For many writers, especially if we’re just getting our feet wet in the networking game, “tooting our own horn” can seem a bit self-indulgent and somewhat off-putting. We’re afraid that if we talk about ourselves and what it is we do that somehow this will make us appear less than humble. We’re afraid of others’ perceptions. We’re afraid of stumbling. We’re afraid of rejection.
In last Wednesday’s post, I touched on this briefly in regard to marketing efforts. I said, “Marketing isn’t about selfishly tooting our own horn. It’s about putting ourselves out there, sharing what we know, and giving something of value to others, be it our advice, our encouragement, or our own time.”
There is a vast difference between being selfish and being humbly intentional when chatting ourselves up.
Today I wanted to focus on the media aspect of the writer’s life. (This goes hand in hand with marketing. Though we may be hesitant when dishing about ourselves, it’s NECESSARY. And if we want to spread the word about who we are and what we write, with the eventual goal of selling our books, we will have to talk about us!)
At the recent ACFW conference, one of the best workshops that I attended was one about media training. This workshop challenged me and made me think. It was led by Morgan Doremus, website content and development director for Romantic Times Magazine. I found Morgan’s approach very forthright, down-to-earth, and extremely pleasant. She was professional with a humorous flair, and it was obvious that she was quite comfortable when addressing a large crowd.
Here’s what I learned about media coverage:
How on earth do we get media coverage anyway? Morgan had us on the edge of our seat with that first question. She paused, then smiled, before relaying the secret: Ask for it! Request interviews. Contact your local news and radio stations, local and regional newspapers, and especially your own alma maters which often publish alumni newsletters.
A step further–just how do we ask for it? Make it difficult to refuse! Craft your request in such a way that the person you’re asking can’t say no. Be yourself. Be authentic. (If you try to be Princess Polly or Dynamic Dan, and you are anything but, the person you’re targeting for the interview will know and so will your listeners/viewers/readers.) Your voice won’t ring true; your interview will sound stilted. Fake.
Once you’ve snagged the interview, prepare for it! Prepare yourself, as well as the interviewer. Give your interviewer a print out/notecard with key highlights you will address. List bullet points with career achievements, author/genre news, where you will be speaking, and contact info. And heavenly days, don’t forget to dress for success! It’s difficult to take a supposed professional seriously if he/she saunters in wearing polka dots and suspenders or blue jeans and flip-flops.
How do we get over stage fright? This is a biggie for many people, including me! When all eyes and ears are on us, it’s only natural to be a little nervous or feel a tad awkward. (In college, I dreaded speech class. After the second fainting episode, however, fear just wasn’t an option anymore!) Morgan suggested referring back to a notecard with our bullet points, if necessary. Take deep, calming breaths and stay focused on the task at hand. Decide going into the interview that you will have fun.
What do we do when facing difficult questions? Unless it’s pertinent to your writing career, politely side-step subjects that are off topic and sensationalistic, and concentrate on writing accomplishments and your writing genre instead. One’s family or personal life should never be up for grabs.
Something we’d rather not think about, but we must. What happens if, for some reason, the interview goes south? We’ve all probably witnessed this under a variety of circumstances. I can personally think of some news interviews I’ve seen on television that have turned into a comedy routine or a showdown of sorts. A key thing to remember is to never become argumentative in return. Pause briefly. Choose to take the high road. Take control of the interview through psychological maneuvering to get the interview back on track. Be polite, but firm. At the close of the interview, thank the interviewer for his time. Maintain eye contact and remain professional. How you respond if this occurs is what the audience will remember.
After the interview is over, make the most of your coverage. Follow up with a “thank you” note or e-mail. Be gracious. (And yes, remain humble.) If a mistake was made during the interview, use the tongue-in-cheek method and admit the faux pas. (About a faux pas, my motto is “admit it, own it, and move past it.”) We’re bound to goof now and then. It’s how we choose to handle the goof that will define the moment, not the mistake itself.)
While media coverage can seem overwhelming, it’s important to keep in mind that everyone has to start from somewhere. Taking those initial, faltering baby steps will eventually lead to mature, confident strides. (And a banged up knee or two along the way is how we earn our badge of courage!)
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What kinds of tips can you offer about media coverage? Do you find this aspect of marketing exciting?
Comments 12
Thanks for sharing these tips! Outstanding post. I’m keeping this one for future reference.
The picture of those truffles is awesome…I want one dark chocolate and one espresso please!
Author
It’s my pleasure to share, Loree! And about the truffles…it was indeed hard to say no!
How helpful! Thank you, Cynthia.
Author
You’re so welcome, Tanya!
Thanks for the great recap of the workshop, Cynthia. I’d wanted to make that one but ended up unable to, so your post is a blessing. =)
Author
I’m so happy to share, Keli!
Cynthia,
Morgan Doremus from RT BOOK REVIEWS here. I am so flattered for your post. I absolutely love sharing a bit of my experience with audiences. I think you summed up my presentation nicely. (I can never stress enough that the only way to get media coverage is to ASK FOR IT!)
However, there was one point that I would like to clarify. When you were writing about stage fright, you mention it is okay to refer back to your notes (and bullet points). I would actually recommend NOT doing this. The highlights that you gave the interviewer are for them to use – not you. If you start referring to pre-written notes, it can lead to silted conversation – not to mention the fact that there is always the issue of not being fully engaged with the interviewer. You always want to listen carefully to what is being asked and never try to ‘shoehorn’ memorized (canned) answers into an interview.
Other than that, I would say you did a much better summary of the talk that I ever could! I especially love the way you wrote about facing difficult questions. Authors being interviewed need to remember that they are in charge of what they say. No interviewer can get quotes out of them that they do not willingly offer. The trick is finding the most tactful way of redirecting the conversation back to positive author/book promotion.
Again, thank you so much for attending my workshop. And thank you for the kind words. If you or your readers ever have any questions about media training, interviewing, author branding, etc. please feel free to email me at morgan@rtbookreviews.com.
Thanks!
-Morgan
Author
Morgan, thank you so much for clarifying the point about NOT refering back to notes and notecards during interviews. I was trying to jot down my own notes so fast from your fabulous workshop that I bungled that one. I stand corrected. 🙂 (I actually have used a notecard in certain situations, but never for more than a quick glance or two, however, I’ll think twice about doing it again.)
Thanks so much for your openess and your helpful approach! I look forward to hearing you again in the future, and you can bet I’ll be asking more questions!
You are going to do so well with this. Are you sure you don’t want to borrow my flip flops? 🙂
Author
Ahhh, Patti…How kind you are! (And I’ve not worn flip-flops since I broke my ankle four years ago. 😉 )
Thanks for sharing these tips, Cynthia! The whole idea of putting myself out there like that is scary, but these are some great practical pointers.
Author
It absolutely can be daunting, Sarah, but we have to look at it as an exciting opportunity to share the love of Christ through our stories. I truly believe that God will raise us up to do our best if we commit OUR BEST to Him!
And Morgan is so friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. She is a tremendous resource.
(You will do awesome! You have blessed me in countless ways before we even met!)