Recently, I gave my first author reading of my debut novel, Awakening.
Public Speaking
Do you get nervous when speaking in public? In previous jobs, I’d given a few large-scale presentations. In the beginning my nerves were so bad I’d get sick to my stomach. But with each event, my nervous energy settled down. In time, my nerves levelled out at a manageable buzz.
That manageable buzz is what I expected when I signed up to read from my new book at this year’s Denman Island Readers’ and Writers’ Festival (link).
Turns out my work experiences didn’t prepare me at all. On July 20th, I got up on stage, spoke into the mic and read from Awakening for the first time. My whole body shook, sweat prickled, my voice cracked. And this despite having read the piece aloud dozens of times.
A Bad Case of Nerves
I’m still trying to figure out why my nerves were so bad. Fear, I suppose. Would the audience like my work? Would they judge me? Would I blow my timing?
As it turned out, the audience didn’t toss rotten veggies on stage. Instead, I heard gasps and laughter (in the right places) and they clapped at the end. And our moderator, Des Kennedy, didn’t have to come out with a hook to yank me off stage.
Whew! Survived the first one.
Update: In 2013 I picked up some valuable tips about reading from my work in public. You can read about it here.