From time to time, every writer must step up to the podium and give a speech. Nothing is more painful than a writer fumbling her way through an ill-prepared talk. No one wants to wear those shoes. To avoid a public speaking faux pas, consider taking a class in public speaking. Although professional speech training is always best, the following simple techniques and tactics will help you get started.
Tip 1. Prepare! Be ready. Don’t fall short of this step! Choose your speaking style: impromptu, extemporaneous or oratory and then practice, practice, practice. Know the purpose of your speech: inform, educate, or persuade. Know the length of your speech. Record yourself speaking. Follow that up by practicing in front of a mirror. Wear comfortable clothing and take special care with grooming.
Tip 2. Make eye contact. Pick three spots in the room -- two up front and one in the back and continually shift eye contact to those spots. Never glue your eyes to your paper or laptop. Stand up straight. Don’t fidget. Keep the gestures at a minimum and don’t point; always gesture with an open hand.
Tip 3. The right attitude. Think about this. You are a writer. If you have an audience in front of you, chances are that this group really loves books. They are rooting for you. They are all on your team. Smile big. You are among friends. You’re with fans. This will be fun.
Tip 4. Humor. Humor is your ally. Beginning a talk with an anecdote is a simple way to capture your audience’s attention. Starting this way puts your audience at ease and sets up their connection with you. Creating rapport with the audience will make you more effective. This is not the time to tell a one liner, but the time to say we are all human and share in the experience.
Tip 5. Dive in. It’s important to dive into your talk. It’s like writing. Begin with the action, the moment before everything changes. After you grab everyone’s attention, move into the niceties such as who you are and what you are here for.
Tip 6. Be yourself. You heard this in kindergarten and here it is again. Listen to the cadence of your language. Are you speaking in a sing-song-y voice? Is this like you? Are you using all kinds of fancy words in your speech, but in real life you are down-to-earth? Speak slowly and enunciate, but always in your natural way.
Tip 7. Inspiring conclusions. Like writing, speeches need climaxes. It’s important to reach a high point toward the end of a speech. Trust your audience to get it with just one pass. Many speakers make the mistake or repeating themselves over and over. You will lose your audience. Wrap up after you deliver the rousing, inspiring bit at the end. Less is often more.