Question for Authors & Readers Alike

You've got some time to figure out what you wnat to discuss. People are always
interested in writers. Come up with something that will firt in the half-hour time frame
and take it from there. Make it a book signing or something.

I guess that depends on the audience. If the audience is going to be comprised of unpublished authors, then maybe an overview of the industry would be helpful, telling them what it takes to become a published author and what it takes to sell a book once published.

If published authors are going to be in the audience then maybe some war stories to which they can all relate.

If it's going to be the general public, maybe unraveling the mystery of being a published author, common misconceptions and what it's like in the real world.

I have given talks before but it may be different than yours because my books are non-fiction. People do like to hear the ends and outs of getting published but they also like to now about your books. Do you have a reader guide for the book. Discussion questions for book clubs. I found offering to appear at there next book club helpful as well. Good luck. Hope you sell lots of books.

I was thinking of opening the floor to a Q&A session, but I didn't want the entire presentation to be Q&A, so we shall see. Maybe I'll let the audience dictate what they want me to talk about. :P

~~Becka

I'd like to hear an author speak about editing. Both what the author does on her own and then what happens after a book is accepted. The info on publishing tends to sound the same after you've heard it a couple of times.

People also like to hear about what other authors find easy to do, what they find difficult to do, and the writing tricks & tips that have served them well.

I went to an authors lecture. One of the best things she did (for me anyways) was passed out paper and asked everyboy to quickly write a single sentence about what they would write about. We scratched away for about a minute.
Then she asked us to count up the words. Then re-write the sentence using two less words.
Her point was a writer has to learn how to self edit and realize every word is not pure gold!

I think it depends on your audience. If I went to a lecture as a reader I'd want to know about the author as a person. If I went as a hopeful writer I'd want to know more about a particular aspect... probably editing.

I think I would want a short version of your "story" as a writer, that way I care about you and what you have to say. After that I would be interested in how to submit and where.

When my husband did library talks they usually ended up being like career day, so in your shoes I would prep a talk about what you do and how you got there. Q&A is a good idea, but you should be prepared to fill the whole time talking because often your audience is too shy to ask questions. You'll end up with lots of questions as you sign books from people who were too afraid to raise their hand in a crowded room. Also prepare some fluff to start with because people will walk in late and you don't want them to miss the important stuff.

How did the talk go?

Havent' had it yet, not until April '08. Just preparing! :P

~~Becka

Becka...I would pick out my very best (in your judgment) book and I would mark/read selected passages within it, ones you've felt were especially good and audience catching.... During that very short reading, if you can, watch for audience reaction... that will set the tone...I like the questions...but I would get them ahead and have them already gathered so you don't waste time...and you should pick and choose what best "publicizes" you...

I would also have a handout, book markers, or whatever you can provide as handouts on all your work...leave that on the seats before you start if you want questions from the floor...or afterwards (have somebody available to do this for you) if you don't.

If you don't have a good reading voice (loud and clear), then ask somebody to do the reading for you and have them be prepared to be stopped...you could then intersperse comments or even allow questions if you saw somebody was wanting to say something.

The best thing...make sure you feel comfortable with what you decide...dress smartly but casual...slacks maybe, so you don't have to worry about bending and stretching...
If you have a soft voice, see if you can get a mike...

Also...check out what publicity the library is going to do for you...and/or what has been done in the past...try to be different, but not so different that you will not be doing what they publicized for you...

Have fun...relax...enjoy...this is your time to shine... Make sure you leave or give your "card" to everyone and leave a few...