do come in handy. I’ve found that engaging the audience is really helpful. Even something as simple as asking a questions (e.g. ‘How many of you folks have ever ____?’) can get the audience to get a little involved.

  3. LOL! I’m a fast talker, too. I always warn the crowd that if I get going too fast, please let me know.

    Interesting idea to post your notes for people to read. I don’t think mine would make much sense to anyone. I do gather emails and send the handout after I teach a seminar though.

  4. The best way to get better at it is to (force yourself to) do it. :) In my techie job, I taught a lot. It was so horrible and I was horrible at it, until I wasn’t.

    I talked too fast. I over practiced. I rambled, but eventually I did okay.

    1. Teresa–That’s so true. Most people don’t enjoy public speaking, but practice usually is the only way to get better. I can see you doing a great job–you’ve got such a nice sense of humor that I bet that helps to make everyone feel relaxed when you speak.

  5. Hi Elizabeth .. I like the idea of the dedicated protected web page for your talks – that makes sense. It’s difficult speaking and getting the timing right etc … I’ve started doing more of it – and rely on writing out the article, reading slowly and clearly … but I must build more interaction in …. I’m becoming much more relaxed about it. I use my blog posts as templates … ie short paragraphs .. and I try to bring in some light heartedness.

    Your idea about giving yourself over to interview questions given by you is a great idea … … thanks for the tips – cheers Hilary

  6. I’ve talked to students (6th graders) in the past, and I always use powerpoint slides! This is really a timely post for me, because I’m part of Career Day this year (8th graders) and I’m supposed to give a 30 minute talk (4 times in a row). Yikes. It’s a career, but not yet a self-sufficient one for me. Still have no clue what approach I’m going to take! Any suggestions, y’all? Thanks! ;)

    1. Kathy–I did the same thing about 1 1/2 years ago! By the second time I did the presentation (out of 4 or 5 times), I was a lot smoother, ha!

      I can tell you exactly what I did, although I don’t know if it’s the right approach or not. I started out surveying the kids: how many like to see movies? How many like to read? How many like to listen to music on their iPods? Then I said that writers were the foundation and backbone of all the different types of major entertainment. That a writing career can mean going into many different directions…even writing commercials, etc.

      Then I did a (very quick) slide on my background in writing. I did a slide on traditional publishing and how we have to pitch or query. I had a quick slide on contracts and how it’s a business arrangement for writers. Then I had a slide on editing and had a picture of a page of mine that had been totally eviscerated by an editor…and said this was a normal and good part of the process. I had a slide showing a cover from beginning sketches to end. Mentioned how writers get and need reviews. Talked for one slide on distribution and promo. Then I had a slide saying that all the reasons writing was such a great career: you didn’t need expensive equipment or a post-grad degree, you can start at any point in your life, you can write as a second job, etc, etc.

          1. Oh, one last follow-up question, Elizabeth: how long was your talk? I’m giving the same talk 4 times in a row to rotating groups of kids. Each talk is supposed to be 30 minutes, maybe slightly less to allow for questions. Thanks!

            1. Kathy–I had to pull up the original email because I had a feeling my memory was faulty. And indeed it was! I was told to speak for Career Day from 12:30-4:00 to 10 rotating groups of students (big school). I spoke for 15 minutes and then opened it up for questions for 5 min. We ran out of time during questions for about 75% of the groups, as I recall. And the time period ran over, too. I did put my email address up there for anyone who didn’t get their question answered and I got about 4-5 emails resulting from the talk.

              And bring candy! I put candy and my business cards on a small table and it was gone by the end. I was assigned some sort of student ambassador who stayed with me the whole time and she helped dole out the candy so that 1 kid didn’t leave with half of it. :)

                1. Kathy–I thought candy was definitely a must! The kids loved it. :) Not sure the teachers agreed with the sugar involved, ha! But that’s why I gave it on their way *out* of the classroom…

  7. Hi Elizabeth,
    Great tips! I love the idea of writing down anticipated questions.

    I’m doing my first public speaking as a writer on Feb 14 – a romance panel at a library – and I’m already a little nervous. I’d love to be as prepared as possible so I don’t freeze up. I’ve done some author interviews for various blogs, so I can use these as a start, but do you have any links/ideas to common questions you get?

    Also, do you usually go to these events with bookmarks or something else for people to take, or does this come off as pushy (especially at a library, where people borrow books instead of buy them)?

    1. Rebecca–Sounds like a fun panel!

      I’ve gotten: “how long does it take you to write a book?”, “where do you get the ideas for your characters–are they real or are they people you know?”, “what’s a usual day like for you as a writer?”, “who comes up with your titles?”, “do you get to help choose your cover?”, “what writers do you like to read?”, “what are you working on now?”, and the infamous “where do you get your ideas?” And there’s usually at least one writer in the audience, so there are sometimes more specific writing-craft related questions.

      I’d also be prepared for “what’s your favorite book you’ve written?” if you’ve written more than one. I’m sure I always look stricken when I get that question. I answer by pointing out the ones that sell the best.

      Pub Hub has some other ideas: http://www.publishing-hub.com/2013/11/words-with-writers-20-fantastic.html

      1. Wow, Elizabeth, thanks for taking the time to respond in such detail. I just put them all in a document so I can think through them ahead of time. I definitely wouldn’t have foreseen all of these

        I’ve gotten the “where do you get the ideas for your characters-are they real or are they people you know?” question before, which is a particularly awkward and funny question as someone who writes steamy romance!

  8. Last year, I got persuaded to give 3 talks without sufficient time to prepare. Never again. I was a teacher, and being prepared is the core of giving a fun, informative talk.

    I enjoyed most of the panels I was in … but a few were soured by one or two authors whose view was the only view in their minds … and they bullied the members of the audience who disagreed with them.

    I enjoyed the one-on-one interplay at my author’s table. This was a fine outline on how to give a worthwhile, helpful talk. Thank you for all you do for us, Roland

    1. Roland–Oh, I bet that was nerve-wracking, especially for a former teacher.

      Panels can be tricky. There’s usually one writer who may talk a bit too much or express strong opinions. I think it makes everyone uncomfortable when that happens.

      Thanks so much for coming by!

  9. Those are excellent tips! I use a lot of them when I’m teaching kids to do public speaking. It’s not easy for most of us, but being prepared is absolutely the key!!

    1. Jemi–I’m so glad that no one is saying I’m totally OCD about being so over-prepared! I kind of feel silly with the amount of practice I do. I can imagine teaching kids to do public speaking is hard–we’re always so self-conscious when we’re young. Heck, I’m self-conscious *now*.

  10. This one is a Keeper, Elizabeth!

    Years ago, I accepted a speaking engagements to promote my books, preferring motivational talks instead of craft workshops. I used note cards sparingly. I hated practicing too much because I became too stiff and nervous. The only time I planned and practiced and timed my presentation, the audio equipment malfunctioned, delaying the start of the workshop by 10-15 minutes. I had allowed time for Q&A at the end, so I glad to have wiggle room to give the entire presentation. Even though the moderator said she would give me a 10-minute signal, she forgot and frantically waved at me to wrap it up. I knew I had more time but I couldn’t argue with her from the podium! In full panic mode, I could barely focus on my notes, managing to hop-skip-and-jump over the last points of my talk.

    A week later, the moderator sent a thank-you note, saying most of the audience loved my talk, but some felt I had ended too abruptly without wrapping up all the points. (Comment sheets were distributed to the audience & encouraged to be filled out!) She never mentioned the unfortunate delay due to the audio equipment. Instead, she hoped I could benefit from the constructive criticism. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. All my good intentions to be fully prepared fell flat.

    The next time I accepted a speaking engagement, the luncheon keynote speaker changed his topic without notifying the conference chair. Unfortunately, he stood at the podium, telling us that he had a different speech prepared but had changed his mind the night before. He then gave the same motivational talk that I was scheduled to do immediately after lunch. (Seriously, you would’ve thought he had been reading off my note cards!) I had to completely re-think my presentation while he was speaking, jotting notes on my napkin, then winging it.

    Thank you again for the tips. Hopefully, I will have the courage to be a speaker again someday!

    1. Gillian– So you do them the favor of speaking, giving an uplifting and motivational speech, and you get negative feedback due to poor moderation of time? Ugh. No wonder it’s put you off! It would upset anyone. I don’t think that’s constructive at all.

      And having to rethink a presentation on the fly is nerve-wracking!

      I’m usually asked to speak on variations of the same topic: promo of some sort, mystery writing, breaking into writing, writing as a career (speaking to schools), etc. I’ve created talks that would cover these topics, practiced them at Toastmasters (they do give both positive and negative feedback, but the negative is constructive), then have them ready to go when asked. It makes it easy for me if it’s limited in scope and if I have a few I could do.

      I hope you’ll give it a go again. It sounds like you had the *worst possible luck* and bad groups, to boot! Maybe start again, really small (Rotarians or Kiwanis?) and build up your confidence again.

  11. Hi Elizabeth,

    Loved this article. I will definitely read again. I am an author and a Life Transformation Coach. I want to impart my knowledge and techniques to others to help them transform their lives and I know public speaking is a way to do that.

    It makes me very nervous, my voice quivers, and my mind runs a mile a minute. I will join Toastmasters next month and take your advice on practicing. I did a quick practice yesterday and it felt so good doing it and I wasn’t so nervous but I only had an audience of one – my doggie. But I’ll keep at it.

    Thanks for writing this article.

    1. Hi Kadian,

      You’ll make a great public speaker because you’re already clearly focused on what’s important–your audience and helping them. That means you’ll be interesting to listen to!

      Toastmasters is a great group. If you’re in a city, there are frequently several chapters to choose from, so you could visit a few and see which you like best. The one in my area (the Charlotte area has something like 20 chapters, I believe) is small, intimate, supportive, and friendly. Any time anyone stands to speak (even to introduce their role for the meeting), everyone claps. :) And each part of the meeting is timed, so it takes exactly an hour, which I can easily steal away for once a week. It does really help to feel more comfortable with public speaking.

    1. Crystal–Actually, I stay very, very close on script but that’s probably because I’ve practiced it so much that the script is what is natural. But during the question time, I do veer off. So after the event, I go back into the website page and add a few things (and sometimes some additional links to information).

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