Authors should be speakers

Authors should be speakers – why?? For so many reasons!

In October 2022, I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference and met Michele Chynoweth. She is the author of several books and a book coach, editor, and speaker! I attended her class on “Speakers Sell More Books” – super informative and encouraging. Between what I learned there and my own research, I’ve come up with 10 reasons authors should be public speakers.

Public speaking terrifies me!

I totally understand! I taught Oral Communication/Public Speaking at our community college for 5 years, and I heard this all the time. It’s very intimidating. One thing I always hear is to join Toastmasters. And you can go on YouTube and search ‘Public speaking for beginners’ and find plenty of help.

3 reasons authors should be speakers:

• Sharing Your Stories: No one knows your story like you do! Speaking engagements let authors introduce their books, share exciting excerpts, and dive into the world of their writing, sparking interest and book sales.
• Sharpening Your Skills: Being a public speaker strengthens your communication, which benefits your writing. A win-win for you!
• Personal Growth: Every time you speak, you will learn to overcome stage fright, and it builds confidence, adding to your personal growth.

The benefits of connection:

• Connecting with Your Fans: I remember when I met Greg Iles – one of my favorite authors. It was amazing!! Yes, he’s just a person, but speaking events offer readers the chance to meet you and forge deeper connections. And builds a dedicated fan base.
• Getting Noticed: Being available for public speaking at conferences, etc. boosts your visibility within your genre or field. It’s that name recognition. This can attract invitations to more events.
• Valuable Connections: When you start writing you’ll realize that meeting other authors, publishers, and industry pros is vital to you and your career. These connections open doors for collaborations, mentorships, and insider insights.

More reasons authors should be speakers

• Boost Your Credibility: You can become a sought-after speaker and an expert in your field.
• Extra Income: We can’t not think of this! Some speaking gigs pay, adding to your income, especially if book sales alone aren’t enough.
• Advocating for Causes: Many authors have issues they’re passionate about and that they write about. Speaking on these raises awareness and inspires change.
• Delighting Your Readers: Similar to connecting with your fans except this is all about the reader. Meeting or hearing a favorite author speak is a treat for readers, making their connection to your work even more special.

Your thoughts?

What do you think? Should authors be public speakers? If you write books, have you ever presented at a conference, etc.? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!

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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married 37 years, have 5 amazing kids and 2 adorable grandkids and one on the way. I homeschooled our three youngest children. I used to blog about homeschooling and taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)