Novelists, How to Get Speaking Engagements by Beth Barany

In this article, I want to cover how to get speaking engagements for novelists. Yep, that’s right, standing up and talking to people, live. Lots of us writers are introverts, but the funny thing about introverts is that we often make good teachers. Since it’s hard often for us writers to toot our own horn, think of your speaking gig as a teaching event. That way it’ll be a lot easier to present yourself. But have us talk about topics we love and we can talk for a long time. Right?!

So, how do you get such gigs and why would you want to?

Let’s start with the why. Aside from the need you may have to teach (I have that need!), speaking engagements help you increase your list, expand your readership, and –yes! — sell books.

For example, when I speak on writing topics, my goal is to teach, to sell my writing books and also to sell my novel. I never know what people will purchase, so I bring everything.

Next let’s look at what topics to cover.

Topics

To add speaking gigs into your marketing strategy and actions, first decide what topics you’d like to speak about, and who the ideal audiences are for your topics. Some authors I know talk only on one subject. For example, Vanessa Kier, romantic suspense author, presents on technology tools for writers. (http://www.vanessakier.com). Other authors can speak on several topics. Shelley Adina presents on World Building, Craft, and Self-Publishing (http://www.shelleyadina.com/); Sophie Littlefield talks about writing crime and productivity. (http://sophielittlefield.com) You may also notice that what you can and want to talk about will change over time, as your expertise grows and changes, like I use to just talk about Creativity & Beginning a Book and now present on Finishing a Book, Promoting a Book.

 

Your Audience

Next, pinpoint the audience for your main topics. Many authors I know speak only to other authors, helping them with craft, publishing, marketing, and with their subject matter expertise. Other authors find ways to speak directly to their target audiences. For example, Rachael Herron has spoken to knitters about her books because they feature knitting. (http://www.yarnagogo.com/)

 

Prepare Your Pitch

To prepare to request to speak or to respond to requests, I recommend you draft a one-paragraph blurb on your talk, bullet points of what people will learn, and a have a short bio at the ready. I’ll explain each point.

1) Create a title for your talk that focuses on the result or experience you’re planning to deliver. Some popular titles start with “How to…” “10 Ways to…” (or 3, 5, or 7), or starting with a verb like “Finding…”, “Discovering…”, “Uncovering…” Also, I’ve seen talks titled the expert subject matter of the talk, like “Swords in the Middle Ages.”

Example: “Develop and Strengthen Voice and Style for Fiction Writers”

 

2) A one-paragraph blurb on your talk: There are 4 parts to this pitch paragraph.

1. An acknowledgment of the present state of your audience. Here’s a template you can use: “Many people think that….” For example, “For many fiction writers developing voice and style are mysterious affairs, beyond the reach of mere mortals. What is voice and style anyway?”

2. A twist on what your audience normally thinks that represents what your main unique perspective on the topic. A template for this language: “But actually…” An example, following what I shared above: “Actually, as Stephen King says, writers can learn to excavate their unique voice and style — elements that make your writing uniquely yours.”

3. Three to five bullet points on your talk that also highlights who will be speaking, like “In this hands-on workshop, teacher and author, [name] will share with you…”

Example: “In this hour-long hands-on talk by award-winning novelist and Creativity Coach for Writers, Beth Barany, you’ll explore:

                 the key elements to identifying and strengthening your natural voice

                 the difference between voice and style and how they intersect

                 what style choices you can make

                 where voice comes from

                 and more!”

4. The purpose of the talk. What people will talk away with. The gist of the talk. Like: “You’ll get (answer their deepest desire as it relates to your topic)…” Example: “Come uncover tips, tools, and techniques to develop and strengthen your voice and to integrate them into your writing practice. Join us!”

 

Put it all together and you get this, based on a talk I gave March 2013:

 

Develop and Strengthen Voice and Style for Fiction Writers

For many fiction writers developing voice and style are mysterious affairs, beyond the reach of mere mortals. What is voice and style anyway? Actually, as Stephen King says, writers can learn to excavate their unique voice and style — elements that make your writing uniquely yours.

In this hour-long hands-on talk by award-winning novelist and Creativity Coach for Writers, Beth Barany, you’ll explore:

                 the key elements to identifying and strengthening your natural voice

                 the difference between voice and style and how they intersect

                 what style choices you can make

                 where voice comes from

                 and more!

Come uncover tips, tools, and techniques to develop and strengthen your voice and to integrate them into your writing practice. Join us!

Lastly, you’ll want to draft a short awesome bio that highlights your expertise, answering the question “Why should I listen to you?”, shares your humanity, and lastly lets people know how to stay in touch. For an in-depth article on how to craft your awesome short bio, you can check out an article I wrote in March 2013 on the topic here: How To Create An Awesome Short Bio by Beth Barany: http://bigheartsunite.com/create-short-bio/.

 

Tips to Keep in Mind

Some practical tips: If you’d like speaking to be an ongoing part of your book marketing, then post that fact on your site or blog. Post the topics you speak on, your speaker’s bio, and even a sample blurb. Some writers create Media Kits or Speaker Kits to make it easy for people to follow up with them. Examples of media kits and speakers pages: Rachael Herron (http://www.yarnagogo.com/), Jane Porter (http://www.janeporter.com/workshops.php#eventkit), Beth Barany (http://www.bethbarany.com/events.html), Shelley Adina (http://www.shelleyadina.com/contact.php#speaking).

 

To Get Speaking Gigs

To get gigs, talk to other writers you know who’ve done events and ask them for referrals. Ask at your local writing organizations and at sister organizations. Also, consider where your audience already congregates and ask there. Once someone expresses interests in your topic, send them your event blurb and speaker bio.

 

Preparation for Your Talk

Once you’ve got a speaking gig, in the days beforehand prepare by gathering your supplies — mailing list sign up sheets, books, cash for change and/or SquareUp (https://squareup.com/) tool to take credit cards with your smart phone; extra pens; easel (optional).

Promote your upcoming event by posting it on your site/blog, sharing it on social media, and telling your writing buddies about it.

Also, prepare your talk! I rehearse the day ahead and do another run through the day of, often during my drive there.

Don’t forget follow up! This includes celebrating a job well done, and adding people to your mailing list, depositing your earnings, and tracking books sold. You may also want to share photos and stories about your event after the fact.

Good luck with your speaking gigs, and above all, have fun!

 

© 2013 Beth Barany

Beth Barany raves about kick ass heroines, magic and love, on her site: http://author.bethbarany.com and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/beth_barany. Her latest romance novella is “Touchstone of Love” in the collection, Gargoyle: Three Enchanting Romance Novellas.