When you speak to a group about the topic or genre of your book, you want to make a connection with your audience and you want them to connect with one another. If they sit apart from one another, they are individuals either for or against you. Yes, against you. Some people come to your presentation with a chip on their shoulder and they are daring you to knock it off. In other words, \u201cTell me something I don\u2019t know and that I can actually believe.\u201d <\/p>\n
Note: I find that this is actually rare. It happens and I think it is important to mention. But, unless your book and your talk cover something quite controversial, you\u2019ll find most of your audience members congenial, alert and eager to hear what you have to share.<\/p>\n
I suggest that you try to bring audience members who are spread all over the room closer together\u2014invite them to come forward and take some of the seats toward the front, for example. Some will and some won\u2019t. A few people will move one row closer. Others won\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n
\tEven if audience members sit apart, you can still pull them together and create an atmosphere of camaraderie, which will greatly enhance your presentation. Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tFor a smaller group, ask them each to introduce themselves and their projects related to the theme of your talk or their interest or experience in the topic. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tAsk what they\u2019ve come to learn from the session. Some might reveal a problem they\u2019re having. Encourage audience input.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIf someone asks a question or expresses a desire for additional resources or information, respond, but also consider solicit comments from the audience. People will begin to connect. I\u2019ve seen it happen so often.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIf there is time, at some point in the program, assign an exercise that requires audience members to come together in groups\u2014something that depends on teamwork. Try to make it fun.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tPresent a challenge to audience members at large\u2014something that requires discussion among the entire group\u2014again, something light, so you get them laughing together.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tOnce some of the audience members have revealed something about themselves with relationship to the theme of your talk, mention it a time or two throughout your presentation. Say, for example, \u201cJust as Sonny said earlier, \u2018some cats are more trainable than others.\u2019 Does anyone have a cat as stubborn as the one he described?\u201d or \u201cAngie told us that she plants her sweet peas in December\u2014does anyone else have success doing this?\u201d This will endear the individual to you and, again, help to create a connection between him or her and the rest of the group. <\/p>\n
This is excerpted from the book I am currently working on\u2014Talk Up Your Book. In the meantime, be sure to order your copy of my newest book, Publish Your Book<\/em> at Amazon.com or at my website: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When you speak to a group about the topic or genre of your book, you want to make a connection with your audience and you want them to connect with one another. If they sit apart from one another, they are individuals either for or against you. Yes, against you. Some people come to your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,11],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t