Page Fright, Part 1

Would you rather: read the same book over and over for the rest of your life OR have to type out every book you read?

Would you rather: publish your unedited middle school journals OR take a year of physical education as an adult?

Would you rather: read your work in front of an audience of exes OR co-write a steamy sex scene with your mother?

If you feel as apprehensive about public readings as you do any of the above options, I have some good news. As part of the Colorado Gold Conference this fall, I’ll be offering an inter-active workshop on best practices for readings, interviews, podcast appearances, and other public speaking engagements. Over the next few months, I’d like to share some of my ideas, and get a sense of other questions and concerns you all might have so I can incorporate them into the curriculum. In that spirit, please leave any suggestions/requests in the comments!  

Let’s set the stage. You’ve finished a killer project, be it a novel, short story or poem. Maybe you are seeking traditional publication, maybe independent. Or perhaps you’re not sure you want to publish the piece at all but know that sharing it aloud with an audience will aid in the decision. Whether you’re an experienced presenter or newbie, shy or boisterous, everyone can benefit from the lessons and skills a person acquires as a performer. After attending a similarly-themed workshop at StokerCon earlier this summer, I’m excited to add all I learned there to my own experience as a singer, actor and director.  

Long before I studied theater at NYU and worked as a theater professional in D.C. for over a decade, I was a quiet, bookish kid in North Dakota—not exactly the cultural capital of the world. Nevertheless, I was lucky to have teachers who valued the arts. In third grade, we put on multiple “full-scale” productions, in addition to the usual choir and orchestra concerts. The first was about dental hygiene, in which I got to appear as a cavity alongside my crush. Truly an inspiring role. In another play, our music teacher cast me as the crawdad-fishing southerner because I’d recently moved from Oklahoma. What had been embarrassing—my stubborn twang—became an asset. Though it didn’t sink in right away, the experience gave me insight on viewing differences as something to be showcased and celebrated, rather than hidden in shame. 

The first lesson in successful public appearances then is this: be authentic. Bring your best self to the stage, not someone else’s idea of who you should be. Chances are, your writing already reveals a lot about your personality. If you weave sweeping epics about other worlds, you probably dress artistically and read dramatically. Crime fiction writers might dress in darker, more subtle colors and read with loaded urgency. Even if you don’t match the typical expectations of your genre, whatever your style, lean all the way in; whenever you share your work, you are appearing as the “character” of author. This is part of building a vibrant brand, something we’ll talk more about in my workshop.

Isn’t that good news? You already have a personality (right?), all you need do is let it shine. Some techniques that help me do this include choosing “costumes” that make me feel comfortable and confident, rehearsing with and without an audience and arriving early to any venue to check all the tech elements, like microphones and lighting.  

Since moving to Denver six years ago, I’ve attended scores of readings: at bookstores, libraries and conferences. Schools and bars. Indoors and out, by authors of all ages, stages and styles. One thing the best have in common is their obvious passion for their chosen profession. If a writer doesn’t seem excited by the work, it’s difficult for me to feel that way. Any time you read or answer questions about yourself and your writing, take advantage of those little things called mirror neurons. The human brain is designed to recognize and replicate the emotions we see and hear from others. It’s why we get teary when we watch gifted actors cry, even if we don’t particularly love the characters they play. If you believe in your work and share that fire with your audience, they will believe in you, too. If you’re lucky, they might even buy a book.