Writing and Publishing News

Are you thinking about going on the speaking circuit? Or to put it in more realistic terms, are you considering going out and speaking to a few groups about your book? As I’ve told you many times, this is a good way to sell books and to get exposure for your book.

Okay, so you’ve joined a Toastmasters club and you’re becoming more comfortable as a speaker. You’ve contacted a few program directors for local organizations. You may have even set up a speaking engagement. Now what? What will you talk about?

First find out something about the organization or group you’ll be speaking to and then learn something about your audience. How much time will you have to speak? Your subject matter, slant and way of delivery all depend on the circumstances you’ll be facing.

You have more options and possibilities when you have more time to speak. While some people prefer brief time slots in which to speak, I crave the hour-long or even 2-hour-long opportunities. I can give and teach so much more when I have more time. You can barely establish a rapport with an audience and introduce yourself in only thirty minutes, for example.

Here are some ideas for your next speaking engagement:

• Talk about what prompted you to become a writer or to write this particular book.

• Talk off the cuff about your experiences while writing and publishing this book.

• If it is a novel or children’s book, share parts of the story and read a few sections. (Read from your book only if you have practiced reading out loud and you are very good at it. Otherwise, don’t bother.)

• Ask audience members to help present your story. Give them parts to read or act out.

For a nonfiction book:
• Share the premise of your book, what prompted you to write it. Offer anecdotes.

• Expand on a point in your book. For a book on how to make your life more green, focus just on recycling, for example.

• Give a demonstration. Maybe your book features handmade kites. Actually show how to create one. Involve the audience.

• Present an experiment or a lesson related to the theme of your book.

• Talk about something new that has come to your attention since you completed your book—a new theory, process or concept…

• Talk about some of your experiences as a published author.

Before you go out and speak, jot down possible topics or themes you could talk about. Go through your Table of Contents to discover subjects. Thumb through your chapters. Some of your headings might give you clues as to subtopics you could expand into speeches.

Once you have a list of speech topics, start outlining them to see which ones actually hold water—or will hold the audience members’ attention.

Learn more about speaking as a means of promoting your book in Chapter Thirteen of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Sign up for my online Book Promotion Course at
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 6:49 am and is filed under Public Speaking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.