The Ojai Wordfest continues. This is a week-long event featuring 100 presentations and activities for readers, authors, writers and even children. I presented my speech number two yesterday surrounded by a dozen lovely hopeful authors and freelance writers on an outside deck under a canopy of oaks.
I must say I was concerned about the weather. When I walked that morning, I wore long johns under my heaviest sweatpants, two sweatshirts and a wooly scarf. It was cold and overcast. But, miraculously, by 11, the sun was out and we were all quite comfortable lounging at the venue.
While preparing for this presentation, I was emailing with another speaker/author and she reminded me of something I often forget when preparing for my talks. It occurred to me that I should create a permanent speech list and refer to it before each presentation.
Here’s my list:
Speech notes
Handouts (appropriate to the topic)
Books to sell
Brochures (or other promo pieces for the books)*
Business cards
Sign-up sheet*
Change in appropriate denominations
Credit card forms
Extra pens and paper (for those who forget to bring some)
Resources to show*
Examples to show*
*Promo pieces might be bookmarks, postcards or magnets with the cover of the book, etc. I have 3-fold brochures that list my services and information about several of my books. I also have magnets to promote my cat stories book, Catscapades.
*I like to have a sign-up sheet to collect names for my large emailing list. I sometimes ask people to sign up to receive the SPAWN enewsletter. Yesterday, I did a drawing. I numbered the lines on the sign-up sheet, chose a number and gave a book away to the person whose name landed on that line.
*As for resources, I sometimes bring a copy of Writer’s Market or another book I want to talk about, such as Mark Levine’s The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, for those who are considering a pay-to-publish company.
*Sometimes I bring copies of the first books I produced or magazines that my articles appear in, etc. It depends on the topic and the expected audience.
Today I speak at the Ojai Library. My presentation title is: “So You Want to Write a Book!” I will leave behind my handouts and books related to freelance writing. My focus will be on book publishing, so this is what my handouts and books will reflect.
Another way I will prepare today is to walk with my speech notes and go over them in my mind. Yesterday, when I did that, I came back to my office and tweaked my notes a tad. Glad I did, the presentation went quite smoothly and I think everyone walked away with something of value.
I would love to hear about your preparation routine prior to your public appearances. In the meantime, be sure to check out my two latest books. They may just be the life preserver you seek in the huge, shark-infested ocean of publishing.
Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author
Promote Your Book, Over 250 proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.