Every
writer wants to be a published author.
Every published author wants to be featured in the news media and have a
bestseller. But have writers and authors
given a lot of thought as to what they will say if given a media spotlight to
shine bright?
Surprisingly,
many authors do not always give the best interviews when talking to the
media.
They
get nervous. They forget. They were unprepared or didn’t get media
coaching. Or they just give off the
wrong vibe or a message that lacks impact.
How
do you avoid seeing your big chance slip by?
You need to visualize your message, practice presenting it, and always
improving it. Never be satisfied with
any media appearance or you’ll become an underachieving, complacent, and
ineffective media personality.
For
authors, they should know that what their book is about is not necessarily what
their media appearance will focus on.
For instance, the media outlet has its own angle to run with. If you’re a local author then the story pegs
you as a hometown hero. If it’s an
issues-oriented radio show, you are expected to debate multiple issues, based on
being an expert and author. If you’re
being interviewed on a blog that focuses on books about dogs and your book fits
that criteria, be prepared to talk about dogs – yours, those of others, those
in your books, those of the blogger. If
it’s a news TV program, be ready to relate your book’s topic to the news of the
day. The news is not that you have a
book; you are to provide expert insight on breaking news or current events.
So
how do authors prepare for an interview?
First
and foremost, anticipate what the questions might be, practice answering them,
and then look to tighten your answers so they sound insightful, energetic,
current, and edgy or dynamic.
Second,
have in mind the core 5-6 points that you want to get across in every
interview, no matter what they as k you.
Remember, you are doing media to brand yourself, sell books, get others
to take action steps such as click on your site, and to help others with an
inspiring message.
You
aren’t really there to answer everything the media wants to know. It’s your interview – not theirs!
It
helps if you know something about the news media outlet, so that you can
communicate with it at the level it’s used to functioning at. You don’t want to speak in a morning zoo
radio voice to NPR, do you?
My
last bit of advice is for you to speak with confidence and courage. Act as if everyone needs to hear what you
have to say. Assume others are
interested and care about your message.
Don’t be cocky, egotistical, or obnoxious – just be a forceful,
charismatic, but humble voice for sanity.
You’ll
do well once you convince yourself that you are the star, that you are the one
the media wants and has chosen. Once you
understand that you dictate your fate, you will be on fire.
Good
luck!
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, Media Connect, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2014.
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