Writing and Publishing News

Writing fiction is a form of storytelling. But it isn’t the only form. While not everyone writes, everyone has had storytelling experience. We all share experiences verbally with others. Some of us repeat scenarios we’ve heard, try to recap something we’ve read or rehash an event that happened recently or in the past. And we each have our unique ways of doing this.

We’ve all met people who are entertaining—we could sit and listen to them all day. And there are others that we avoid at social gatherings because their stories are boring.

What makes the difference? Do you like to tell stories and get a reaction from friends and family? What sort of reaction do you get? Are you entertaining or boring? Do others enjoy listening to you as much as you enjoy talking?

Ouch! These are hard questions to consider, aren’t they? No one wants to admit they’re boring. I think that we all fall under both categories at one time or another. But certainly there are people who more typically fit into one or the other.

Let’s explore what makes an entertaining storyteller and some of the habits that might label someone boring.

We’re more apt to respond to a story we can visualize—so a clear description is important. But too much description makes a story drag and listeners become bored. We generally enjoy stories that move along at a good pace. Intrigue captivates most people. You want your audience to ask or to appear to wonder, “what happened next?” A good storyteller has a crisp and clear punch line.

What are some of the habits of poor storytellers—those that you avoid? Here are some of my pet peeves. They tell a story that’s not interesting to begin with. They clutter their story with unrelated and unneeded details, such as what street they lived on when they were 12 and what color each kitten in the litter was. The storyteller argues with him/herself as to whether this event occurred at 8 a.m. or maybe 8:10—no, closer to 8:05…Once the storyteller has his “victim’s” attention, he may take you on a very long trip in order to make his original point, which he may actually forget in the end.

Boring storytellers often spend time working things out in their own minds as they talk. In fact, they go inward. In some cases, you can walk away and the speaker won’t even notice because he is reliving the story within himself rather than being cognizant of the story he is telling. These are definitely two different story types—the one you relive and the one you share with others.

Some people definitely have a knack for storytelling. And one of their techniques is to be aware of their audience. They present outwardly. They are cognizant of their audience, how receptive they are, and they know how long to drag out or how quick to end their stories.

The next time you tell a story, pay attention not to how it feels to be “on stage,” but how your story is affecting the other person. Often it is the feedback that creates a good story—that is as long as the storyteller is willing to acknowledge and accept it.

The other part to storytelling is listening. I have one pet peeve when it comes to listeners. It’s the one who shouts out the punch line, or who jumps into the middle of your story to comment or criticize.

I’ve done a lot of public speaking and I’ve even experienced a heckler or two. Some people are just born hecklers. They don’t have the confidence to tell their own story—they don’t feel they can be heard any other way, I suppose—so they take some of the limelight from those who can attract a crowd. Or, perhaps, the person who shouts out is trying to tell the storyteller his story is boring and he’s ready to stop listening.

I’m Patricia Fry and I’m the author of several books for authors, including Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. It’s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores.

Use vocal variety. Make your talks more enjoyable by using an assortment of vocal tones and pitches. If you need help developing vocal variety, practice reading to children. Consider joining a story telling group.

Eliminate non-words. Inexperienced speakers unconsciously use so many filler words that Toastmasters have an “ah counter” at every meeting. This person counts the number of filler words members use during the meeting. Filler words include uh, ah, um, er. We can only eradicate filler words when we become aware of them.

Stop poor speaking habits. Rid your vocabulary of stagnant verbiage. Break yourself of using those mundane phrases you like to repeat, such as, “yada, yada, yada” or “know what I mean?” Likewise, watch the overuse of words like “really,” “clearly” and so forth.

Be prepared. You will be more at ease if you know what to expect. Find out if there will be a podium or microphone for your use. How many people do they expect? How will the room be set up? Have your props organized so there will be no annoying fumbling during your presentation.

Know your audience. And gear your speech to the needs and interests of this particular audience. When I speak on local history, I give a completely different talk to students at local elementary schools than I do when addressing civic organizations or historic society members.

Anyone can get up in front of an audience and speak. How well you do it is what counts.

Order your copy of Talk Up Your Book today. It’s featured in an email ad sent out by Amazon this morning. The subtitle is, “How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.” Order it from Amazon or here: http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html

If you are an author with a book to promote, you really ought to read this book: “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.” It’s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html

We were talking about public speaking and communication for authors last week. Here are some specific tips for more effective public speaking:

Speak up and speak out. Many inexperienced orators speak too softly or they allow their voices to drop toward the end of their sentences. Whether addressing a large audience or a small group, always speak so that you can be heard even in the back of the room. I recommend standing to speak. Your voice will carry better if you do.

Repeat audience questions. When someone asks a question during your presentation, always repeat it before answering it. This ensures that everyone hears it.

Make eye contact. Move your attention around the room as you speak, making eye contact with each person

Don’t apologize. Avoid sabotaging your presentation by making excuses for not being well prepared or for poor speaking skills. Stand tall, appear self-assured and you will gain the confidence of your audience.

If you need help honing your public speaking skills and getting speaking gigs, order this book today: “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.” It’s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html

Yesterday’s post featured one of the challenges public speakers face. You don’t consider yourself a public speaker? If you have a book to promote (or you’re working on one), I urge you, no matter how distasteful it seems, to get out there and talk to your readers (or potential readers).

You can’t sell a book that no one knows about. One way to spread the word is to go out and talk about it.

I tell authors, “Talk about your book everywhere you go.” When Debbie Puente came out with her book, “Elegantly Easy Crème Brulee and other Custard Desserts,” she did this and regularly made sales. She said, “I sold books at the ball park, the grocery store… Everywhere I went, I’d sell books.”

An author should also be relatively comfortable as a public speaker. I’ve sold many books and have received great exposure from my numerous presentations. I speak at civic club and organization meetings and in public schools. I’ve spoken before numerous writing/publishing groups, at writers’ conferences and I was the first woman keynote speaker at a Toastmasters convention in the Middle East some years ago. And then there are book signings. Sometimes authors are required to give informal presentations when they sign books at bookstores or other venues.

If public speaking gives you noodle knees and sweaty palms, I recommend:

• Join a Toastmasters Club. http://www.toastmasters.org for the one nearest you.

• Join an organization of your choice and gain speaking experience by participating.

• Get involved with a storytelling group.

• Hire a voice coach. (Generally listed under “music teachers” in the Yellow Pages)

• Observe other speakers. Note what techniques work and which ones don’t.

• Take on leadership roles at work.

• Find a mentor—someone who’s speaking abilities you admire.

If you are an author who is interested in honing your public speaking and communication skills and if you need help finding speaking gigs, writing a speech, participating in a successful interview, knowing how to handle audience questions, handling hecklers, protecting your speaking voice, giving more creative presentations, approaching program directors, getting invited to do radio shows and much, much more, “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.” It’s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html

When you devise a live presentation, you typically consider your audience. They’re history buffs, they’re quilters, their simply readers of good fiction. But what else do you learn about your audiences before you speak? What else is important to know?

Are they mostly men or women? I prepare a little different talk for men than I do for a group of women. Men, as a rule, expect to receive the information in a straightforward manner. Most of them appreciate humor, of course, but they want the facts laid out where they can evaluate them. Women are more likely to enjoy a more playful and light approach.

Younger audiences are in a hurry. When you’re speaking to an older group, you may have to slow your pace a little and repeat yourself for emphasis.

If you can, find out how embedded most of the audience members are in the subject. In my case, where I speak on publishing and book promotion, I try to find out how many attendees are published, what kinds of books they’ve produced, how many are still in the writing stages—hoping to someday publish, and so forth. If I’m speaking to members of an established writing group or organization, I can often find this information by going to their website and looking at member profiles. Sometimes I get a sense of who’s in the audience by asking questions before I begin speaking. Then I gear my talk in what I feel is the appropriate direction.

I often ask the organizer or program director for direction—“Who will be present and what is their experience level?” Just as often, I get the wrong information. I prepare to speak to the highly experienced, multi-published author and find myself facing a group of mostly beginners. Yes, it happens. The organizer might tell me this group is hungry to know how to sell articles to magazines, yet I discover that all of their questions lean in the direction of how to get published or how to use Twitter to promote your book.

I’ve stood before school kids, elderly folks in assisted living facilities, professionals, retired professionals, eager new writers, those who only dream of being published and seasoned authors. I’ve also had audiences sprinkled with a mix of all of the above.

So how does one handle a presentation when the audience isn’t the audience he or she expected? Be flexible. In Toastmasters, we’re challenged to learn how to speak off-the-cuff—to become comfortable being spontaneous when engaged in public speaking or even in one-on-one communication. One way to become comfortable ad libbing is to know your material inside and out. Then you can easily make changes if need be.

Learn more about promoting your book through public speaking by reading my book, “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.” It’s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html

It’s time to start planning for the Ojai Wordfest. This is an 8 day event in our community in early April during which local authors present 100 activities, events, workshops, presentations, readings, etc. all over town. There might be readings by novelists at coffee houses, workshops at the library, meals in private homes with readings/workshops, lectures at bookstores, including our famous outdoor bookstore and so much more. I have two days to decide what I want to talk about and find a venue. So guess what I’ll be doing this week.

Yup, I’ll be out schmoozing with directors and proprietors of my favorite venues and coming up with ideas for workshops.

I’m talking about this because I thought some of you might want to organize something similar in your town. It’s a great opportunity to introduce local authors to the community while involving merchants as well as local libraries, art centers, museums and so forth.

In my latest book, Talk Up Your Book, I tell you how to locate opportunities like this. I also talk about how to arrange for your own speaking engagements/workshops.

Authors, you can’t wait to be invited. You must be proactive.

And this is a great time of year to start the process. Everyone is looking forward to spring—getting out of the house, learning something new, experiencing something different, socializing and participating. Why not spend the dark, dreary days of your winter planning to “come out” with entertaining, educational, informational presentations for April, May, June… Wait until the sun comes out, and it may be too late to set something up. Get in the habit of procrastinating and you may never get around to it. And then you’ll wonder why you aren’t selling any books. Hopefully, you will realize that it is because you haven’t been out showing it to potential readers—you haven’t been out talking about it.

Don’t wait until the clouds move on, the snow melts and the rain subsides. Start now planning your spring book tour either just locally, throughout the areas you’ve planned trips this year or make plans to travel outside your community in order to spread the word about your book.

Keep in mind that there’s a lot of opportunity in your hometown. Unless you live in a dit-dot of a place, you should be able to set up two or three speaking opportunities locally (within 40 miles) every month all year round. And the more people you speak to, the more books you’ll sell on the spot, certainly, but also residually.

Would love to have you follow-up with me and report on the engagements you schedule in coming weeks. Also be sure to post them on your website and talk about them before and after in your blog. Need assistance with any aspect of speaking in public or effective communication—presented in a simple manner as all of my books are—order your copy of Talk Up Your Book at Amazon.com or any other online or downtown bookstore.

The publisher tells me the Kindle version of this book should be ready for purchase sometime this week! I’ll let you know.

Announcement
I am currently teaching my online Book Proposal Course. It is not too late to join in: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm