Marketing with a Mic

by Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor

Speakers with a following will often times write a book. Over the years I have enjoyed many of the books written by my favorite speakers. Their voice and cadence spill over into the reading as I read the book. When I am so familiar with their voice and delivery I tend to hear them reading the book to me as I read along. What an added pleasure!

You too can get your speaking voice out there with Mic Nite! Southern WritersMagazine has developed for you another great marketing tool. With Mic Nite an author can log in and promote their book, upcoming book, speaking engagements etc. in their own voice. It is very simple to do so.

JOIN US ONSTAGE!

One of the bonuses of being a Southern Writers subscriber is free participation in Mic Nite! You're welcome to appear with new info every week, space permitting (first come, first served). Just send your photo or book cover and up to 150 words (along with a 30- to 60-second audio file if you have one) and we'll take care of the rest. Then visit Mic Nite on Saturday to see who's joined you on Center Stage this week!

We often want to put a face with the name. Now is your opportunity to put your face with your name and your voice. Your readers will love hearing from you. After hearing your voice they can enjoy the familiarity of the author as they read. Who knows, they may hear you as they read your work. Take a look at Mic Nite here!    http://www.southernwritersonline.com/

Speak to Me

by Shannon Milholland, Social Media Director

It is safe here behind the computer screen. Its' invisible shield guards me from taking a bigger risk. I can edit at length and often and linger as I pen prose to shape the sands around me.

Does this echo in your heart? I'd like to challenge you to step away from the computer screen and take center stage. Writing is the benefactor of speaking.

Think Fast

I used to belabor every verb selection and cringe over each -ly or -ing word. I meandered on the path to publication. Somedays I spent hours composing a single blog post. The world behind the microphone has trained my mind to think fast and not turn every moment of prose into a museum of anti-progress.

Think Big

The patch of ground under your La-Z-Boy is malnourished. Super size your thinking by blending speaking with writing. When you speak, you write in real time. You interpret the expressions and reactions of your audience as the words flow out. You make adjustments. You fill the stage. Your thoughts expand with the size of your platform.

Think Clear

Do you work from an orderly outline or allow words to flow from your heart at their own pace? An effective speaker is one who knows where they are going next. One illustration or anecdote flows into the next and weaves a tapestry of a story told one sentence at a time.

The same is true of an article, essay or novel. Speaking practices your mind in the art of knowing what comes next. A clear path prevents wasted thinking time and redeems it as writing time. Your clear thoughts lead to a early completion.

Think speaking isn't for you? Start small. Volunteer to read during story time at your local library. Raise your hand to introduce the speaker at your next function. Then dare to take center stage and have your thinking and writing transformed through speaking.

Your fast, big, clear thoughts translate to extra articles accepted for publication and additional book sales. You might even make a few extra dollars in speaking fees to fund your writing. So come on...and speak to me.