How I media practice my reluctant, ADHD self, one query at a time
I’m properly conscious that launching my debut novel — like launching any kind of product — would require media appearances.
Heaps of them.
Podcasts, blogs, YouTube channels, you identify it — the extra interviews, the extra visibility for my upcoming e book, and the higher its probabilities for achievement.
That may be thrilling, if it weren’t for a tiny drawback: I’m a horrible self-marketer. Speaking about my e book and my writing feels awkward; I concern my stress is exhibiting, and that makes me — you guessed it — much more edgy. On high of that, I’d neglect what I wished to say and go on limitless tangents (thanks, ADHD!), and even lose focus through the interview and miss the query (did I point out ADHD?).
No! — quivers a small, inside voice in my stomach — I can’t do this. It’s scary, sudden, and requires smiling when all I wish to do is disguise.
Not enjoyable.
But, obligatory. And so, I decided to make use of the time I’ve till launch — whereas nonetheless writing the novel — to organize. However how?
What to do?
Any indie creator who has scoured the web in search of launch steering is aware of how straightforward it’s to lose your self in recommendation. Nevertheless, every now and then a worthy concept comes your approach.
In a single such quest — meant to provide me an excuse to keep away from writing, after all — I got here throughout an attention-grabbing suggestion: movie your self speaking to the digital camera every day for thirty days. You’d be struck — stated scores of movies — by how a lot your confidence and video-deftness enhance.
Is smart. If speaking to the digital camera feels intimidating, practising it throughout the security of privateness may assist tame the concern. However what would I discuss — aloud, to myself — every single day for a month?
A lightbulb lit in my head, illuminating the phrases in neon: follow one thing helpful; one thing like being interviewed about my upcoming e book.
Why do it?
Earlier in my writing journey I organized my first ever podcast interview. Regardless of the introduction above, I totally loved talking to the beautiful Advert on “Their Story Their Voice”.
The expertise was pretty, but in addition helped me understand I used to be totally unprepared for interviews of the book-launch kind.
I, for one, have expertise each as a lecturer onstage and as an interviewee on digital camera, however solely regarding non-personal matters. Sort out me with questions on philosophy, training or ADHD — I can readily clarify what I do know. Certainly, most of this podcast interview revolved round dwelling with ADHD.
In the previous couple of minutes of our dialog, Advert requested me about my e book. We agreed on this beforehand. I knew I used to be purported to say just a few sentences about how I ended up writing a fantasy novel impressed by ADHD, and what it’s all about. And, after all, I knew my e book inside out, so all set, proper?
No.
Placing myself on the focal point was a definite expertise from any I’ve had earlier than. It wasn’t about what I do know; it was about what I do, what I create, about me being me.
I used to be totally unprepared for this.
Why is it so onerous?
In addition to the necessity to see your self in a harshly goal approach and talk this successfully, in addition to highlight your self whereas remaining approachable and genuine — it’s merely a brand new set of expertise. It’s at all times a good suggestion to expertise essential new issues relaxed, earlier than leaping into chilly water.
Firstly, technical points want addressing: getting used to trying into the digital camera, fairly than on the interviewer (or your self, within the follow method I’ll elaborate on subsequent); adjusting the lighting; quantity of talking; digital camera and audio high quality — all require consideration properly earlier than the primary interview, however can often be tackled inside just a few days, at most.
Some elements that require longer coaching embrace:
- Physique language: Do we glance bored? Enthusiastic? Will we cowl our mouths when talking? What can we do to suit the way in which we come throughout to our wants?
- Formulating concepts: Placing our personal notions, ideas and feelings into phrases takes follow. We could not have even shared them earlier than, which implies we haven’t articulated them clearly and concisely.
- Turning into the subject: Talking of ourselves the identical approach we’d about our experience could also be an amazing concept. It requires studying to suppose from our viewers’s standpoint. For example, being too humble may come throughout as boring (why would the viewers take heed to somebody who seemingly finds themselves bland?); however showing self-centered doesn’t assist, both.
Within the frighteningly busy time known as “e book launch”, stopping to blink is a luxurious. Taking the time to organize upfront will assist us attain the precise interviews skilled and assured, able to face numerous conditions.
Learn how to go about it?
I settled for a every day digital camera follow, predicting potential interview questions and responding to at least one or two every time.
Besides, I now needed to suppose up thirty to sixty matters that may come up in future interviews on my yet-unfinished e book. Oy vey.
And did I point out I’ve ADHD?…
The overwhelm threatened to kill the entire concept, till I remembered ChatGPT. And Gemini. And Claude. And Perplexity.
I wouldn’t belief an AI engine with essential solutions, however it will probably actually generate questions. And so, conjuring as many PR “story angles” as I might consider, I queried every of those engines:
Give me an inventory of 100 questions I could be requested in a podcast interview. I shall be interviewed because the creator of a comfy fantasy novel impressed by ADHD. It’s my debut e book. I’m 54. Earlier than writing, I used to be a homeschooling mother and an educational (I’ve a PhD in philosophy). My characters are Jewish.
Your math is appropriate. I now have an inventory of 400 follow questions. And sure, some are sillier than others, however let’s be trustworthy: that occurs sometimes in actual interviews, too.
The Journey
I used to be completed with a lot of the technical assessments and changes within the first two days and located an answer that labored, with my cellphone sitting serenely on a tissue field. Whereas not really helpful for precise interviews, it is a good — and ADHD-friendly — association that I can persist with for 2 minutes every morning. It is sufficient to produce one thing worthy of critique and progress.
By Day Six, I lastly realized the morning espresso wasn’t sufficient. My dry throat demanded water to talk clearly with out coughing.
The Enlightenment
It took ten days for me to lastly get snug sitting each morning in my chosen place, speaking to myself on digital camera. The Weird turned regular, and I might lastly watch and take heed to myself with recent eyes, judging my look.
This gave rise to a revelation: I used to be supplying literal solutions to questions, fairly than attractive causes to take an curiosity in me and my writing. Sure, I gave the information in reply to “What impressed you to jot down cozy fantasy?”; “Are you able to inform us about the primary themes in your e book?” or “How does your Jewish heritage play a task in your tales?”, however none of what I stated conveyed neither the passion with which I consider these points, nor the thrilling methods by which my writing approaches them.
For example: I used to be unaware of the “cozy fantasy” subgenre after I started writing… properly… cozy fantasy. That is primarily because of the time period solely gaining recognition later, and but I discover this a fairly amusing story. Nevertheless, it says nothing about my view of the ADHD mind as a form of wonderland, that enchants at least it makes life tough, and of the nice and cozy ambiance and the magical really feel of the story. These information, whereas maybe much less humorous, would maintain better enchantment for my potential readers.
Worse: I heard myself say “I solely function one Jewish folktale within the e book.” Sigh. This was purported to be advertising! Actually, alongside that includes cameos of meals from numerous Jewish traditions, the e book vividly brings to life an attractive and humorous Jewish folktale in considered one of its subplots, which corresponds magically with a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale and an Aesop fable in a whirlwind of cultures and subplots. Now, isn’t this significantly better? True, too!
Going ahead
That is my conclusion, two weeks into this experiment: writing shouldn’t be the identical as talking.
Deep, huh? I guess you’re gasping, studying this!
Critically, nonetheless, I’m content material to have recognized a primary drawback with my look. This is a crucial first step in my journey to turn into a assured, participating podcast visitor, whereas conducting my advertising wants. These expertise will additional assist with different kinds of interviews, media appearances, stay occasions, and so on., each on-line and face-to-face. I imagine this sort of advertising expertise could even assist in private relationships, serving to us current our case extra attractively to these we hope will settle for it.
My concepts for how you can enhance additional relaxation on harnessing my writing skills, which surpass these of talking about myself and my writing. After placing these theories to the check, I hope to share passable conclusions with you in a later story.
Will you do that two-minute every day problem your self? In case you do, with or with out ADHD, with or and not using a tissue field, I’m curious to listen to what you’ve realized. Please share within the feedback!
