by Sylvie Fox
I used to dread public speaking. Dread it like I’d lose my
life if I had to stand in front of a group of people and say something coherent.
Like most teen-agers, my high school required any major
research project be accompanied by an oral presentation. This many years later,
I can’t remember the topic I had to speak on, but I remember the class: Modern
European History. For two days before my presentation, I could neither eat nor
sleep.
Then the morning of the presentation I woke up, and gave
myself a stern talking to. What’s the worst that could happen, I asked myself.
There was no answer I could muster that made all the nail biting, and near
vomiting worth it. I couldn't think of a single thing that could cause
humiliation or death in a high school classroom.
So in I went, full of confidence, and nailed it. It was
one of the most liberating experiences of my life. I was freed from the shackles
of fear. After that I've never been worried when I have to speak in public. I
just go do it, and usually enjoy it.
But I recently learned all that bravado could be helped by
the tiniest bit of preparation.
A few months ago at my local writer’s meeting, the president
announced the sale of one of my novels. After each announcement, the author is
invited to say a few words. I didn't have a few words to say. Hand to God, I
walked to the podium and mumbled something about my son eating carrots. Why, you
ask? Because my husband had just sent me a text about the aforementioned
carrots.
Did I remember the title of my book? No. The elevator pitch
I’d used to sell the book? Nope. The president actually had to pull the
announcement from an e-mail and show it to me. I stumbled through that all the
while knowing that words were tumbling from my brain. This in front of a group
of people who think I make a living from writing lots and lots of words. I’m
sure their faith in my writing was in doubt.
Many months later, you can bet when I got up to announce the
publication of that book, I remembered every single thing. The title: The Good Enough Husband. The pitch: What would you do if you met your soul mate, but you
were already married? Also, I shared the tidbit I’d wanted other writers to
know—that you can write a book after having a baby. (I’d had some doubts about
that).
I’m hardly the person to dole out advice . But if you were
to ever ask what I had to say about public speaking, I give you this. First,
vow not to be nervous. Second and last, go out there knowing what in the heck
you’re going to say. It makes the first bit a lot easier.
Sylvie Fox is the author of The Good Enough Husband. She’s
also the author of Unlikely and Impasse, the first two books in the sexy,
contemporary L.A. Nights series. Don’t Judge Me, the first book in the Judgment
series, releases this summer. When she’s not battling traffic on the freeways
of Los Angeles, she’s eating her way through Budapest.
