Light-skinned-ed Girl

How to Give a Good Reading Part 4: Final Thoughts

1. Be polite to booksellers, bookstore staff, venue administrators, festival volunteers--any one who is there to help facilitate your reading.
     Learn their names if you can.  And be sure to send a thank you note afterwards.  All of these people love books and they help make it possible for us to do what we love.  Take photos with the staff.  You'll want to remember these moments too.

2.  Assign someone to ask the first question after your reading.
     When you open a Q&A following your reading, there can be an awful silence at first.  No one really wants to be first--so ask someone in advance of the reading to be the first to ask a question.  This will set things in motion and others are sure to raise their hands with questions too.  If you don't have a designated person for the first question, open up the Q&A by saying something like: "People often ask me . . . "

3.  Give the readers an opportunity to sign-up for your mailing list.
    Bring a pre-printed notecard for readers to fill out if they want to be on your mailing list.  Mention the form during your presentation and collect the notecards at your signing table.  If you can swing it, think about doing a giveaway for anyone who fills out the contact form--giveaway a gift card (to the bookstore you're at), or for a different version of the book (e.g. audio).

4.  Ask the bookstore staff whether you can sign stock.
   It is very likely a myth that booksellers can't send back signed stock. But, it is true that many booksellers think an autographed book is easier to sell.  If you can sign the books while you're at the store do it.

5.  Share your brilliant presentation with as many people as possible: make the most of the video and audio recordings of the reading.
     Be sure to blog, tweet, and post your audio and video recordings on your website, Facebook, and YouTube, and everywhere and anywhere.
     I post photos on my website News page, my personal blog, Facebook, and my SmugMug gallery that is publicly listed.  I post video on my website, YouTube and Vimeo.  And I tweet all of those urls to get the words out as far and wide as possible.

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     Okay, that's all I've got for now.  I've got to get back on the road.  If you have any other tips to add, I'd love to hear them!  Happy readings!

How to Give a Good Reading Part 3: Tools of the Trade

You're almost ready for your best reading ever following my 10 handy tips and with your nifty new script in hand.  Now it's time to make sure you have what you'll need the day of your reading.

The List

* denotes things to take with the podium with you or pre-set at the podium)

1.  A great-looking outfit.
    Whatever that means for you.  For me, I like to glam it up a little. I wear a dress and heels and big blue earrings.  Your audience feels special when you make an effort (and so do you).

2.  Video camera & tripod.
    Ideally, you'll have someone in the audience who can help you set up.  But if not, do it yourself and turn on the video camera before you start -- even if you end up getting a bunch of the set-up stuff before the program begins.
    You will be very glad to have this video later.  I have posted video of my readings on my website, You Tube and Vimeo.  I also created a "book tour" video that highlighted a bunch of appearances and book reviews.  The video was great to have because it was shown at the Algonquin sales meeting.  The sales force got to see me in action and had more information about the book that I hope ultimately makes it easier for them to sell.
    I use either my Flip videorecorder, or my Canon videocamera.  I have both a mini-tripod and a Targus full-sized tripod that is easy to travel with (but it doesn't have a leveler--:( ).  To create my videos, I use Windows Movie Maker.

3.  Digital audio recorder.*
    Sometimes the video doesn't work.  Or you  want to be able to upload the audio quickly.  (I've found uploading the audio is much quicker than creating a video of a reading--I'm able to get the audio up on my podcast available on itunes within the same day.)
    I use a refurbished Sony ICD-MX20 recorder that records in stereo.  It runs on 2 AAA batteries.  The audio transfers via a USB connection.  The only thing I'm not wild about is that it records in a special Sony format and I have to convert it to .mp3 after I upload it.

4.  Bottle of water (room temperature) & bendy straw.*
    Cold water will restrict your vocal chords.  Make sure the water is room temperature.  And as I advised in my earlier post.  Don't drink during your reading, but if you must use a bendy straw.  That way you won't dribble.  And it looks more elegant.
    I have found that the ideal solution is an insulated coffee mug that has a little sip opening that kind traps my bendy straw in place.

5.  A copy of your book.*
    You're not reading from your book, but you want to have a copy at the podium with you.  I always hold up a copy of my book when I say: "That's an excerpt from my novel The Girl Who Fell From the Sky."  The audience needs the visual.

6.  Your script with notecards.*
    If you can, place these on the podium ahead of time (open to the first page) so that you can walk up and begin your presentation right away.

7.  A pen.*
    I bring a pen because if I get nervous I can hold onto it.  But you'll also need a pen to do the signing after the reading. 
    I had been using a Heidi Blue, fine point, no-bleed Sharpie.  However, these often leak when subjected to pressure on planes.  I recommend using a pen that's special to you--not just any pen you find.  Lately I've been using a beautiful roller ball pen with a leather accent my friend Alicia gave me or the awesome ACME rollerball pen Deon Stonehouse of Sunriver Books gave me when I read at her store earlier this year.

8.  Timer.*
    I don't have a good timer yet.  So if you have one please let me know.  I always practice and time my presentations, but still I bring a watch to the podium.  The watch is an imperfect solution because it's not big enough to easily glance at.  And I always forget what time I started.  But try to be aware of the time. Use your cellphone if needed (but be sure to put it on silent).

9.  Your energy and excitment.*
    Yup, that's it.  And remember it's your show, your words that you've worked so hard to bring into being and get published.  Celebrate that and the audience will too.

There's one more post to come on how to handle your book signing.  Stay tuned!  And if you missed the earilier posts find Part I here, and Part II here.

Thank you Hedgebrook!

I feel re-energized and renewed and restored after my two weeks here at Hedgebrook.  I only began to scratch the surface at some deep writing, but I scribbled like crazy in my journal each day--I took notes--and I daydreamed.  Daydreaming has been missing from my hectic schedule all these months and it's so necessary for the writing.

If you are a woman writer, please consider applying to this amazing place.  This was the first place that affirmed me as a writer in 1998 when I wrote the first sentences of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky.  It has affirmed me again.  The application must be postmarked Sept. 23, 2011! Don't delay! 

 

How to Give a Good Reading Part 2: Prepare Your Reading Script

So, you've picked out what you plan to read and it's time to prepare your script.  Here are some tips I've learned on the road this year sharing The Girl Who Fell From the Sky (Algonquin Books) at different venues across the country--I hope you'll find this helpful:

1.  Create a word document of the excerpts you've selected.

    Choose an easily readable font like Times New Roman and enlarge the text to 14- or 16-point font.
The larger font will make it easier for you to see an any light.

2.  Make your text look like poetry on the page.
    I create line breaks where I plan to pause, take a breath, or create emphasis.  Below is an example from a page of one of my scripts. 
    Be sure to pay special attention to your page breaks when creating the script.  You want to create natural pauses so that you don't interrupt the flow of your reading.

3.  Annotate your script with visual cues for dialogue, emphasis and flow.
    Break out your colored markers: you're going to annotate your script now.  First underline any text a character speaks.  (Use a distinctly different color for each character.  I use certain colors for male speakers and other colors for female speakers.)
    I like to perform "voices" when I read so these annotations are super-helpful.  Even if you're not going to use voices, you're going to want to subtly make a distinction between the prose and the character speaking.  These annotations will remind you to do that.
    I also underline with a black marker the words of phrases I want to emphasize.  And I also use arrows to help me remember the pace of how I want to read a section.  For example:

    In this part of the script, the down arrow means pick up the pace.  The double arrow means faster still.  the diagonal up arrow means to raise my voice/intonation on this word/phrase.  The arrow below the line means say with all one breath. The slash at the end of the line means pause.  BTW: I have made up all of these symbols to score my script and they have meaning to me.  You can devise your own symbols or use these.

4.  Use notecards to cue you for your in-between banter.
    I created notecards to cue me for the in-between banter.  I have chosen to write out full sentences that kick off each point I want to make, but you can use bullet points instead.  Whatever works best for you.

5.  Assemble your script and put it in an attractive presentation folder.
    I am fond of this folder I found at Staples.  It's plastic and a fetching color (my trademark Heidi Blue) and folds open flat.  It holds three-ring hole punhced paper and also has pockets in both the front and back in which I can store my notecards.
    Before your reading, you will want to fold down the pages of your script over and over again so that they will stay flat.   Before my reading, I tuck my notecards into the folder at the point at which I need them in the presentation (directly before or after an excerpt).  A writer I know who is also a preacher recommends leaving the pages of your script loose so that you can slide th epages instead of turning them.
    If you know that you have a podium, this is a good solution.  It makes your presentation look seamless because you're not turning pages.  However, often times you won't know whether you'll have a podium, tabletop, music stand, or have to hold the script in your hands.  That's why I recommend the folder.  You can always take it out if you wish.
    Finally, I have a different folder for each of the excerpts /scripts that I read, but you can just tab the different sections if you'd like.

____

    You're almost ready to do your best reading yet.  But first, make sure you have the right tools & equipment the day of to make the event a success. Stay tuned for that post.

Read my tips on How to Give a Good Reading Part 1 here.

My Muse in the Form of Purple Flowers

The writing began to flow suddenly the same day these little guys blossomed in front of my cottage.

 

Some Tips on How to Give a Good Reading of Your Work

I love to do readings.  Yes, I get nervous each time.  Yes, I worry about whether anyone will show up.  But I love to do readings because I get to share this story that I care so much about with a real live audience.

But I don't always love to attend readings.  I don't need to describe what I mean--you've all seen those disastrous readings where you wonder whether the writer has ever seen the words s/he's reading before as s/he stumbles and stutters and mumbles and reads in that awful monotone.

It doesn't have to be that way--not even, you, the shyest of writers need be scared about reading your work--Here's why:

1) You know the words already!  You made them up.  Take confidence from this fact; and
2) Remember that the people who are there are pre-disposed to like you--I mean really, how many people actually go to readings at all?  And they are at yours!  Sure, half of the people may be your family and friends, so what!  Milk the audience. They're creating excitement and energy and it will be contagious for everyone there.

But the main reason you don't need to be scared about reading your writing is that you are going to prepare.  These are some tips I've come up with after doing some 60+ readings since the release of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky (Algonquin Books) earlier this year.

1.  Choose what you read carefully.
Three things to keep in mind as you choose what to read:

a) Never read an excerpt longer than five minutes;

b) The excerpt ideally has a beginning middle and end;

c) The excerpt should endear the audience to the character or engage the audience with the story so the audience is left eager for what's next or wanting more.

2.  Break up the excerpts with banter.
Readers want to know about the genesis and inspiration of the book.

3.  Throw in a funny.
I don't mean a joke per se.  But be sure to say something that allows the audience to laugh--this bonds you with an audience.  It's especially important if your work deals with serious issues.  Audiences are willing to listen to some pretty heavy stuff, but they crave a balance.  Give them a well-earned chuckle.

4.  Look at your audience.
Simple advice, but key.  No one wants to see the top of your head.  If the reader wanted to read the book, they would have stayed home and done that themselves.  Look at the people. Smile at them.  The people are there because they want to acknowledge you but they also want to be acknowledged.  They've come for connection. You owe it to them to look in their eyes.

5.  Read from a script you create--not from your book.
This is key!  You may be nervous; the lights may be distracting; you will not be able to see that small font when you are at a podium or on a stage.  So you're going to type up a script of what you're going to read in 14 or 16-point font.  And voila, you will be able to read it very easily.  More on the specifics of how to prepare your script in a separate post.

6.  Tell your audience what you're about to do in your presentation.
Most people don't know what to expect at a reading.  If you say, for example: "I am going to read a few poems," and they don't like the first one, they are squirming the whole time wondering how many is "some"?  I like to say upfront--"I'm going to read three excerpts from my book and tell you a little bit about my book."  Simple as that.  It cues the audience as to what to expect and focuses their attention so they know they won't be kept hostage by your presentation forever if they start to get bored.

7.  Practice and time your reading.
Over and over again.  I have found that a 15-20 minute presentation is ideal.  That allows me to read three excerpts from the book and talk a little about its genesis and about the book itself. After that, I take questions for 10 to 15 minutes--longer if the discussion is good.  There is a fudge factor in this--read your audience. But this is what I've done and I think it's worked pretty well.

8.  Say thank you.
Thank the host, bookseller, audience, the powers that be.  It's amazing that people come to readings at all given the array of entertainment choices they have (not including all the choices they have just staying at home).  Be sure to express your gratitude for being invited and for the audience's attendance.

9.  Record the event--audio AND video.
Do you know why writers don't have Live Tour Videos? They don't have video of their LIVE TOURS!  (I have one.)  I also have a podcst you can download on itunes.  Now you will have one too-- and then you can post snippets on your website, Facebook, You Tube as a tease and as another way for folks to find your book.  And you can use it as a coach--watch yourself in action, ask yourself: what can you do better?

10.  Give it all you've got.  Dress the part & give them the show of a lifetime everytime.

It doesn't matter whether you've got 10, or 100 or 1000 people in the audience.  Honor them by dressing the part -- look your best --and give them all the energy you've got.  They will appreciate you and your work for it.

EXTRA BONUS TIP: Never drink water during your reading--but if you must, be sure to have a bendy straw: that way you won't dribble because of an unsteady hand or missing the glass rim.  (Email me and  will tell you my source for very reasonably priced individually wrapped bendy straws--very easy to travel with.)

I'm writing up some more reading tips for writers: 1) How to Prepare Your Script; and 2:) Tools of the Trade; 3) Final Tips & Thoughts.  But tell me, what tips do you have?

Johnny Mathis & the Mixed Experience: the Tradition of African-American Singers & Jewish Song

I adore Johnny Mathis.  He's my favorite singer of all-time. I've seen him in concert some half a dozen times.  And one time--oh what a story--he hugged me in the lounge at LAX!

So imagine how happy I was to hear his voice and his voice in song on NPR this morning talking about his participation on a new CD called Black Sabbath--a collection of recordings by African-American singers and musicians including Lena Horne and Nina Simone singing Jewish songs.

That's the Mixed experience and I love it!

Hedgebrook: A Writer's Retreat--The First Days

If you are a woman writer, you really must find your way to Hedgebrook at some point. Bliss. This place is pure bliss. As much as I loved being here the first time in 1998, I love it here even more this time. It's beautiful here: lush and green and just sunny enough and just cool enough. It's awesome to talk with such lovely women at dinner--and the dinners--well, wow! Denise made Indian food last night. That's my go-to comfort food--and it was delicious. What have I done since I've been here? I've moved in; I've read; I've done yoga (twice) and worked out to a Jillian Michaels DVD (twice!). I've napped. I've disconnected from the internet world (okay, mostly). I've woken at 4:30am each day. I've luxuriated in long showers. And yes, I've even written some! And I had an amazing experience of meeting up with my old me. Each cabin has a journal in which the writers can write about their experience. I borrowed the journal I wrote in from my old cottage. What a surprise it was to read what I wrote! Because I think I spent the last 12 years trying to learn what I already understood. Why does self-knowledge work that way? I share it in part here:

 

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Hedgebrook: A Writer's Retreat, ahhhhhhhhhhhh

A writer's retreat is heaven! Particularly if you are a writer who has been talking about writing for several months on a book tour and not doing much writing. I am so excited to spend the next couple of weeks in this bucolic setting, Hedgebrook. I'll be staying in a little cottage just like this one--no internet at my desk, no television distractions.  Just me and the pen or computer and hopefully also my muse.

As it happens, I've come full circle. I worked on The Girl Who Fell From the Sky at Hedgebrook --the first sentences came to life there for me--and it was the first time I'd received an affirmation that I was a "real" writer even though I hadn't published a word. I am grateful to go back. Wish me many (good) words. P.S. The deadline is upcoming I believe: so check it out--www.hedgebrook.org.

My Personal Income Streams

As an update to this post I’ve more recently written one on How I make Money Blogging which highlights the most profitable ways that I use blogs to generate income. I’ve also written extensively on how bloggers make money in ProBlogger the Book.

How do bloggers make money from blogs?

I’ve been reflecting this week about the amazing diversity of opportunities that are opening up for bloggers to make money from blogging.

I’ve long advised that bloggers seeking to make money from blogging spread their interests across multiple revenue streams so as not to put all their eggs in one basket.

The wonderful thing is that this is becoming easier and easier to do 2005 has seen many options opening up. I thought I’d take a look at some of the methods that bloggers are currently using to make money through blogs.

Income Streams for Bloggers – How to Make Money Blogging

Advertising Programs – Perhaps the most obvious changes in the past few months have been with the addition of a variety of viable advertising options for bloggers looking to make money from their blogs. The most common way bloggers seem to earn money online is via the contextual ad program from Google – Adsense. A more recent addition that many are using successfully are Chitika’s eMiniMalls and WidgetBucks, Text Link Ads.

Azoogle Ads, Intelli Txt, DoubleClick, Tribal Fusion, Adbrite, Clicksor, AdHearUs, Kanoodle, Pheedo, TextAds, Bidvertiser, Fastclick and Value Click (to name just some of the options) and there is a smorgasbord of options. Of course there is more to come with MSN Adcenter and YPN both in beta testing and with a variety of other advertising system currently in development (YPN is only available to US publishers).

Lastly there’s BlogAds – one of the first blog specific ad networks.

 

RSS Advertising – The past 12 months have seen some advances in RSS Advertising also. I’m yet to hear of any bloggers making big money blogging through it to this point – but as improvements are made to the ad programs exploring this I’m sure we’ll start to see examples of it being profitable.

Sponsorship – In addition to the array of advertising programs that are available to join there is a growing awareness in the business of the value and opportunity that exists for them to advertise directly on blogs. I’m hearing more and more examples of this and have been fortunately to have a couple of ad campaigns of my own in the past month – one with Adobe a couple of weeks ago and another just completed with Ricoh for a new digicam over at my Digital Camera Blog. These are not isolated cases – as I say I know of many blogs exploring sponsorship with advertisers at present and suspect we’ll see more of it in the year ahead. Sponsorship is also happening on a post by post basis with some bloggers being paid to write on certain topics by companies – either in one off or a regular fashion – and they are able to make big money from their blogs doing so.

Affiliate Programs – There are larger affiliate programs like Amazon, Linkshare, Clickbank and Commission Junction but also literally thousands of others from the large to the very small.

Digital Assets – Increasing numbers of bloggers have been developing other digital assets to support and add revenue streams to their blogs. By this I mean that I’m increasingly seeing e-books, courses and tele-seminars being run by bloggers. My recent foray into this with the first series of the six figure blogging course that Andy and I ran a few weeks ago and have just released the study version of. This type of activity will only increase in future – in fact this week I’ve seen numerous examples of bloggers running courses.

Blog Network Opportunities – with the rise in popularity of Blog Networks – bloggers are also being presented with more places to earn an income from their blogging – by writing for and with others. While it might be difficult to get a writing gig with one of the bigger networks – there are plenty who are always asking for new bloggers to join and who are willing to pay bloggers using a variety of payment models. While there are distinct advantages of blogging for yourself – blogging for an established network who will handle a lot of the set up/promotion/admin/SEO etc has it’s advantages also. More and more bloggers are combining writing for themselves on their own blogs with taking on blog network blogs as additional income streams.

Business Blog Writing Opportunities – as blogging has risen in it’s profile as a medium more and more businesses are starting blogs. Many of these companies have internal staff take on blogging duties – but an increasing number of them are hiring specialist bloggers to come on and run their blogs. I know of a number of bloggers who in the past month or two have been approached for such paid work. Check out Bloggers for Hire if you’re looking for this type of work.

Non Blogging Writing Opportunities – Also becoming more common are bloggers being hired to write in non blogging mediums. Manolo’s recent coup of a column in the Washington Post is just one example of this as bloggers are increasingly being approached to write for newspapers, magazines and other non blog websites. Along side this is the rise of bloggers as published book authors – this is to the extent that one blogger I spoke with this week complained to me that they were one of the few bloggers than they knew who didn’t have a book deal!

Donations – Tip Jars and donation buttons have been a part of blogging for years now but this last year saw a number of bloggers go full time after fund raising drives. Perhaps the most high profile of these was Jason Kottke of kottke.org who through the generosity of his readership was able to quit his job and become a full time blogger.

Flipping Blogs – Also more common in 2005 was the practice of ‘Blog Flipping’ – or selling of blogs. This has happened both on an individual blog level (I can think of about 20 blogs that sold this year) but also on a network level (the most obvious of these being the 8 figure sale of Weblogs Inc to AOL).

Merchandising – My recent attempt to sell ProBlogger.net T-shirts wasn’t a raging success, but it is an example of how an increasing number of bloggers are attempting to make a few extra dollars from their blogs by selling branded products through programs like Cafepress. While I didn’t have a lot of success with merchandising – quite a few larger blogs are seeing significant sales – especially blogs with a cult following. I’m not at liberty to discuss details – but I know of one largish blog which will see sales over $20,000 in merchandise for the calendar year of 2005.

Consulting and Speaking – While it has been popular for established consultants to add blogs to their businesses we’re also starting to see bloggers with no consulting background able to make money by charging readers for their time in consulting scenarios BECAUSE of the profile that their blogs have built them. Blogging has the ability to establish people as experts on niche topics and we all know the value of being perceived as an expert. I spoke to one blogger last month who charges himself out at over $200 an hour for speaking and consulting work – his area of expertise was something that he knew little about 18 months ago – but through his blog he’s become a leader in his field and a minor celebrity in his industry.

As time rolls on there are more and more ways that bloggers make money from their blogs opening up. Feel free to suggest your own ideas and experiences in comments below.

Update: Looking for more information on how to make money blogging? Here’s a post I wrote talking about my own experience – particularly looking at the top ways that I make money from blogs.

Also check out these resources on how to set up a profitable blog:

• ProBlogger the Book – where I and Chris Garrett sum up all of the basic tips about starting up a blog in the one volume.
• Blog Mastermind Blog Mentoring Program – one of the best coaching and training course going around on blogging.
• Become a Blogger Videos – a free series of videos that talks new bloggers through how to set up a blog. Easy to understand and best of all, free.
• Blog Profits Blueprint – a free report on how to build profitable blogs.