Have you ever been thrust into doing something you don’t feel comfortable doing? I never thought of myself as a speaker, but I’ve been doing more and more of that lately. I use to read my speech which wasn’t the best way to go for me. I would read fast. That’s what I do when I’m nervous. I finally decided I’ve been in this business of writing for years and years. I have learned a few things along the way so I’m just gonna talk to the audience as if we are a couple of friends getting together to talk writing. I think it is working out better. At least I’m not as nervous and stuttering over words.
The reason I’m blogging about this today is because in a few hours I have to give a speech to a mystery writers’ group. I want to impart how much Christian fiction as a whole has grown and that there are good suspense/mystery books out there in the Christian market. We are the light in the dark. With all that is happening in this world, I’m glad we are here to spread the Word.
So what have you been thrust into doing that you aren’t comfortable with?
Margaret,
Like you, I’m apprehensive about giving speeches. What’s really helped me is Toastmasters. I joined a year ago, and I’ll get my Competent Communicator pin after three more speeches. Each one gets a bit easier.
I’m sure you’re going to do well. My best advice is not to let the audience see how nervous you are–or hear your knees knocking. 🙂
Hey Margaret, I know you mentioned this before you presented your workshop at the ACFW conf, but you were terrific!!!
You know your stuff, and you’re passionate about it. That can be seen just by watching you.
I can’t speak in public unless I’m in church. Last Sunday, I had to stand in from our small congregation and admit the reason the church blog hadn’t been updated in 3 wks was b/c I’d been doing my own stuff and not giving time to God first.
Do you know what God did to get my attention? Well, I had signed up for NaNo and was going great, but kept losing my pages. I’ve written 5 ms so far and have never lost a page. So, I realized that He didn’t want me working on NaNo when I should have been transcribing/posting the last sermon.
Okay. So, I got it ready to go and I was all set up. But when I looked down at my voice recorder, my MP3 was sitting there and I remembered I hadn’t uploaded the audiofiles from the ACFW conf. I decided to do that. But, a weird thing happened – my MP3 died. It’s only 2 mos old and it died in my hand. Nothing. I plugged it in and tried everything but it wouldn’t work.
With nothing else to do, I decided to do the church blog. So, I carried my laptop, earphones, etc into my bedroom to transcribe it. (Away from my noisy family) Every half hr or so, I’d try my MP3 – just in case – but nothing.
When I finished and had updated the blog, I tried my MP3 again.
It worked.
Like it or not, I was compelled to stand up in church the next day and confess. Why? I dunno. Maybe He wanted others to learn from my experience.
All I know is that I don’t speak well in public and yet I wasn’t nervous and I spoke loud and clear so that my testimony might get out to others: Give time to God first and He’ll give time so you can complete your things.
So, I realize by the time you read this you’ll be back already.
But I wanted to stress that you are a good speaker b/c you are passionate about what you do. Regardless of how you feel before you speak.
Don’t forget – Barbara Streisand has stage fright so bad, she always throws up before a performance and look how good she is!
Thank you, Keli and Anita Mae, for sharing your stories.
Margaret
I would get so nervous about giving a speech! I made myself after I joined my local MOPs group, become part of the steering team and somehow have managed to get almost to the top of being in charge. It has been hard for me as it means I must speak to more people and go out of my comfort zone which I am a reader and write letters, I do not talk well! It has helped me to come out what is comfortable and be more outgoing!
I am sure you will do well!
Hi, Reading scripture in front of our church service! Thanks, Cindi
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