Welcome to my blog

Welcome to The Literary Pig's blog - a safe haven for all those afflicted with
the unbearable urge to write.

Monday, 11 February 2013

Projecting your work

How do you feel about performing your writing in public? Up for it? Or would you rather lock yourself in the loo? Well, the Indoor Writer falls between the stools on this one, but some how feels compelled to volunteer for reading events.

Firstly, she's going to put her name in the hat for the West Sussex Writers' Annual Poetry and Prose Slam (read more here). If you live near Worthing then why not come along to Heene Gallery, Heene Road. The evening kicks-off promptly at 7.30pm, 14 February, and the door fee is £5 for non-members. And the theme is LOVE (what else on Valentine's Day!), but can be love in all its forms. You can read in either category, but all names are picked at random and the piece MUST be read in under 5 minutes (the adjudicator is pretty tough and overrunning pieces are disqualified). All attendees get to vote for their favourite poem or prose at the end of the evening. Winners of each category get £20 in cash and bottles of wines for the runners-up. She's entering a flash piece so keep your trotters crossed.

And then she went and submitted a story for the next Rattle Tales story telling evening. The event takes place 20 February at Brunswick Hotel, Hove (£4 door entry fee) and is an opportunity for writers to read aloud a story. Apparently there then follows a Q&A session with the audience discussing the story with the writer. Let's hope they actually have something to ask because she's going to be reading an adult fairy tale. The chosen story won the Steyning Festival Short Story Prize in 2012 and was read at the prize giving by author Elly Griffiths. Well, you can guess what the Indoor Writer is going to be doing all this week - lots and lots of reading aloud practice! There will be an update on this blog post 20th Feb, so keep reading...

Have you ever read your writing to an audience? How did it go? Please share your experiences - though please don't put her off!
Posted by at

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous11 February 2013 at 04:29

    Tracy, I'm fairly used to reading poetry to an audience and I've done the occasional longer piece too. It definitely gets easier - and more enjoyable - the more you do it!
    For me, the absolutely MOST IMPORTANT thing is that they can HEAR you! If they can't hear you, you won't get the reaction you want and people at the back will just get bored and switch off. So it's worth a) asking if there's going to be a microphone - and having a little practice with it first and/or b) asking people when you introduce yourself and your story (it's always nice to do that - just a couple of sentences to 'set the scene'), whether or not they can hear you. If the answer's 'no' - or you don't get an answer - then at least you know you need to try to speak up!! I also write at regular intervals in the margin of whatever I'm reading, SLOW DOWN. When we're a bit nervous, we tend to gabble and talk too quickly and this is almost as bad for the audience as not being able to hear you, so slow it right down so they can really take in what you're saying. You know your story backwards, but they won't have heard it before! And here endeth the lecture!! (Oh and also, take a glass of water up with you if you need it and don't be afraid to have a slurp every now and then! You're human, not a robot and no-one will mind. It will help you to pace things too). Good luck, enjoy it - let us know how all your readings go!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TracyFells11 February 2013 at 06:17

      Thanks Helen for so many wise words. Lots of great advice here (you should do a post on this!) and I really should listen to an ex-poet laureate. I definitely can babble, so will try the SLOW DOWN reminders in the margin. My biggest worry is doing voices as I have 3 distinct characters to convey and I'm no actor...

      Delete
  2. Wendy's Writing11 February 2013 at 05:36

    Wow! That's great advice from Helen. As a former teacher - I can only agree (especially with the reading slownly and clearly part). Anyway, good luck and I shall look forward to hearing about how it went.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TracyFells11 February 2013 at 06:17

      Thanks Wendy! Will definitely let you know how I get on.

      Delete
  3. Julia Thorley11 February 2013 at 08:09

    I've never read anything to a live audience, but have done it over the radio - and I agree with the above: read it slower than you think you need to. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TracyFells11 February 2013 at 09:17

      Thanks for this Julia. There is always the urge to just get it over with, so will definitely be thinking SLOW!

      Delete
  4. Patsy11 February 2013 at 11:56

    I've not read my work anywhere public than my local writing group. That's mostly because I don't write the sort of things that work well performed. I do talk to the public as part of my current day job though.

    Making sure they can hear you is very important. Can you get someone you know to stand at the back and give hand signals if you need to be louder?

    Taking it slow is also great advice, especially when reading. It hasn't just got to be slow enough for them to understand - you also need pauses for them to react and take in what you're saying.

    Look at your audience as much as possible. Keep glancing up and making eye contact with different people - one on the left, then next time someone at the front etc

    Practice first. Read it out loud - loudly. If possible get someone to listen and have them stand a long way away.

    Don't have more than a few sips of Dutch courage beforehand!

    Re the different voices - can you do different expressions, stand differently, make hand gestures or something else that differs for each one?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TracyFells12 February 2013 at 05:44

      Thanks Patsy for some more great tips. I may practice the different voices technique you mention, but worry I'm not a great actor. I can have more of the Dutch courage after reading though can't I?

      Delete
    2. Patsy12 February 2013 at 12:26

      Of course you can! Won't hurt to have a glass poured ready.

      Delete
  5. joanne fox11 February 2013 at 13:17

    Oh, lots of luck with those! It sounds a very daunting way to pass an evening, but I'm sure you'll be fine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TracyFells12 February 2013 at 05:45

      Thanks Joanne. these things are usually much better than you imagine. I shall have to fear the fear and just get on with it!

      Delete
  6. Rosemary Gemmell12 February 2013 at 08:21

    It sounds a great opportunity, Tracy - enjoy ever minute! I've read to a large audience a few times after winning comps at the Annual writing conference in Scotland (and given adjudications and short talk from the stage). All good advice above. Remember to look up frequently when reading as it helps to engage with the audience and they'll hear you better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TracyFells12 February 2013 at 09:07

      Thanks Rosemary. I've checked out a video of previous evening and they use a lectern, which makes it much easier to look at audience (if it's not too high - I'm a bit wee) and also I worry about my hands shaking the pages too much! So now I can wave them about a bit.

      Delete
  7. Maria16 February 2013 at 00:11

    Hi Tracy, so happy to have found another lovely blog to follow. Just stopping by for now to tell you that you've won a copy of Patsy Collins latest release, A YEAR AND A DAY on my blog giveaway. You can email me at ishmarind(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TracyFells16 February 2013 at 03:00

      Thanks for stopping by Maria and what terrific news - you've made my Sat!

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)