The fear of speaking in public is well-documented, often discussed, and probably overrated. The great news is that speaking in front of a group can be an entertaining and energizing experience for even the most fearsome among us.
Try these ideas to enjoy speaking and to sharpen your delivery:
1. Dont give a speech — have a conversation. Thinking about delivering a speech sounds nerve-racking. Think about the difference between saying I have to give a speech, as opposed to saying, Im talking to people. You may not give speeches all the time, but you do talk to people all the time! If you do actually have a conversation, youll sound more natural and more interesting.
2. Read your ideas into a tape recorder. Having trouble sitting down to write your speech? Try reading your initial thoughts into a tape recorder. Dont edit as you speak or worry about how youre phrasing things. Just talk about your ideas. When youre done, go back and transcribe your thoughts. Youll sound much more natural than if you sit down and try to write a speech.
3. Do a quick evaluation. After your talk, review how you think it went and why. Remember that not all the factors influencing your talk are within your control. For example, dinner audiences are often harder to speak to, because they may be drinking alcohol and theyre often tired after a long day. Some people think theyre not good speakers, when the truth is they were speaking in a room with terrible sound qualities, or the audience is angry over something else, etc
4. Remember: Progress, not perfection. Dont worry about becoming the worlds best speaker. Just try to feel a bit more confident each time you talk.
5. Write 1 objective for the talk. What do you want or need it to accomplish? Do you need to persuade them to vote your way? Are you simply delivering information? Cutting it down to the basics will help you feel less overwhelmed. If you achieve that objective, the speech is a success, no matter how many other things you may wish to have changed in retrospect.
6. Avoid topics that dont move you. Many people do not enjoy speaking because they dont enjoy the topic theyre asked to address. In some situations (at work, for instance) you may not be able to avoid speaking on a particular issue. In other circumstances, though, if you really, really dont want to talk about a topic, you should really, really try not to do. If its not something you can feel enthusiastic in discussing, its going to be a tough sell to get the audience energized about it.
7. Have fun with it. Speaking in front of any group, on any topic, is a great honor — it means that what you have to say is so important that people want to hear it.
8. Realize that the audience is rooting for you. Unless youre in a hostile situation (discussing a controversial issue, for instance) the audience wants you do to well. Its not fun to watch a struggling or boring speaker. The audience wants to learn from you, and they want you to have fun. Theyre on your side.
9. Take care of yourself. Its hard to be energetic and enthusiastic when you dont feel well. Get enough rest, eat well, drink water and exercise to give yourself the fuel you need to speak well.
10. Remember: Youre not the first. Whatever dumb or embarrassing mistake you make or fear is lurking on the horizon, someone else has already made it and lived through it.
Someone has already survived:
1) realizing after the talk that their pants were unzipped
2) going to the restroom and forgetting to turn off the cordless microphone they were using
3) leaving a drycleaning tag on their suit jacket cuffs
4) falling down while speaking
5) stumbling over words
6) forgetting what they were about to say
7) having their skirt get caught in the back of their panty hose, exposing their back side a little more than they would wish
infinite problems with slides, lighting, etc.
9) leaving a price tag on a new pair of pants
You name it, its already happened! In fact, mistakes often endear you to the audience, because its a good reminder that were all human.
The best part about having something go wrong? It makes you stronger at staying calm! Figure out how to fix it the next time, have a good laugh about it, and move on (and remember to write it down, because screw-ups often make great anecdotes for your next talk).
Shari Peace is an international speaker, an author, and the president of Peace Talks, a training and consulting firm. Her book, Crank It Out! How to Get More Done ” At Work & In Your Life!, features tips for effectively managing time and boosting productivity. She can be reached at http://www.sharipeace.com
From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at www.managing-creativity.com/
The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.
Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
and more…
Walk the Line (2005) deconstructed
FADE IN: Loop / Context: Folsom prison:
Meeting the Hero / Loop: Cash looking at the saw.
Ordinary World: back at home as a kid.
Foreshadow of the Romantic Challenge: June Carter Cash on the radio.
Foreshadow of the Outer Challenge: Ray (Father) banging on the door.
Building Inner Challenge: Cash with his younger brother in bed.
Hero’s Capabilities: songs are easy.
Developing Outer Challenge: Dad angry while picking cotton.
Building Inner Challenge: Cash walking with his younger brother in the fields.
Building Inner Challenge: the dangerous saw.
Developing Hero’s Capabilities: Cash practicing song writing.
Pushed to confront the Inner Challenge: Ray picks up Jack.
Inner Challenge: Jack dies.
Call to Adventure : “..you’re nothing… he took the wrong son….”
Refusal : running away.
Supernatural Aid
Going on a Journey to meet the Mentor: you’ll be late for the bus.
Goodbye to the Old Self: saying goodbye to the family.
Outer Challenge: no words for Dad.
Crossing the Physical Marker: the road.
New World: in Korea.
Meeting the Shape Shifter: talking to Vivian on the phone.
Pushed Forward: “lets go Cash…; five minutes was up five minutes ago”
Magical Gift : the Folsom prison film.
Guided by the Mentor / Magical Gift: writing the Folsom prison song on his guitar.
First Threshold
First Threshold: lying in bed with Vivian and the kid in Memphis.
Threshold Guardian / Rules: are you going to sell something today?
New World and New Self / Outer Cave: Cash trying to sell door to door.
Foreshadow of the Transformation: watching the shoe shiners.
Foreshadow of the Belly of the Whale: seeing the musicians run into the studio.
Resistance to the Belly of the Whale: the door closes.
Pushing to the Belly of the Whale / Meeting Allies: Cash and his band playing gospel in front of the wives.
Inner Cave: Vivian hides in the toilet; can’t even make rent.
Push and Resistance to the Belly of the Whale: Cash persuades the producer.
Time Pressure: I can’t wait that long.
Resisting the Belly of the Whale and the Transformation: you can’t wear black, you look like you’re going to a funeral.
Belly of the Whale : the producer doesn’t like the gospel derivative.
Pushed to the Physical Separation: “…give me the one song that would sum you up…”
Using the Magical Gift to open the Door: Cash sings Folsom Prison.
Physical Separation : the producer likes the song.
Celebration: Cash tells Vivian the good news.
New World : in concert.
Foreshadow of the Meeting with the Romantic Challenge / Transformation Mentor: seeing June Carter Cash.
Transformation Marker / Devolved State: “nobody follows [the asshole]”
Meeting the Romantic Challenge: June gets caught up in Cash’s guitar string.
Magical Gift: a piece of June’s dress.
Developing the Romantic Challenge ’s Capabilities: June is popular, established and a comic to boot.
Clumsily entering the New World of the Transformation: not used to the light.
Welcomed to the World of the Transformation: Johnny sings in concert, is popular.
Celebrating the Entry: Cash phones Vivian.
Goodbye to the Old World and Self: “Johnny I have to go…”
Developing the Romantic Challenge: June singing.
Romantic Challenge’s backstory: she’s been singing since she was a little girl.
Time pressure: we’re leaving in an hour John.
Trial and Transformation 1:
Developing Characters and Relationships: Cash meets June in the café; referencing all challenges - Ray, Jack, wife etc.
Transforming: moving into the new house.
Resisting the Transformation: Vivian gives Johnny the rules.
Warning: Vivian leaves if he can’t give her what she wants.
Transformation marker: the asshole in the tour bus.
Developing the marker / asshole: we’re all going to hell.
Journey to the Inner Cave: arriving at the hotel.
Inner Cave: Cash tries to kiss June.
Transformation: June has been through a divorce.
Trial and Transformation 2:
Introduced to drugs.
Blowing up the tree.
Johnny in concert; the girl in the blue watching.
Transformed: the asshole has been outdone.
Seeing Elvis.
Taking drugs.
Audrey Parks walks into the room.
Transformation: new baby, Ray getting old.
In the back room with the girls; falling over.
Trial and Transformation 3:
Transformation Mentor’s Challenge: June in the store; told that divorce is a sin.
Meeting Cash in the store.
Walking out with the fishing gear.
Cash fishing with June; romantic tension.
Transformed: Johnny an accomplished singer now.
Transformed: June sings “time’s a wasting” with Cash.
Inner Challenge reminder: June sees the woman in the audience.
Cash kisses June.
Regression
Cash pursues June into her room; “please get away from me…”
Cash tears up the place.
Cash, June and Jerry Lee all playing together now.
Separation : June turns up at the rehearsal, where everyone is drunk and high; June is going home; you don’t walk no line.
Journey to the Sword: Cash singing the Walk the Line song.
Goodbye to the Old Self: selling the house.
Seizing the Sword: a star now; signing a new contract.
New World and New Self: on the hammock, new house; Casita springs.
Near Death Experience:
Outer Challenge: Ray remarks on Cash’s use of drugs.
Shape Shifter Developed: Vivian snappy with Cash.
Transformed: meeting the New June at the performance; married now.
Reward:
Cash follows June out of the concert.
Cash wants to sing with June again.
June introduces Cash onto stage; June sings with Cash again.
Foreshadow of the Atonement: Vivian in the audience.
Atonement : Vivian tells June to stay clear of her children.
Apotheosis : Cash and June singing great together.
Comedic Element: the officers in the lift.
Ultimate Boon:
Cash follows June to her room.
June invites him in.
Cash in bed with June.
Disgust / Denial:
Junes’ children call.
June refuses Cash’s calls; I’m not going to do this.
Cash tops up on the drink and drugs.
Cash collapses on stage.
Magic Flight 1:
The band cancel the tour and leave.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Tell me you don’t love me; I don’t love you.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Where are my pills?
Romantic Challenge’s Challenge: June crying; seeing her kids.
Set up Magic Flight 2: Police arrest Cash for drugs.
Cash arrives home. Vivian’s cold welcome.
Seeing the kids.
Vivian catches significance of June leaving the tour in Vegas.
Vivian sees Cash put up June’s picture.
Vivian smashes June’s picture.
The kids see their parents fighting.
Johnny by the pool.
Magic Flight 1:
Vivian leaves with the kids.
Cash pursues Vivian.
Needing Rescue:
Cash doing drugs with the dealer.
Cash tries to cash the cheque.
Rescue from Without: Love yourself first.
Cash walks home.
Cash buys a new house.
Cash gets some more drugs.
Cash calls June.
Outer Challenge: Ray arrives and notes the truck.
June’s parents arrive.
Outer Challenge: Cash confronts Ray over dinner.
Final Antagonism: you got nothing.
Cash tries to get the truck out of the mud.
Pushed to Confront the Inner Challenge: June’s mother tells her to go down there; he’s all messed up.
Inner Challenge: Cash goes cold turkey.
Drug dealers chased away.
Foreshadow of the Romantic Challenge : June brings a bowl of strawberries; a hug; a second chance.
New Self: June take Cash to church.
Cash starts reading his fan mail; letters from Folsom.
Refusing the Wizened One : the record company resists the Folsom prison gig.
Transformed: Cash with a new voice.
Loop: Cash in the Folsom prison gig.
Confronting Romantic Challenge :
Cash asks June to marry him in the bus.
June closes the door on Cash.
Cash asks June to sing with him.
Cash ask June to marry him on stage.
June resists.
Freedom to Live:
June says yes.
The kiss.
All Challenges Conquered: Cash with his Dad; fishing with June.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/.
With the spreading of the knowledge that more and more large websites are employing “duplicate content filters” to look for content which appears multiple times on the internet, article writers and marketers are wrongfully panicking. If my article appears “too many” times or “multiple” times on the internet, I’ll be “blacklisted” and my work could go down the tubes. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here’s why:
If article content doesn’t appear numerous times across the world wide web, then what’s article marketing coming to? Posting an article to one website or having it appear on only one website on the world wide web would most certainly not allow it to reach anywhere near its potential of readers. The whole point behind article marketing is for an article to appear throughout the internet at numerous websites online. Each of those websites catering to a focused segment of the genre or market the article is targeted to. To attempt to prevent this from happening is absolutely ludicrous.
Bear in mind that “duplicate content filters” have one primary purpose that actually benefits original content authors; that is to seek out and identify unauthorized use of original content. For example, run a Google or Yahoo search using your name in parentheses like this: “Larry M. Lynch”. I’ll almost bet you’re going to find quite a number of hits if you’ve written or posted extensively. Go ahead, check the ones you don’t know. Find any you didn’t know about? It would be a miracle if you didn’t. Did you find any that used your content in a manner you didn’t authorize? Search your article titles. Find any that didn’t use your name or give you credit for your original content? Then it’s time to write the site webmaster or company PR to request correct content posting complete with byline and credit.
As for the authorized, desirable postings of your original content, write to them too. Thank them for posting your article(s). Ask if they’d like even more of your original content on a regular basis. So don’t fear upcoming duplicate content filters that might be employed by search engines. Plagiarizers and pirates should beware. Writers and article marketers: Keep writing. Keep posting and go for the numbers with your quality articles.
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an expert author and photographer offering Web Content Writing Services for top-quality articles on: Education, Language learning, Salt and Fresh water fishing, exotic foods, South American travel and culture, Ethnic issues - Blacks, Latinos, Indian native tribes, Health, Internet business resources and more … His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News, Brazil magazine and hundreds of sites online. For fr*e*e sample articles and available web content e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com
This list is slanted toward creative writing, such as fiction and personal essays, although many of these publications also call for articles, graphics, poetry, or other material. A well-written story or essay that adheres to their guidelines is likelier to be accepted, and more quickly.
Put yourself in the place of the editor. For the editor, the zine itself is the creation, the work of art: What she or he chooses to include in the zine displays this artistry. Especially when the guidelines are vague or unspecific (”high-quality fiction and non-fiction” for example) it is important to read some of the work the zine has already published. When literary journals were exclusively in print, the rule of thumb was three issues. Now with most online publications, you have the advantage of being able to read their entire archives.
Editors keep reminding writers to weed out bad grammar and incorrect spelling in their manuscripts, and they mean it. So watch your grammar! Correct your spelling and punctuation! Mistakes in these areas continue to be big turnoffs. It’s tempting to get lazy when all you have to do is paste your work in the body of an email. Just remember who’s on the receiving end.
Another turnoffthe major turnoff, in factare submissions that don’t fall within guidelines. When a publication states “no poetry” they mean it. And when they state “up to 3,000 words” don’t send them a 4,000-word story you’re sure will knock their socks off. It won’t.
You’ll notice that some of these markets pay but most of themusually the literary zinesdon’t. Yet they ask for your best work. Why submit to them? Several reasons: For the editors, this is a labor of love. Most frequently they have degrees in English and/or experience in traditional publishing. They love to read; moreover, their greatest desire is to make their own contribution to Literature. If you’re good, one of their life’s thrills will be to have discovered you. Also, ezines are growing in prestige, and the best of them are being read by agents and major publishers. Check out the contributors’ bios in some of the zines here. You’ll see novelists, columnists, professors. When they place a story in a webzine their colleagues and agents will read it and probably take a look at the other pieces too.
But more importantly, placement in online zines is the best way to build up your list of credits quickly. You don’t have to be a careerist to understand that writing is a career, too, as well as a vocation and a passion. The more you place, the more you’re seen. And the more your work is accepted, the likelier you are to be regarded as a serious writer to bank on by higher tiers in the publishing world.
And remember why you write in the first place. To express, to communicateto be READ.
About the Author
You can find the author at her virtual home, http://www.cantarachristopher.com, where she publishes and edits the literary ezines Novelists Abroad, Postmodern Lives, and CityFables.