A Novel Way of Speaking: Just For Writers by guest @PaulGeigerSpeak

Paul,

Your article is as good, if not better because there is no quiz than Public Speaking 101! I have to admit that when I read, “Most authors will admit they write a lot better than they speak.” I not only agree, but I immediately thought of “Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.” When I saw the book, I did not hesitate to buy the book as the title spoke to me. I have always and forever known and admitted that I write better than I talk.

That said, your advice for getting through interviews is worth its weight in gold. My thought is few have heard of or considered using Bumper Stickers. I’ve never been familiar with using Bumper Stickers until I read your posting, but what an essential concept. I am familiar with breathing, but I have never considered breathing deliberately and coordinating gestures, or moving around.

My favorite take away from your posting is the “Knowing how to close the loop.” While the interviewer has this expertise, the interviewee does not. Your guidance here will benefit all who read how to close the loop.

Thank you for participating in #NaNoProMo and imparting your knowledge with the participants.

Donna

Oh this is such helpful advice! Thank you. I always sort of default to “it’s a hamlet prequel set partly in purgatory” and get nervous talking about my work beyond that. It’s definitely something I should work on!

Interesting post. Speaking is definitely not my strong suit, though I seem to do okay most of the time. Wouldn’t mind winning this one either, so I can learn more about speaking and how to do it well.

Interesting. Now I LOVE public speaking but I do find it very different between my corporate day job and my writer life. I have no idea what my writer bumper sticker is. Hmmmmmmmmm tricky

Paul,

This is such a great approach to public speaking, breaking it down into manageable sections and then showing how to combine them for an effective statement, i’ll definitely buy your book and would love to be able to work with you one-on-one. It’s been a long struggle for me to be heard in public at all, much less deliver a speech.

For years, I dreaded public gatherings, because people could never hear me when I spoke in a group. Whenever possible, I delegated public speaking to others. It was always an exercise in frustration, with people yelling, “We can’t hear you.”

I finally went to an ENT, on the off-chance there was a physical problem. It turned out my vocal folds didn’t meet. I went through an extensive voice physical therapy to help compensate. The voice therapists said I had a good vocal range (news to me!) and suggested I study singing after finishing therapy. I’ve done that for the last seven years.

Singing helps with tone and volume, but public speaking is a hurdle I’ve yet to cross. I’m writing my first novel, so it’s definitely in my future. Working with you would be helpful in reaching that goal, However, I think this article and your book will also be extremely important. I’m so grateful to you for writing both.

Thanks,
Dana Lemaster

Very helpful article. I’m always afraid of public speaking. Yes, I can write but when it comes to speaking it give me jitters, voice chokes in my throat. I just can’t imagine everybody looking at me and just at me, LOL. I think this consultation would help me tackle the fear of public speaking.

Wow – this is fabulous! I have my bumper sticker for me as an artist, but not as a writer. Artist: An Ancient Art Made Modern. Writer:? Am I non-fiction or fiction? Currently non-fiction, and it looks like I might stay there, but over a bunch of topics…Lots to think about here. I’m sorta used to public speaking – nearly 40 years as a teacher – and I’ve done some theater, but I want to eliminate the nervousness, the rapidity of speech (trying to fill a 45-minute class with as much information from the kids and then from me, and the breathing. I will be referring to this post more often.

I love the concept of Bumper Stickers–kind of like the elevator pitch, but for interviews and public speaking instead! I came into this port thinking with my background as a former actress, there might not be much here for me to learn, but I was wrong. One skill set doesn’t necessarily translate to another. Really strong points made here, and some excellent tools I’ll be taking with me. Thanks!

Thanks Paul. Some great advice. I tend to talk really fast, working on that one. I like the closing the loop idea.

In addition I also talk with my hands (I look like I am trying to flag down a 747). Still haven’t figured out how to break myself of that one.

Daniella