Public Speaking -- Keep it Short, Sweet and to the Point Please

Like many authors, I belong to professional associations that have regular meetings which include a guest speaker. Most of the time these speakers provide information that is beneficial, and that's the reason why most people join these associations in the first place. Likewise, many of you who are authors or writers probably do some public speaking as well. It's a good way to make money off your books, and some authors are  able to support themselves through their speaking programs.  That said, there are a few rules of the road that you need to be aware of.

One of the  most important rules for public speaking is keeping your presentation within a reasonable time frame.  If any of you have ever been involved with Toastmasters, you'll know that keeping your speech within the allotted time frame is a big part of their program.  The reason is simple--you have to keep meetings running on time.  Many, if not most, associations meet for breakfast or lunch, and their members have to get back to the office.

That said, the last speaker at my author's association meeting presented a topic of particular interest to me--social media, you know, Facebook and all that.  His presentation got off to a good start, but then it ran way too long, and after awhile I was beginning to feel like I was in a seminar. The problem was, I hadn't signed up for a seminar that day. I had other things I had to do, and because the meeting was running late, it was causing me to run late too. I finally ended up having to leave before the presentation ended.

Again, let's show some common courtesy to the audience. When it comes to speaking at associations you need to discuss your time frame with the meeting planner. My own experience has taught me that most meeting planners will allow about thirty minutes for a speech, and I've learned that thirty minutes is an ideal time frame.  It gives you plenty of time to make your point, and have a few minutes left for a Q & A afterwards. It's also not going to wear out people's attention spans.

If you are planning on doing any public speaking I recommended testing your speech with family or friends, or, my personal favorite, test it in front of your Toastmasters club.  If you can't cover everything you want to cover within twenty to thirty minutes you need to break it down. 

Be kind to your audience.  Keep it short, sweet and to the point. You can always make yourself available for one-on-one time after the presentation, or, better yet, come back for another meeting and present another speech.

My tip for the day.

GM

Do Business Networking Groups Help Burgeoning Writers?

One question I'm sometimes asked, and ponder myself.  Do business networking groups help burgeoning writers?  The answer is... It all depends on the group.

If it's an association for writers, authors, publishers, or a combination thereof, absolutely.  Networking with your colleagues will certainly help to make you a success.  It can be something as simple as a small writer's group where you can get feedback on your latest project from your peers, or a professional organization, such as The Independent Book Publishers Association.   A word of caution however with large organizations -- make sure they have a local chapter in your area that meets regularly.  Otherwise you won't get the benefit of networking.

If you are a copywriter you should consider joining your local advertising club, if one is available in your area.  Likewise, if you're a nonfiction writer, you may want to look into professional associations related to your area of expertise.  For instance, if you write about finance, check into associations for accountants or financial planners.

Public speaking is an invaluable sales tool for authors, however many writers tend to be introverted, so the idea of speaking to a large group of people can be extremely daunting.  If that describes you I highly recommend Toastmasters.  You can learn the art of public speaking in a positive environment, and while not a leads group per say, many Toastmasters do network with other members.  If you're an author of how-to or self-help books you can make a good living as a motivational speaker, and if you do twenty or more paid speaking gigs a year you may qualify for membership in the National Speakers Association.

There are many referral groups out there.  These organizations are usually limited to one member per profession per group.  They typically meet weekly, or bi-weekly, for breakfast or lunch, and the members exchange business leads with each another.  My recommendation for this kind of association is a definite maybe.  No two referral groups are the same, and it all depends on the make-up of the individual group.  If you find the right group of people with the right connections it could be very beneficial, but if by chance you end up with the wrong group you could be throwing your money away, as the cost of dues, and meals, can quickly add up.  My recommendation would be to visit them as many times as they will allow and try to get a feel for the group before you commit.  

Remember your local Chambers of Commerce and other community business associations.  Check and see what kind of networking opportunities they have, and if they offer workshops or boot camps that would benefit you.  Keep in mind too that offering to do volunteer work for these associations can also open doors for you.

Regardless of what kind of professional organization or networking group you may decide to join, it's all about building relationships, and once you build good relationships the leads and referrals will usually follow.

My tip for the day.

GM

The WWII Housewife is Alive and Well

The other night I had the pleasure of driving up to Chandler, (a suburb of Phoenix) to perform my living history presentation, "Anna Ferguson, WWII Housewife & Defense Worker."  This was for a quilting group studying WWII history.  Performing "Anna" again was like reconnecting with an old, long lost friend.

I originally developed her for The Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tempe.  She even got her name from two of the people I knew at the museum.  One of the museum's galleries, Views From the Home Front, chronicles Arizona's contribution to the WWII home front, and the contributions of those who stayed behind and fought "The War Back Home."  This composite character was created to augment that gallery.  She represents the typical wife and mother of that time.  "Anna" also incorporates some of my personal family history with her anecdotal stories.   She was inspired in a lot of ways by mother, and the stories she used to tell around the family dinner table while I was growing up.  "Anna" was also the inspiration for my first book, Anna's Kitchen, a WWII ration cookbook.  She was a special friend indeed.

The WWII Housewife & Defense worker was officially launched in January, 2001, and for a number of years "Anna" visited schools, seniors, and other groups.  Then the reality of current economic times caught up with her, and she became a casualty of years of school budget cuts.  Sadly, I rarely get the opportunity to perform her anymore.  


Anna still has a story to tell -- that of patriotism, sacrifice, and the ability of a generation of Americans to unite and do the job that had to be done to lead our nation to victory during a dark and uncertain time in our not-too-distant past.  Hopefully I'll get to tell her story again--someday.

GM

Creative Tools for Teaching History -- from Museums to Books to Video Games

Keeping history alive seems to be one of my callings in life. It all started when I started volunteering at my local historical society museum and looking at their marvelous displays. I soon became a docent, leading tours for school kids, and discovering that when they could look at historic artifacts and displays they got more excited about learning. It was also while being a docent guide that I first learned about living history, and, over time, I developed two living history personas. Again, doing these presentations for the schools, I couldn't get over how excited the kids were. This was probably because I was a living, breathing representation, and it was the enthusiasm from all those kids that inspired me to start writing my series of children's books on the history of the Old West.

I'm amazed that I have an interest in history at all. When I was a kid in school we didn't take field trips to the historical society museum, (it didn't exist at that time), nor did we ever have a living historian visit our school. Instead we were taught history from dull, boring textbooks and the occasional 16 mm movie, which was all narration and no dialog and almost as boring as the textbook. It wasn't until I started college, and took history courses for my liberal arts requirements, that I started becoming more interested in history. There I had professors who were good speakers and storytellers and who were able to make the subject matter interesting.

When it comes to learning history kids today have it so much better. Along with historical museums and living historians and book authors like myself, they have interactive video games to help them learn history. I've not tried any myself, but I've heard from others who have, and they sound pretty interesting. Instead of learning about a historic battle in a dull history book they get to have a virtual experience with sophisticated graphics and interactive software. If experiencing history in a virtual setting doesn't help them learn I don't know what will, although the books, museums and living historians certainly don't hurt either.

What an interesting time to be a kid.

GM