For Writers who want to Speak
By Leilani Barkan, a public speaker
If someone told you that becoming an effective public speaker is something that can be learned, would you do it? That by adding a few skills to your bag of tricks and practicing speaking in public you could become a better public speaker, would you take the next step?
What if you were told that public speaking could be the most effective thing you could do to sell $10,000.00 more worth of your product (books) in one year, would you take the next step?
Did you know that as a writer you have more public speaking skills than most people to effectively communicate in front of an audience? Are you ready to take the next step?
Most people would consider the words writer and speaker an oxymoron and would automatically classify writers as introverts. Many writers would probably tell you that they have at one point avoided the limelight and public speaking, losing many opportunities to promote their writing. There are even writers who have quit writing after a certain point because their fear of speaking in front of an audience is unbearable.
Public speaking is said to be the number one fear, even over death, but the important thing for writers to know is that they are not alone. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and start building your public speaking skills.
Public speaking is the most important skill set a writer can develop and improve for a very successful career. Here’s why.
Authors who are skilled at public speaking…
- ○Have greater credibility
- ○Receive wider name recognition
- Build strong rapport with the listener
- Sell books in the back of the room at speaking engagements
- Get paid extremely well (Can you say more money for promotion?)
- Your listener becomes a walking publicity tool
- Expand their network to public speakers who also promote their work
- Have obtained the number one skill needed for a book tour
- Perform very well on television and radio