There are those writers among us who enjoy an audience, then there are those (like me) whose palms sweat, heart pounds, voice quivers whenever it comes time to get up in front of a group and read original work. It's a difficult thing to overcome. But in this business you are largely responsible for promoting yourself. If you want to be heard or sell books or do school visits, you have to get over it and learn how not to be shy. Take a public speaking course or acting class. Join Toastmasters. Buy the book
Brag! by Peggy Klaus. Get over it!
Participating in slams also helps quite a bit! I'm the same as you and the only way to get over it is to read your work as much as possible in public, I'll have to look into the book Brag! Thanks Irene.
ReplyDeleteYou are so much braver than I -- just couldn't get into the slams. I should have seen you when I had the chance!
ReplyDeleteI was nothing to see - more of a reading slam poet than a performing one - although Suzanne pantomiming road kill would have been worth the trip for you!
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