Comments on: Promoting Your Writing by Speaking http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:20:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2627 Camille Thu, 11 Oct 2007 07:24:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2627 In the meantime, can you define "platform"? In the meantime, can you define “platform”?

]]> By: Judith Robl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2628 Judith Robl Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:56:31 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2628 Although I have done some public speaking, I find it hard to promote myself as a speaker as well. Most people want to know "what have you written?" or "where are you speaking now?" Something of a catch-22. Personal definition - just my personal understanding: Platform = database of people to whom you can promote your book. For example: the list of people who read your blog, or subscribe to your monthly newsletter, or who have asked you to speak, or who belong to the same internet loop, or who have indicated an interest by contacting you (even in a cursory manner) to whom you can email a notification of your book. It would also include a list of media people with whom you have a nodding acquaintance. It helps if you correspond with some of these media personnel. A compliment on a well-written story, a question about a series they're working on, anything to begin a two-way correspondence, something so they recognize your name. Just don't be a pest. Although I have done some public speaking, I find it hard to promote myself as a speaker as well. Most people want to know “what have you written?” or “where are you speaking now?” Something of a catch-22.

Personal definition - just my personal understanding:
Platform = database of people to whom you can promote your book.

For example: the list of people who read your blog,
or subscribe to your monthly newsletter,
or who have asked you to speak,
or who belong to the same internet loop,
or who have indicated an interest by contacting you (even in a cursory manner)
to whom you can email a notification of your book.

It would also include a list of media people with whom you have a nodding acquaintance.

It helps if you correspond with some of these media personnel. A compliment on a well-written story, a question about a series they’re working on, anything to begin a two-way correspondence, something so they recognize your name. Just don’t be a pest.

]]> By: Lisa Jordan http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2629 Lisa Jordan Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:04:13 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2629 Great timing! I have a very small public speaking platform and one of my friends is encouraging me to create a flyer about myself so she can promote me to her church conference. I haven't done it yet because I'm unsure what to put. The teleseminar will help me figure out the right information to add! Looking forward to it! Great timing! I have a very small public speaking platform and one of my friends is encouraging me to create a flyer about myself so she can promote me to her church conference. I haven’t done it yet because I’m unsure what to put. The teleseminar will help me figure out the right information to add! Looking forward to it!

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2630 Pam Halter Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:38:27 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2630 As a children's author, I think I have a bit of an advantage over adult fiction authors. Schools love to have authors come in. Kids love to talk about writing books. When my picture books came out, I arranged tea parties at local churches and little girls came out in droves! I talked with all of them and had a blast. Don't know that I have a "platform," but I do have speaking opportunities. As a children’s author, I think I have a bit of an advantage over adult fiction authors. Schools love to have authors come in. Kids love to talk about writing books.

When my picture books came out, I arranged tea parties at local churches and little girls came out in droves!

I talked with all of them and had a blast. Don’t know that I have a “platform,” but I do have speaking opportunities.

]]> By: Lara http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2631 Lara Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:13:12 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2631 When I launched my self-published book in August, I knew I'd need to get out speaking to promote it. Problem is, even though I have two speaking engagements lined up for next year, I'm not sure how to line up more of those gigs and how to sell myself as a speaker. I'm looking forward to the teleseminar - looks like exactly the kind of information I need to boost my speaking (and book sales). When I launched my self-published book in August, I knew I’d need to get out speaking to promote it. Problem is, even though I have two speaking engagements lined up for next year, I’m not sure how to line up more of those gigs and how to sell myself as a speaker. I’m looking forward to the teleseminar - looks like exactly the kind of information I need to boost my speaking (and book sales).

]]> By: Mark http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2632 Mark Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:15:14 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2632 But if you're unpublished, unconnected and already have a full-time job in a cubicle farm, won't you have a hard time finding people who are interested in hearing you speak? Hello? Bueller? But if you’re unpublished, unconnected and already have a full-time job in a cubicle farm, won’t you have a hard time finding people who are interested in hearing you speak?

Hello? Bueller?

]]> By: Lynda http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2633 Lynda Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:20:40 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2633 If you want to see a full blown panic attack, just put me and "public speaking" in the same sentence. If you want to see a full blown panic attack, just put me and “public speaking” in the same sentence.

]]> By: Cori http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2635 Cori Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:42:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2635 Lynda, I so know your anxiety about public speaking. When the local community college hired me to teach English, the anticipation of public speaking made me go into a tailspin. However, after 10 years of teaching, I realized something (aside from getting used to being in front of an audience). I am a mediocre speaker on any topic other than my passion --- the written word. At the risk of sounding arrogant and full of myself, one year the college decided to tape a class of every person teaching in the department. You can only imagine how mortified I was at being on film and then anticipating the critique to follow. During the taping of my 3.5 hour class, the camera person (a 22-year-old male) was so engaged in the class that he raised his hand to eagerly participate! That one event changed how I viewed myself as a speaker, and realize that I am my hardest critic. I know you can't relate now, but public speaking can be fun, even for us shy types. Lynda, I so know your anxiety about public speaking. When the local community college hired me to teach English, the anticipation of public speaking made me go into a tailspin. However, after 10 years of teaching, I realized something (aside from getting used to being in front of an audience).

I am a mediocre speaker on any topic other than my passion — the written word. At the risk of sounding arrogant and full of myself, one year the college decided to tape a class of every person teaching in the department. You can only imagine how mortified I was at being on film and then anticipating the critique to follow.

During the taping of my 3.5 hour class, the camera person (a 22-year-old male) was so engaged in the class that he raised his hand to eagerly participate! That one event changed how I viewed myself as a speaker, and realize that I am my hardest critic.

I know you can’t relate now, but public speaking can be fun, even for us shy types.

]]> By: Karla http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2636 Karla Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:20:02 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2636 I am painfully shy one on one. My anxiety is in social situations. For some reason speaking in front of people is the easier part. I was a communications undergrad and I have done a lot of public speaking as a pastor's wife. But meeting people for the first time, going to parties/mixers or networking among people I don't know and trying to "be myself" one on one to a publisher scares the spit out of me. Will you be blogging about that later? I am soooo looking forward to this seminar! My computer is down right now -- will I be able to access it to download it later when I get my laptop back? I am painfully shy one on one. My anxiety is in social situations. For some reason speaking in front of people is the easier part. I was a communications undergrad and I have done a lot of public speaking as a pastor’s wife. But meeting people for the first time, going to parties/mixers or networking among people I don’t know and trying to “be myself” one on one to a publisher scares the spit out of me. Will you be blogging about that later?

I am soooo looking forward to this seminar! My computer is down right now — will I be able to access it to download it later when I get my laptop back?

]]> By: Don http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2637 Don Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:04:09 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2637 Anyone interested in public speaking needs to join a local Toastmasters club for a year or two (or more!). Excellent training and best value for the experience (about $100 a year, more or less). I joined a club after reading a recommendation to do so in one of Tom Peters' books. The main website will direct you to a local club. You learn a lot, meet interesting people, and have a captive audience to talk about your writing to boot. Anyone interested in public speaking needs to join a local Toastmasters club for a year or two (or more!). Excellent training and best value for the experience (about $100 a year, more or less). I joined a club after reading a recommendation to do so in one of Tom Peters’ books. The main website will direct you to a local club. You learn a lot, meet interesting people, and have a captive audience to talk about your writing to boot.

]]> By: Sarah Stockton http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2638 Sarah Stockton Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:08:18 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2638 When are the teleseminars? When are the teleseminars?

]]> By: ML Eqatin http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2643 ML Eqatin Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:04:49 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/10/promoting-your-writing-by-speaking/#comment-2643 I need to know about the booking and fees stuff. I've done lots of public speaking to promote my product, but at first it was free (if I sold packtrips I was happy) because one sale would make it worth the effort. Then I stopped that business, and all the former people (schools, churches, boy-scout groups, small stuff) offered to pay me to come with my llama and yak. And they all said the same thing: "Do you have a book?" Well, the book I had was too technical, a breeder's manual. And next three efforts weren't exactly family fare. So finally, after much hair-pulling, I have almost finished the humorous YA llama book that suits my speaking platform. Now I need to figure out how much to charge, and how to get the word beyond my existing circle for engagements. I need to know about the booking and fees stuff. I’ve done lots of public speaking to promote my product, but at first it was free (if I sold packtrips I was happy) because one sale would make it worth the effort. Then I stopped that business, and all the former people (schools, churches, boy-scout groups, small stuff) offered to pay me to come with my llama and yak. And they all said the same thing: “Do you have a book?”
Well, the book I had was too technical, a breeder’s manual. And next three efforts weren’t exactly family fare. So finally, after much hair-pulling, I have almost finished the humorous YA llama book that suits my speaking platform.
Now I need to figure out how much to charge, and how to get the word beyond my existing circle for engagements.

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