TIPS FOR READING YOUR WORK IN PUBLIC
by Charles Coe
So…your book’s been published. Congratulations. Now it’s time to get the word out. An important part of building an audience for your book is doing readings at libraries, bookstores, and so on. But if you haven’t done much public speaking the idea of standing in front of a group can be intimidating. Here are some handy tips that can help you find your “comfort zone” as a speaker.
Know what you’re getting into. What’s the nature of the occasion? What are your audience’s particular interests? How long are you expected to speak? Will there be a question and answer period? A book signing? A reception after the event?
Know the room. Arrive a little early to check out the venue. If there’s a sound system, do a sound check if possible.
Know your material. The more familiar you are with your material, the more comfortable you’ll be when speaking. Practice your presentation and revise if necessary. And if you’ve been asked to speak for a certain time, prepare yourself to fit into that amount of time. BE PROFESSIONAL.
Know your audience. If possible, greet and chat with some audience members as they arrive. It can be easier to speak to people you’ve met than to a roomful of strangers.
Be natural. Don’t read in “poet voice,” that exaggerated vocal style that mimics a theatrical performance. Your speaking voice should be your natural voice, simply cranked up a notch or two.
Warm up. Get ready by doing some vocal exercises. For example:
https://virtualspeech.com/blog/exercises-warm-up-voice-before-speech.
Remember: People want you to succeed. Your audience is rooting for you.
Never apologize. If you drop a piece of paper, lose your place, mispronounce a word, or whatever, just keep going. Most of the time your audience won’t notice you’ve made a “mistake” unless you call their attention to it.
Stay positive. If there’s a problem with the sound system, or the room’s too cold or hot, or the turnout’s disappointing, DON’T GET UPTIGHT AND COMPLAIN. If you get cranky it makes your audience uncomfortable. The audience will take your lead; if you handle problems with humor and grace they’ll relax.
Concentrate on your message—not on yourself. Don’t get caught up in worrying about “how you’re doing.” Focus instead on sharing your message with the people who’ve come to hear what you have to say.
Practice. Like everything else, reading in public is a skill that improves with practice. Look for opportunities to read your work for school or church groups, or at open mics. Experience builds confidence.
