My Book Talk is a Disaster, What do I Do?
You’ve been asked to do a talk on your novels. As a successful author, people expect a thrilling presentation that will end with a standing ovation. But what happens instead? You find yourself a gibbering wreck, you can’t remember your words and people are fidgeting. They look bored. How can you devise a book talk that will keep your audience talking afterward – and not for the wrong reasons? What can Go Wrong with a Book Speech? There are three secrets to a successful book presentation. Firstly, have a backup plan. Secondly, be prepared. And thirdly, pretend. Pretend you are not nervous and pretend you are confident. This might require an Oscar winning performance. We will explore these in more detail in a moment, for now here is a list of beginner’s mistakes when it comes to speaking on your books. Not writing out or preparing your speech. Not practicing your speech or reading it aloud. Not timing yourself. Not anticipating questions or preparing your answers. Not reco...