I’m not a people person. I’m social with my family and the friends I do have, but like a stereotypical author, I sometimes like to spend time with the fictional friends I’ve created. They’re not a substitute for regular human interaction. But writing is a way for me to say out loud the things I can’t say to people in person.
Fictional characters have real life, real world problems and emotions. That’s why stories and characters stick with us. That’s how people can point to a book and say ‘this book changed my life’ – because it covered a topic, feeling, or situation that was real in that person’s life at the time. We see how characters deal with a problem we can identify with.
Sadly, one of those problems is not being ready to interact and speak with potentially hundreds of strangers about me and my book at an event. I feel like it could be similar to practicing for a job interview – which, by the way I haven’t been on a real one since sometime in the 20-teens.
So even though I’m excited to hopefully participate in my first book festival this winter (check back for details), I’m not quite sure what I’ll say.
When I was part of a networking group for my business writing, I didn’t even want to get up and give the short presentation members often gave. It always seemed like an interrogation afterward.
“What’s your book about?” Do I memorize the back cover blurb or is there a more off-the-cuff answer to that?
“Is it a series?” That’s a yes. But the follow-up of “when does the next one come out?” is not as easily answered. It’s in drafting, and doesn’t even having its final title yet let alone a release date.
How do I answer these without panicking? I know my book – what it’s about, who the characters are, and every possible thing you could ask. But. Since I’m not particularly regularly social, I don’t know that I’ll ever be 100% ready for the questions or the following discussion.
I hope this first one breaks the ice, and each one I attend after that just gets better. But it’s a real fear of I currently have. I’ve filled the prep time with distractions, in a way. Designing a personalized book stand (3D printed), designing a cool treasure chest-style cash box (also 3D printed), filling a ‘cart’ on Walmart.com with other event must-haves. Re-designing my logo and creating banners for a booth.
Have you ever taken part in a big festival or convention? How did you feel? Did you keep yourself busy with ‘other’ things to avoid the big task needed to prepare? Let’s talk on Facebook!