Don't Just Talk, Speak!

[Peg Herring]

In teaching communication for thirty years, I've learned something about the process. For some, communication is terrifying; my college roommate lived in fear that someone in a group would address her and she'd have to answer with everyone looking at her. I, on the other hand, love to talk and had to learn as I matured that less is better where conversation is concerned.

Writers today must speak as well as write. In order to continue to be published, one not only has to come up with well-conceived stories, one also has to meet the public. There are just too many good writers out there for any beginner to play the shrinking violet. If we want to sell Book Two and onward we give talks, meet library and book groups, and give podcasts and radio interviews. This requires good speaking skills, which are not the same as good writing.

For one thing, there is no editing with a speech except what you can do instantaneously as the words trip off your tongue. I try to remind myself before I start of my common mistakes. Stop saying, "Yeah" ( a real problem for Midwesterners) and use "Yes." Make sure those verbs match their subjects and the pronouns match their antecedents (A parent cares about his or her child, not their child.) Oh, and by the way, say something that sparkles with wit while you're at it!

The best way to prepare for speaking is to...well, prepare. Obviously you can practice "canned" presentations, and that part should be flawless. You can also practice, alone or with a helpful partner, answering questions you might get from an interviewer or an audience member. You won't think of everything, but just putting thoughts into words out loud and listening to yourself (see yesterday's blog) will build confidence and smooth out rough spots.

It's essential to have basic mini-speeches to cover your biographical information, the basics of your writing/current book, and at least one reason that you are different from everyone else. Develop a 30-second to 1-minute answer to each of the above and you've got a good start. After that try to think of what people want to know from an author. I've mentioned in the past that a question that threw me, and one I still get a lot, is "How long did it take you to write this book?" I didn't know what, in the five-year process of writing, submitting, editing, resubmitting, etc. equaled how long it took, but audiences want a definitive answer. I settled on six months, with a one-sentence addition to explain that six months is, for me, what it takes to get a complete story down with initial editing. I stress that after that there is much, much more.

To sum up, in order to make a career of writing we must think of ourselves as writers but also as speakers. We must expect to speak to strangers, and we must each find how we best deal with that. You may cringe when entering a roomful of people; if so, you'll need to work on just saying a few impressive words to individuals you meet. You may enjoy the attention of fans and reporters; if so you need to develop presentations that will get you noticed. Whichever way you go, you'll have moments when you ask yourself, "Can I really do this?" The answer is yes, if you want to move forward.

And if you've practiced your speech.