How can you promote your writing through public speaking?

Speaking on the public platform is one of the best ways to double down your confidence! If you are a writer then developing public speaking skills would be beneficial! When you speak, express your words; before this, plan your speech, document everything, practice and assess it, and visualize it!

The 3 most important variables: - Length (keep it short) - Usefulness (keep is helpful) - Engagement (keep it interactive) I've been fortunate to give corporate presentations on business writing. Sounds boring, right? (Hint: It is.) But I've had success giving these talks because they're broken out by clearly defined takeaways. Each takeaway only covers a few minutes, and each takeaway has audience engagement baked into it. Ask questions. Throw them curveballs. Tell stories that don't relate to your point, then tie them in creatively. Don't be another speaker. Be an entertainer.

In my experience, I consider Public Speaking the most ideal initiative to enhance the capability of identifying and knowing your audience, By doing so this gives the speaker the ability to idealize his vision through his words. Most of all, If a writer gets the opportunity to demonstrate himself through public speaking would highly be beneficial for him because his capability has now put him in the situation to prove his words which are written. As it is said: "Your words speak about the character". Being precise and staying to subject is key factor to positive public speaking.

Speaking in front of an audience can be a fantastic way to market your writing. It allows you to engage with potential readers, establish your expertise, and generate business prospects. At the same time, not all speaking opportunities are created equal. Remember to keep your intended audience in mind. Make it easy for people to learn more about your writing. During your presentation, be sure to include your books, blog, or other writing endeavors. Definitely, it will boost your confidence and learn more...

Public speaking is an art and we can practice it, by writing down or memorizing the important points. We can imagine or visualize the audience, their preferences, their taste and speak accordingly. I was in the Ninth standard when I started to speak in public. I still love it and when it is pre thought, the results are good.

Write your talk and practice it a few times, but don't over practice. You want to make sure that emotion is kept in the talk. The audience doesn't just need to hear you, but they need to feel you. In the book, you can do this with words, but when speaking, it needs to come from emotions.

In my course to help individuals craft keynotes and talks, the core thing I encourage is to create a talk more like a standup comic. We recommend building around “beats” — 2-4 minute sections that include a story, a teaching point, or some research. These beats stand alone as elements that can be combined into a speech or talk. And if you need more content or less, you can combine them differently. I encourage individuals to build the beats, then practice each beat then have a rough list that combines them into the structure of your talk.

You can control all the factors, from tone to expressions, only when you get comfortable with the stage. To achieve this comfort, you'll have to continuously participate in Public Speaking events. Once the stage is no longer a stranger for the speaker, they can easily handle all situations and factors.

The best way to promote yourself as a speaker is to share clips of yourself speaking. Sounds obvious, but many times we forget that even small group discussions can be great content to capture. My advice is to always ask if the talk will be recorded. And then always bring your phone and a tripod to also capture it on your phone. You don’t need a perfectly produced speech to showcase your speaking ability — but be sure to capture every talk to improve and be able to use in your speaking reel and social media.

There's Power in The Preview! Leverage with promotional content: Before your talk, create teasers, previews, or snippets of your writing that you can share on social media or in newsletters. These short excerpts should provide a taste of the valuable insights or compelling stories you'll share during your talk. By piquing the audience's curiosity, you can generate excitement and interest in your presentation, making them more likely to attend or engage with your talk.

Just like public speaking, your writing has pace, silences and nuance. Your job is to be aware of those facets, so that everyone can understand that what you’re saying is coming from your head, not your hands. As a copywriter I invent the sound of the speech before I define the exact combination of the letters. It feels a lot like songwriting if you’re doing it right.

Do NOT spoil your latest work while speaking about your writing. Talk about the process, the genre, and your passion for writing.

When you cross that bridge of confidence from speaking from scripted talk to creating an experience through an impassioned message, that's everything. You're not just conveying it. You're living it. You beam with it. You're all about it. It comes through, and it loosens you up in the process. You come alive, and it energizes you. That's why most of us are so frozen in school, when we first begin public speaking: We're not into what we're talking about as much as later in life when we know ourselves, our craft, and our message.

I would add choose the right places to talk. You likely know who your ideal reader is. That's who you want to get in front of when you speak.

I have found that many writers/authors prefer to be behind their desks and shun the public light. This is counterproductive. Here's why. You've expended resources, time and effort on your writing. The more visible you are, the more people will get to know about your writing/books and discover the gems you have created. Public speaking appearances, especially those that closely relate to subjects you write about are very good opportunities for your work to be discovered by potential audiences that can go on to be ambassadors of your brand. Sometimes, you may not be given an already established platform to showcase your public speaking skills. Why not create yours? Go live on social media for a start, ask to be featured on podcasts, etc

Incorporate interactive elements into your talks to energize and involve your audience. Use live polls, Q&A sessions, or quick exercises that relate to your writing themes. These activities foster a two-way dialogue and can offer on-the-spot insights, making your speaking engagement an immersive experience. As a writer, this interactivity can also provide real-time feedback to refine your ideas. It's a dynamic way to share your expertise and build a community around your work.