Every now and then they let writers out into the wild and, to be honest, most of us are unprepared for the human contact. Many even dread the experience. However, an introverts worst nightmare can turn into a seeming disaster with some of these unfortunate (but also common) conundrums.
Whether someone is throwing you a book launch, you have a signing event or you’re going on tour, being prepared for the follies of in-person events is crucial.
You’re Not on the Schedule
Whether you’re planning your own events or working with a publisher, sometimes mistakes are made. Whether it be the bookstore’s fault or a miscommunication from your team, authors have shown up to events only to find no one expected their arrival.
Before departing for your first event, make sure you’ve checked in with the bookstore to confirm everything is set. Ask the senior-most staff member you can find and double-check the time and details.
If however, you show up to an event and everyone is staring at you wide-eyed, here are a few ways you can cope:
- Ask if they have copies of your book in the store that you can sign
- Offer to do the talk you had prepared anyways and see if you can get some walk-ins (bonus points if you can get the staff to take some videos/photos)
- If they aren’t prepared for a full reading, but they have your books in stock, offer to sit at a table by the front door, greeting customers as they come in
- Reschedule for a different day
Worst case scenario, go shopping, you’re in a bookstore. And booksellers love authors, so see if there’s some other way you can maximize your time there, even if it is spent chatting up the staff and learning more about the industry.
No Books Here
Perhaps just as bad as not being on the schedule when you show up for an event is getting there and realizing the store hasn’t stocked up on your new release. Perhaps they ordered your debut book rather than your latest novel. Maybe you and another author share a same name. Sometimes, the store staff simply drops the ball entirely and forgets to place an order. Occasionally it’s your publisher who skipped a step.
Make sure you confirm that books have arrived and that they’ve ordered enough to accommodate your audience a week or two before the event.
Another helpful way to protect yourself would be to bring a box of books, just in case.
Finally, if you show up, and despite your best efforts, your books aren’t there. Thank goodness for the internet. Direct the audience to where they can buy the book. If possible, you can also offer a purchase option on your website where fans can buy a signed copy. Maybe even the book store can place orders for the attendees and have their copies shipped to the store. Is it as thrilling as that signed book right in front of you? Maybe not, but most would still be motivated to buy even if it was slightly less convenient.
No One Knows You’re Having an Event
Perhaps the most common mistake is forgetting you have news to share. Time and time again authors neglect to promote themselves and inform their fans/friends/family. Whether you’re have 100 social media followers or the contact list on your phone, promotion is required to get some people in attendance.
Send invites early and often to help rally an audience for your event. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to the store and your publisher to see what they are doing to help. Bookstores can and should put up posters ahead of time (though you may have to create them yourself) and your publisher should be willing to at least Tweet about your event. Even for established traditional authors, filling a venue for a book event can be difficult. Don’t overestimate other people’s investment in your event. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to pack the house.
You’re Late You’re Late You’re Late
There is nothing worse than being late to your own party. Whether it’s traffic or a mild panic attack before you leave, give yourself a little cushion. Plan to arrive at least thirty minutes early.
If you’re late anyways, play it like a rockstar and give a genuine apology then proceed. Don’t get hung up on this one slip. Maybe it means cutting down your time, but it isn’t the end of the world.
Nothing is Set Up
There are a few things you should expect to see when you walk into your book event. There should be a stage or at least a designated area for you to sit or stand and talk. Odds are, you’re going to need a microphone too. Chairs should be set up for your audience and in all likelihood, there will be a table with your books neatly arranged on it.
If you walk in and this isn’t the case, you may have to be prepared to roll up your sleeves. (All the more reason to show up early.) In all likelihood, you’ll have help from the staff, but unfortunately, you may find that you end up as the director, producer and star of your own event. As long as the audience doesn’t know the difference, you’ll be happy with the outcome, even if you break a little sweat.
A Wanderer, One Superfan and Your Mom
As the start of your event draws near, you may begin to see that the crowd isn’t what you had hoped it would be. There may be a stranger who was passing by and decided to sit, an eager front-rower you suspect is the one who has been direct messaging you daily, and a dedicated relative who comes to everything, but that’s not exactly what you were hoping.
While there is very little you can do in that moment to fix it, plan ahead of time to ensure you have a crowd to talk to. Reach out to local book clubs, writing groups, schools or other education organizations. Try to get featured in the events sections of local papers. Ask your friends to bring a friend or two of their own. Shoot, you can even try bribery and offer to give away a copy or perhaps review a query letter for fellow aspiring authors.
For many authors, there’s nothing worse than talking to empty chairs so do everything you can to help fill them. Even if that means going up to people browsing in the store before your event and asking them if they’d like to join. Sadly, the bookstores rarely see it as their job to draw an audience, so use your networks and charm to fill those seats.
And if ultimately, you’re only talking to a few people, try to still make it a great experience for them. Oh, and make sure someone takes pictures/video.
Stumbling Through the Event
Let’s say the opposite occurs. Maybe there is standing room only and you didn’t really expect to deliver to a crowd of 80. If your heart wasn’t pumping hard before, staring into that many expectant faces might kick it up a notch.
Make sure you have a timeline and some talking points for your event. Not only will this help things go smoothly, it will ensure you have enough material to cover the span of your event. Most people know too, that authors aren’t always the best public speakers. Try not to feel self-conscious, you’re talking about material you know intimately. Focus on why you wrote the story, who you wrote it for and why these characters’ stories had to be told right now.
No Evidence
One thing most authors don’t think about until after their event is over is assigning someone to be the photographer/videographer. They’ll have completed a fantastic event and have nothing to share on social media or with friends. Whether you go the professional route or just ask a friend to use the camera on their phone, you’ll be glad you captured the event.
Try not to stress yourself over all the “what ifs,” but do what preparation you can to make sure your next event goes off without a hitch.
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