For many writers, the fun part is the writing. Marketing, not so much. If you want your work to find an audience, you will have to moonlight as what Joey Garcia of the Belize Writers Conference calls, an ‘Authorpreneur.’ This means marketing. And one aspect of marketing will be reading your work in front of an audience, whether live, or recorded.
There are many ways to find opportunities to read your work: Networking, attending readings, submitting work for consideration, and getting published. Once you have the opportunity lined up, you will choose your excerpt.
Practice, Timing, Breathe!
- Be considerate of your hosts and the other readers. Practice reading with a timer. Most readings will give you a time limit. Do not ignore this. One of the common mistakes writers make when reading their work is to over or under estimate how long their excerpt will take to read. Reading aloud takes longer than reading silently to yourself. Make sure there is white space in your delivery, allowing time for the listeners to digest what you are saying.
- Mark up your manuscript. Where do you need to pause to let the listeners take in something important or surprising? Where will you need to take a breath? Vocalists use marks in the score to remind them when to breathe. Which syllables need emphasis? Your markings will help you to keep your poise.
- Warm up! Before the reading, spend some time warming up your breath and voice. Singing along with good music performed by vocalists who know how to sing is a great way to warm up before a reading. Practice taking full, relaxed breaths between lines.
- Arrive early! This will give you the chance to check in with your hosts, familiarize yourself with the venue, and relax before your turn comes. Stay until all of the other participants have read. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear and meet other writers. Choose at least one and introduce yourself after the reading, and give them a compliment.
- Enjoy yourself! Sharing your work is a wonderful chance to connect with your audience and hear feedback. Many of us feel vulnerable in these moments. This sometimes uncomfortable feeling is the result of taking the risk of exposing yourself and your work. Once you have been through it, you will find that your confidence increases, and you may come away with ideas for how you might do better next time. It will energize you when you return to your lonely garret. Good luck!
