C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m

Randy Susan Meyers imparts great advice about doing a reading at Huffpo at the link below. Enjoy!

I must point out that if I wasn’t in love with myself, I couldn’t do a reading at all. (I do alternate between raging narcissism and self-loathing, so it balances out.)

A couple of persnickety podcasters who shall go unnamed once complained that they don’t like it when an author looks like he’s enjoying himself too much at the podium. If a writer got too much into acting out the reading, they shuddered with too-cool-for-schoolness.

This is blatant hipster posing. If the author acted miserable, said podcasters surely would have said the reading was too flat. They were a couple of poos who shouldn’t go to readings if they’re just there to bag on people to make themselves feel better.

I say a reading is a performance. People expect to be entertained. If you can’t act, be funny. If you can’t be funny, read something really good poorly or get someone else to read it for you and just answer questions afterward.

I agree with Ms. Meyers about this: Your audience doesn’t care about your stagefright (unless you can make that funny, of course.)

Most people go to readings to meet the author, get a signed book, enjoy themselves and drink red wine in an atmosphere where no one calls you on your raging alcoholism.

Now get out there withyour book and kick ass.

Thanks to cool author (and soon-to-be-guest on the Cool People Podcast) Jessica McHugh for the tip on this link.

~ Chazz