9 Ways Writers Can Stand Out

Book festivals are to authors what challenging roles are to actors.

That is, the author, like the actor, must know his material, be ready in body and spirit to deliver a compelling performance, and be prepared to field questions when the show is over. Arguably, the author faces the more difficult challenge because he is presenting original material, has no role to hide behind, and is unaccustomed to live theater.

Like the actor, however, an author gets stage-ready by preparing well before the event. Much also happens during the presentation, and there are also factors to consider once the applause fades.

Each year I have the honor of emceeing the Day of the Book Festival in Kensington, Md. The event began years ago as a sort of reader-writer block party. On this day, the city closes Howard Avenue, author tents line the block, and thousands show up for a day of no screens and lots of literary pleasure.

This year’s event is April 21, 11 am to 4 pm, rain or shine.

As emcee and presenter, I have a few tips for authors trying to get a leg up:

Before the event:

1 - Do some reconnaissance: You’ll feel more comfortable if you visit the venue beforehand and learn, for instance: the seating arrangement, size of the stage, whether you’ll need a mic, and if you have the option to move when speaking. Are you on concrete or grass? What's the best angle for photos?

2 - Make it easy: Of course you’re going to let everyone know where and when. Go the extra mile and use social media to provide a map and alert folks to traffic issues. You want everyone seated before you begin. Consider raffling off a book to help drive attendance.

3 - Conquer stage fright: Relax by making new friends with people as they arrive. As you make light conversation, you’ll stop obsessing about your presentation. This will also add to the number of friendly faces you can find in the crowd as you’re speaking.

During the reading:

4 - Be the wizard: Reading is great, but audiences want to know what’s going on behind the curtain. Be open and candid. Reveal a bit of yourself and your writing process without dragging it out too much.

5 - Maintain contact: The danger in reading your wondrous prose aloud is losing eye contact with your audience for too long. Read several words ahead as you get toward the end of paragraphs so you can look up frequently as you speak.

6 - Smile: Another obvious one that is too often overlooked. Smiles beget smiles. The crowd wants to see that you’re passionate, confident, and approachable. A smile helps convey self-assuredness. Actress Diane Lane once said, “I think that anybody who smiles automatically looks better.”

After You’re Done:

7 - Make mom proud: Don’t forget to thank not only those who turned out, but all those festival volunteers as well. Don’t forget the person who introduced you, plus your own team. Writing may be a solitary job, but working a festival requires help. Also make sure to stick around after you’re done presenting and answer questions from those who may be too shy to speak up in a crowd.

8 - Be the booth: Festival-goers are bombarded with information from the moment they walk through the gate. Create a poster that sums up your book in one or two sentences, plus a small sign with a special (cheaper) festival price. That leaves you free to chat or answer questions. With a smile, of course.

10 - Be a good neighbor: It’s easy to think of those in nearby booths as the competition. Don’t. Be friendly, share best practices, and offer help if you see a need. Being sociable pays dividends, both with your fellow authors and with those who wander up to see what you’re selling. 

Come by Kensington this Sunday. Say hi. Enjoy some time away from the laptop.

Steve Piacente is the owner of Next Phase Life Coaching, Director of Training at The Communication Center in Washington, D.C., and the author of three novels and a self-help book: “Your New Fighting Stance: Good Enough Isn’t, and You Know It.” He recently launched piacentephotos.com.