Why You Should Always Talk About Your Book by Kirsten McNeill

Let’s welcome back Kirsten McNeill as she shares with us “Why You Should Always Talk About Your Book” Enjoy!

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How often do you talk about your book?

Do you avoid sharing it because you’re afraid of judgement?

It’s normal to be nervous about people’s reactions, but I guarantee you are not talking about your book as much as you can be.

Talking about your writing journey is important.

It shows people what you’re passionate about. It lets them into your world and allows them to be excited with you.

Always assume that people are hearing you talk about your writing for the first time, every time.

People are bombarded with so much information daily, that they need repetition to remember which books they wanted to buy.

You might assume you’ve already told a certain loved one about your book, but how much did you actually say?

The Hurt Reaction

I’ll give you the perfect example from my life.

I was at a family dinner, and eventually the conversation gave me the opportunity to mention my writing.

I had recently started writing the first draft of my health memoir and I wanted to celebrate that!

When I shared this information, one of my family members said, “Memoir? You can’t write a memoir, you’re not dead!”

How could they not know that I was writing a health memoir?

A different family member had been encouraging me to do it since 2020.

I’ve been outlining the journey for over three years now, recalling the events of my dislocated kneecap and cancer diagnosis.

So, how did this family member not know?

My instinct was to make a sarcastic joke in response. I said, “Dead people can’t write anyways!”

Sometimes when I’m hurt I can’t think of a good thing to say, and by the time I figure it out, the conversation moves on to something completely different.

Luckily, my brain processed the information faster than usual.

Instead of sulking silently, I explained the difference between memoirs, which shares one piece of someone’s life, and an autobiography, which shares the entirety of someone’s life.

Though I didn’t get a chance to explain why I was writing my health memoir, I’m glad I spoke up and shared more than I normally would.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I hadn’t spoken to this particular person about my plans to write a memoir.

I’d talked to them a lot about the one I helped a friend write, called Escaping to Freedom, but how much had I mentioned the plan to write my own?

I may have said it in passing once or twice, but not enough to truly show how serious I was about using my story to inspire others.

I made an assumption about what I had told them and how much information they had retained.

People have busy lives, and they can’t always remember everything that you’re up to.

3 Tips for Talking About Your Book

If you want more practice speaking with people in your life about your book, try these:

Tip 1 — Ask Questions

With any conversation, sometimes people don’t have the capacity to fully engage with you. Before you go into a full description of your book, ask questions.

“Hey, can I tell you about the book I’m currently writing?”

“What have I told you so far about my latest book?”

“Can I practice pitching my book synopsis to you?”

Asking permission before you begin ensures people are more present in your conversation, therefore more likely to retain the information.

Tip 2 — Speak with Confidence

Your book deserves your highest level of excitement.

Plan out a few key points that you want to mention every time you talk about your book.

Practicing this will reduce the amount of times you fumble over your words.

When you share your book with happiness, that energy will be reciprocated when you’re talking to your loved ones.

Even if they don’t read your genre, they love you, and knowing that you’re happy will also make them happy.

Tip 3 — Handle Criticism Respectfully

When you’re in the mood to celebrate, you are not in the mood for criticism.

Unfortunately, some people like to share criticism whether you ask for it or not.

If it’s a loved one, it’s usually coming from a good place. They want to help in the best way they know how.

But sometimes you only need a cheerleader, who offers 100% support.

During times of unsolicited criticism, try not to react in anger.

Practice a standard line you share when you want to calmly and respectfully reject the criticism, and end the conversation with that person.

Try something like:

“It’s okay if you can’t celebrate with me, but I would appreciate it if you withheld your criticism.”

“I appreciate that you care enough to want to help! When I’m ready for constructive criticism, I know I can count on you.”

Keep Moving Forward

Never stop talking about your books and writing experiences, because this is your passion.

Sharing this lets people know what you’re up to and gives you more practice and confidence for when you talk to book agents, publishers, or readers at book conventions.

Whenever you think you’ve talked about it enough, talk about it more. You never know what people remember about your book, and sometimes they need a reminder!

Even if you are talking about your book “too much,” the ones who love you won’t stop you.

They will enjoy hearing how passionate you are and feel happy as you light up talking about your work.

So, keep talking, keep writing, and…

Never forget that you are worthy!

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ABOUT KIRSTEN MCNEILL

Kirsten McNeill is a Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach, Blogger, and Self-Published Writer. Her mission with Worthy Writers Coaching is to align you with your creative side through practical writing schedules and exploring your identity. Connect to your sunflower confidence to publish and share your stories with an empowered mindset.

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