On October 20th, 2024, I’ll be attending my first public event as an author. It’s a small event, but it’s still something that is in the public eye. As someone who has struggled with impostor syndrome in the past, this has me slightly anxious.
Nonetheless, I’m approaching it similar to how I felt while attending WordCamps in 2019 for GreenGeeks as well as the business expos I’ve attended – with grace and professionalism.
As soon as those doors opened and attendees started walking in, I was a completely different person.
How to Deal with Public Anxiety as a New Author
Now, I’m not an expert on social anxiety. However, I can tell you that I’m not the most comfortable when in public and have been known to be quite shy overall.
That is unless I’m on location for a specific reason. Then, it’s like a switch is flipped and I am focused on my job. In the case of promoting myself as a new author, I don’t necessarily have that same professional switch.
So, what am I going to do to deal with a touch of social anxiety?
1. View it as a Learning Experience
First off, I’m viewing the entire encounter as more of a way to learn than to sell books. I’ve never done one of these before, so I am taking notes on what to do and what not to do.
Yes, I am doing research and asking questions about the ins and outs of an event like this. But the best way for me to learn is by doing it.
No one is expecting you to be “perfect” from the jump. That should also include yourself. Some people will have a knack for public interaction of this magnitude. Others will struggle a bit. Viewing it as a learning experience will help keep you grounded.
2. Be Realistic with Expectations
I’m not looking to sell all 60 copies of my book. In fact, I’d be happy if I sold one. The expectation I have is to meet people and interact with the other authors at the event.
I am more about the experience than anything. So, for me, spending the $20 on a table for 4 hours and getting to meet potential readers and peers is worth the money.
Don’t go into the event with the idea that you’ll be a sensation. Be realistic with yourself and what you expect. It’s the delusions of grandeur that wind up sucking the wind out of so many people’s sails.
3. Present Yourself Well
I plan on actually dressing up a bit for Read Between the Stars. Well, at least a bit more than just a pair of ratty shorts, a tank top, and a Hawaiian shirt. Not to mention trimming the beard a bit.
Like attending the WordCamps, I want to promote myself as a professional. First impressions matter, and I would like local readers to be “impressed” by who I am as well as what I can provide.
There’s nothing wrong with being yourself. But presenting yourself well will create a lasting impression. The last thing you want is to be forgotten shortly after people leave the event.
4. Try to Interact with Anyone Walking By
Since becoming a successful freelance writer and having a growing YouTube channel, I’ve found it much easier to strike up a conversation. I would at least like to say “hi” to everyone who passes.
When in public at an event as an author, you can’t let shyness take over. As I said, you want to create a lasting impression, and for many people, this comes down to talking and getting someone’s attention.
Besides, it’s good practice. The more you interact with others in a positive way, the better you become. So, even if this first event may be a trainwreck at the end, it only improves how the next one will unfold.
5. Add Some Personality to Your Table
Not only do I plan on decorating my table a bit for Halloween, but I also plan on bringing my skeleton along. After all, he is in the book as well as on the cover.
Because I am a bit eccentric, though, he’ll most likely be wearing sunglasses while wearing a Hawaiian shirt. I want to look professional, but he couldn’t care less.
The idea here is by adding some of my personality to the table, I am making myself feel more comfortable in the situation. The more comfortable I am, the more relaxed I’ll become. The more relaxed I am, the more interactive I’ll be.
6. Realize Not Everyone Will Like Your Work
As I’ve said countless times, you’re not going to please 100% of the people 100% of the time. Not everyone is going to love your book, and that’s OK. You will be someone’s favorite, and that’s what really matters.
You should never go into writing your first book with the idea that it’s going to be a bestseller. It’s an exceptionally rare occurrence that is usually followed by a lot of marketing.
It’s OK to be proud of your work. Just not to the point of arrogance.
In reality, the person who may eventually become your number-one fan might not even show up to that particular event. It may be several months down the road before he or she even knows the book exists.
7. Focus on Having Fun
The most important part of events such as these is to remember to enjoy yourself. Having fun and getting into the spirit of the event not only attracts positive people, but it will also reduce stress when you’re in public.
This helped a lot when I was at the business expos for my computer business as well as the WordCamps.
Would I love to sit at my table and sell all of my books? Sure. But at the end of the day, I want to say that I had an awesome time meeting and interacting with people.
This is actually one of my favorite parts of running the YouTube channel. I love interacting with my audience, replying to comments, and having authors on for live interviews.
Having a good time is vital to having a good book fair, and that doesn’t always include making a ton of sales.
Marketing Yourself as an Author Is Imperative
I’ve seen a few people on social media who say that you should focus on marketing your book and not your name. In reality, you should be marketing both with an emphasis on who you are.
Think about your favorite book. I’m sure most of you know the author before the title. Not to mention how some of you will buy a book simply because of the author’s name.
Now, it does take a bit of effort to get there. After all, you have to write a few books and promote a reputation before people start recognizing your name in public.
But to say that you shouldn’t promote yourself as an author at all is just asinine. Even if you use a pen name, you want readers to recognize it.
As a writer, your name is your brand. That is true whether you’re freelancing, blogging, or publishing books. When your readers look at the name, they know what to expect.
For instance, think of Stephen King. When you see his name on the spine of a book, do you assume it’s going to be a romance novel? Probably not.
Though, that would be interesting.
My point is that you should spend time promoting yourself as much as you do your book, if not more. Being shy and timid isn’t going to get you far as a writer, especially if you start growing in popularity.
Fans would love to attend meet and greets.
You Can’t Be Afraid of Public Appearances
Now, there is nothing wrong with being a hermit who publishes books. This is coming from an introverted hermit who publishes books. But I plan on changing a lot of that in the very near future.
One of my goals as an author is to reach a wider audience. I want to entertain the masses with my stories. And while marketing is the make-or-break element of self-publishing, public appearances at book fairs and conventions open another door to success.
I’m not merely talking about selling a few books on a lazy weekend. You’re also delivering memories to those people who love your work. Those memories will keep them coming back for more if they’re positive.
I had a fan of the YouTube channel visit me in Denver and we took him out to HuHot. Something he said will stick with me until the day I die – “It’s like meeting one of your favorite celebrities.”
I don’t think of myself as a celebrity, but to him, it made his year. And that’s one of the things I love most about being who I am…making others smile.
Of course, this really depends on what you view as success. Not everyone wants to be out in public while signing autographs. Nonetheless, there is something to be said about meeting your readers and interacting on a personal level.
As someone who has spent the better part of two decades hiding away, I can tell you that getting out there is quite anxiety-inducing. Yet, I have such a good time when I’m out.
I’m not looking to make tons of money going to events as an author. I’m looking for experiences and meeting potential readers who may enjoy my story. It’s much easier to do all of this in one sitting when you get out of your comfort zone.
Get Yourself Out There More Often
I’m sure there are plenty of authors out there who have had a great deal of success hiding away from the public. I’m also sure there are some who haven’t seen success at all while going out.
We will all have a unique experience as authors.
No one can guarantee that one method is better than another simply because of the nature of writing. All we can really do is share our own experiences to help others make their own decisions.
If you haven’t tried it yet, though, I suggest you attend an event as an author just once. You never know what will break you out of a shell until you try. You never know, you may find yourself addicted to attending public appearances.
From what I’ve seen and experienced, they are quite enjoyable.
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