Great Writer, But Are You A Good Speaker?

 

 

Authors may see themselves as writers, but they are also speaker. To promote a book, one should be prepared to go out and speak at bookstores, libraries, events, conferences, places of worship, corporate retreats, and anywhere that will welcome you.

 

According to the book, Speak Memorably: “Push beyond your comfort zone, stand out rather than blend in, break the mold of traditions and develop an allergy to conformity.” Is that you?

 

Authors who are strong speakers can:

 

·         Display empathy for their audience

·         Verbalize the feelings and emotions of their listeners

·         Be seen as likeable and authentic

·         Smile often and come off as being positive

·         Manipulate their voice to consistently get your attention

·         Be anecdotal, visually expressive, and look sincere

 

Speakers can be many things, but they are not perfect. That’s okay, neither are you. People do not expect perfection. In fact, when confronted with it, people look to question is and find a hole, a weakness, or a contradiction. No one can be that good, right?

 

Be sure to:

 

·         Articulate interesting ideas

·         Provide something helpful to another

·         Show an awareness for the audience’s place in the world

·         Match your lexicon and vernacular to your audience

·         Use analogies and metaphors that people can relate to

·         Coin a term or two and sprinkle them into your speech

·         Avoid using acronyms, jargon, and cliches

 

Good speakers ask questions of the audience, polling them to get a sense of what they know and believe, so he or she can be more selective and effective with the topics covered or the views stated.

 

The key to a strong presentation is to understand that studies have shown that audience members only remember half of what is said the next hour, 25% by the next day, and just 10% by the end of the week. Studies also show that 55% are persuaded by a speaker’s body language, 38% by the speaker’s vocal delivery, and only 7% by the speaker’s content. So, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it that counts.

 

The Physical presence that you bring to the stage should not by underestimated. Your hand gestures, body movement, stance, facial expressions, the sound of your voice, and the level of energy conveyed can really have some impact. Even how often you pause – and for how long – can change the trajectory of how you are perceived and remembered.

 

In Don’t Say Um: How To Communicate Effectively To Live A Better Life, the author wants you to answer yes to each of these questions – or else you need to change your presentation style.

 

“Is your eye contact direct and sustained?

Does your voice have variety and dynamic range?

Are your gestures free, fluid, and specific?

Are you using sufficient breath to create sound?

Are you speaking deliberately enough that you can choose the words you want to say?

Are you enunciating those words clearly enough to be understood?”

 

You do not have to be a psychologist or an expert speaker to know there ar many things an author can do to enhance a presentation and to minimize distractions or points of weakness. But what you have to be aware of id that you can always improve and that being a powerful speaker can make you a powerful author.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 4.7 million pageviews. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum