Are you confident, do you know what to say?

Do you find it difficult to emerge from your writing world?

Confession time. sometimes I’m as tongue-tied as a teenager on her first date. I don’t have a clue what I should say.

Hello, my name is Jean and I’m an introvert.

More times than not, I prefer to stay home and talk to my imaginary friends. Meeting strangers leave me as tongue-tied as a teenager on her first date. I don’t have a clue what to say. And it seems that with each passing year, I find it more and more difficult.

And Lordy, don’t get me started on promoting my books. I’m a nervous wreck when it comes to that. I rather sit at my computer writing than convince people to buy something I’ve written.

So, just how does an introvert such as myself, have meaningful conversations with strangers?

Prepare.

Prepare for a meet and greet as if we were preparing to write. Because for people like me, networking is hard.

Here is a great article on conversation starters.

10 Handy Conversation Starters for Introverted Writers by LISA ROWAN

Here’s what I gleaned from Ms. Rowan’s article.

Memorize that elevator pitch. (yuck) But, don’t start off with the pitch.
Remember your manners. Show interest in the other person and listen. Most times, they’ll lead you right into the “pitch.”
Smile, no one wants to talk to a “resting bitch face.”
Break the ice with questions about the event.
Don’t make the entire conversation a sales pitch. (see #2)
Memorize some basic questions so you won’t be tongue-tied. Ms. Rowan gives a good list of icebreakers.

What do you think?

Do you have trouble in these situations?

Do you enjoy seminars, book festivals or book signings?

Is it easy for you to promote your books?

What is your secret to overcoming those butterflies?

Tell me in the comments section. I love hearing from Y’all.

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Please stop by and say “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.

4 thoughts on “Are you confident, do you know what to say?”

Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Here are some great tips from Jean’s Writing blog on the topic of preparing for meet and greets as an introverted author. I can relate to this.

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I’m about 65% introvert and 35% extrovert. I can’t think of anything to say but if the other person starts talking first, then I can talk a lot, sometimes too much. When I was younger, I was more of an extrovert but still somewhat introvert. Does that make sense? My 9th grade English teacher said one time, “Kim, come out of the fog.” So I had my introvert moments of going into my own little world.

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