Comments on: Public Speaking

By: KylieQ

KylieQ — Fri, 14 May 2010 11:14:33 +0000

Oh and I should have added that I have to do a lot of staff training in my day job, often in groups of up to a dozen but occasionally in front of up to 100. I used to get horribly nervous but now I just make sure I’m well prepared and I know exactly what I’m going to say. And really, if you sound confident, it pretty much will never be questioned!

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By: KylieQ

KylieQ — Fri, 14 May 2010 11:08:20 +0000

It really is that easy. I am constantly telling my staff that if they’re not sure about something, just sound confident because nobody will question that. We can always mop up the messes later if they were wrong…

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By: Barbara Samuel O'Neal

Barbara Samuel O'Neal — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:49:28 +0000

So happy you found a way to triumph. Learning to speak in public was the most difficult thing I had to do as a writer. It took a solid decade before I could do it at all, much less without shaking.

It’s hard to remember when I turned the corner, but one day I was about to give a talk at a conference and realized I was looking forward to it. Shocking! Thrilling!
.-= Barbara Samuel O’Neal´s last blog ..Book club picture =-.

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By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:47:39 +0000

Great tips about bullet points, bringing out the actress in you, and being well prepared; thanks, Kristin, asdfg, and Erika. Also agree with Ryan that the audience brings something critical to the table. I’ve had super attentive, engaged audiences and one really weird meeting in a loud locale when everyone was distracted. It makes a difference.

Thanks, Cathy!

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By: Cathy J

Cathy J — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:47:05 +0000

Teri,
I have been to a few of your public speaking events and you are beautifully articulate. No one would have guessed you had sweaty palms or were shaking in your shoes. You projected confidence right from the start, which is why we all love listening to you! I look forward to seeing you again soon! ;)

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By: Lydia Sharp

Lydia Sharp — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:20:04 +0000

Jael,
I totally hear you. I played violin through most of my childhood, as a soloist, in a quartet, and in an orchestra. When you get nervous, you’re hands shake, and that’s the last thing you want when you play a stringed instrument.
I also was a theater actress in high school (which was what originally introduced me to screenwriting). And even with all that “performance experience” I still had major issues with giving a speech from behind a podium. Go figure.
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..Tuesday Tunes – Music To Write By =-.

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By: Ryan Edel

Ryan Edel — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:59:29 +0000

I have to second Erika’s post about teaching – I’ve found that teaching four semesters of undergraduates has made it much, much easier for me to speak in public. Strangely, for me it’s a lot easier to speak to a group about a random topic than it is to work with a smaller group trying to plan something. I think part of it is the audience – if the audience is attentive, then it’s much easier to explain what you need to explain. Teaching, though, requires you to think on your feet. When students ask questions and make comments, you get that added bit of “oh, they’re waiting for me to respond!” It’s stressful, but Therese, I’m with you – once you take time acting confident, you become confident.

That said, I have found a great deal of truth to a phrase I learned in the army: “Competence Builds Confidence.” At a certain point, I think you work hard and you enjoy the banter of talking before a group, and then you realize that you really are an expert in your field. Or at least in creative writing…(it always helps that we can make things up, and it’s still a part of our jobs…)

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By: Erika Robuck

Erika Robuck — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:23:27 +0000

I was a school teacher before I was a writer, so I’ve had a lot of practice speaking in front of an audience–even though my past audiences were usually in the tooth fairy stage. In spite of age differences between my classes and current book clubs and organizations, I’ve realized in all situations that my level of preparation determines how well my talk goes.
I try to be as organized and prepared as possible to get the best results.

I hope I attend one of your talks someday!
.-= Erika Robuck´s last blog ..Interview: Robin Black =-.

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By: asdfg

asdfg — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:22:25 +0000

Two things that have nothing at all to do with each other when I give a seminar:
1. I know at least a tiny bit more than anyone else in the audience about my subject. Therefore I am the expert.

2. I get into that other persona, the extroverted actress. She smiles, makes jokes, brings shy participants out so they can ask their questions, gives out lots of helpful tips. Then, later after the show (and it really is a show) and everyone has left, the real me comes out. But it takes an hour or so to settle down. But while I’m up front, that other persona performs.

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By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:38:41 +0000

I’m very introverted but often have had to speak publicly. It really does help if you are passionate about the subject matter. It helps you feel more confident.

I find it helps to list points to hit in your speech than to write out the entire thing. If you write it out, you spend far too much time looking down, which makes you more nervous, and you end up worrying more over missing one word than engaging the audience. Bullet points free you a bit more.
.-= Kristin Laughtin´s last blog ..Literary Orange, Part III (of III): Hosting the Panel, and What Writers Can Take Away from Listening to Those Who Have Already Made It =-.

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