I have long been fearful of public speaking. When I had to stand up before the board of education several years ago, to fight for the challenge program in our school district, I was a shaking, quivering mess.
Since that time, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to present myself to the public — online. You can find me speaking my mind every week in one way, shape, or form on Writer Unboxed. But that’s public exposure, not public speaking.
As the date for the release of The Last Will of Moira Leahy approached, I was a little concerned. Would the shaking, quivering me come back for an encore, or had I conquered my stage fright? I had a book talk and signing at my local Barnes & Noble the day the book came out. The store was packed; I learned later that 150 people were there to hear my presentation. Not only that, a television crew appeared to get a clip of me and the event for the evening news. I think I did shake, a little, but I got through the television interview. What I really enjoyed, though, was speaking in front of a crowd of people who wanted to know something more about my novel and the process of writing.
I’ve had the chance to speak with nearly a dozen groups since then–book clubs, writing groups, and other interested parties–and every time I step in front of an audience, the process becomes easier. This past weekend, I presented my first workshop at a well-regarded and -attended writers’ conference, The Muse and the Marketplace, in Boston. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for regression, with authors like Brunonia Barry and Anita Shreve in attendance, but there was no quivering, no shaking. Instead, I felt confident and had a lot of fun with my group.
This spring will bring a few other events, including more book clubs and a Writing Matters writers’ panel this May with fellow novelists Randy Susan Meyers and Shelley Stout in New Jersey. And you know what? I look forward to all of them.
I wouldn’t have bet that nerves were conquerable. I would’ve been wrong.
Glad you’re back at the blog! And busy, too. Has the shakeup at Shaye Areheart had much of an impact on you and your work? The publishing world seems to be changing so much now, I’m curious.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Everything happened so quickly last week. I learned about the reorganization at Crown on Thursday morning. A few hours later I learned about the demise of my imprint. By the end of the day, I knew I would be absorbed by the Crown imprint (under the Crown Publishing Group) and had learned the name of my new editor. Not only that, I learned that my new editor would be attending the conference in Boston the next day. I met her, and she’s lovely, which definitely put my mind at ease.
So, has it impacted me? Yes. Has it impacted my work? No. Phew.
Thanks for your comment!
All best,
Therese
Good for you! I used to be painfully shy, but it faded after a lot of enforced speeches and presentations. :-)
(I’m still shy one-on-one, but public speaking is less scary.)
- Corra
the victorian heroine
Thanks for stopping by, Corra! I’m glad public speaking became easier for you, too. I never thought of my inner nerves as something that could go away naturally. So glad to be wrong.