The first thing many authors think of when I suggest they plan a book event is a reading: Afternoon tea, a quiet bookshop, the author sitting at the front of the room quietly reading from his book. Does this sound like fun to you? Okay, we are writers, maybe it does.
There is only one problem. You are limited to places where you can physically travel. With Zoom, recordings, and other online devices, you can now easily give a program to groups located almost anywhere in the world.
I’ve done quite a few of them in the last few years. There are upsides and downsides to this type of program.
Here are a few of my takeaways.
- I love an interactive audience. With Zoom, where you can easily see everyone who is participating in their own little box, it is easy for your audience to ask and answer questions. But definitely have a helper/timekeeper/MC online with you. That way they can read questions put in the chat, let you know how you are doing on time, introduce you, and add in things you have forgotten. For me that is promoting myself. I’m always more comfortable with someone else doing that for me.
- Pre-recording programs are similar to giving a speech to a large audience that will not be asking questions. Except you don’t even get the ability to make eye contact. This is my least favorite type of program. But if that’s what you’ve been asked to do, you do it. I find PowerPoint helpful. And practice first to make sure you are not running too long or too short. And once again, don’t forget to promote yourself!
- An online program where you are talking to a group of people in a room far away. These can be awkward because you must depend on a remote person to handle your technology. At the last one of these I did, we had terrible sound problems.
- Don’t judge too harshly. While I thought that program was terrible, the participants enjoyed it—and that’s what counts.
- Selling your books is more difficult online. An audience is more likely to pick up a physical book at the back of the room. That doesn’t mean you don’t try. Make sure you have a slide you can put up with your book links and put them in the chat, too, where someone can easily copy them.
- Advertise Your Event. Even if you are not the organizer, use social media to tell your followers about the event. The organizers will appreciate it and it will make them want to invite you back.