Monday, December 24, 2012

I Have To Talk About...Me?

Next month, I will be taking a giant leap into the deep end of the publicity pool and let me tell you, I am scared speechless over the prospect of executing this giant leap.

Contrary to popular opinion and cyber world theatrics, I do have a major phobia in talking about/tooting my horn about myself and/or about my writing (one of the primary reasons that I do not mix well at social gatherings).

I meant, it's one thing to sit behind a computer and pound away on a keyboard and produce all kind of nifty verbiage, and it's another to sit behind the computer and play keyboard commando in regards to tooting your own horn (yes, anyone can do that). To do it in front of a group of people who are strangers however, can nerve wracking, and to do it in front of people that you know, can make you go screaming into the night.

For those of you who do not enjoy the daily/hourly wonder that is me on Facebook (and you should, you know), I announced on Facebook that after much consideration and the small jumping of a few hurdles, I managed to score a spot in our vendor program at work, so that I can properly pimp my book.

And being the slightly anal retentive person that I am, I have two, count 'em, two attack plans in place.

Plan #1: I have two nifty displays made up, each one touting the e-book version for Nook & Kindle; I will have two business card displays featuring my new & improved business cards (which will be ordered after January for tax purposes) and a smaller version of the book cover; a display of bookmarks (also ordered on January 1 for the same reason); a DVD of my book trailer for people to watch; and most importantly, I will have books to sell.

Books to sell will be a key factor because it will help me easily fulfill a small requirement for participating in the vendor program: 10% donation of all sales to charity.

But just in case I don't have any books, which is real possibility because my book is supposed to drop in print sometime in early-to-mid January, plan #2 will still have all the above to play with, plus my charming personality.

However, it's using my charming personality that has me concerned.

Why? Well, like it or not, in the almost 7 years that I have been entrenched at my current employer, most people have already developed an opinion about me. Now if you add in the fact that I'll be talking about a book that under normal circumstances I would probably get in trouble talking about, then you can probably understand why I'm felling the way that I am.

However, the one saving grace about this particular signing/pimping, is that the building is really isn't open to the general public, so I'll pretty much have a captive audience to practice with.

And the practice will definitely come in handy because next year one of the events I plan on participating in is our town's annual summer extravaganza.

To finish up this post, let me ask you this question: Were you incredibly nervous the first time you had to do something like this? Do you find its easier to do the more times that you do do it?

13 comments:

  1. Heya G! Good luck wit' dat publicity stuff. Have a great Christmas!

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  2. Yes, I was horribly nervous the first time I did anything public about my writing. It got much much easier over time, though. Now it doesn't bother me a lot, other than the hassle of planning it.

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  3. Well, I've never done anything like this specifically but it makes me think of public speaking, which is not my favourite thing to do. However, it does get easier the more you do it, because your confidence increases each time. Good luck!

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  4. You probably know all the typical advice such as "Believe in your product" which generally helps.

    Just being yourself does too, when you try to project an image that is not you, people often see through it.

    Good luck, I am sure you will nail it.

    And merry Christmas

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  5. Gumby: Hey dude! Glad to hear from you again!

    Thanks for the good wishes and hope you have a good one too.

    Charles: The planning for this is what's driving me nutty. Because this a shared office building with about half dozen other agencies, I have to get clearance from a myriad of depts in order to do what I want to do.

    Still, I'm hoping I don't clam up like I usually do.

    Debra: I have problems with public speaking as well. Can't tell you how many times I've managed to freeze up and miss a ton o' things that I wanted to say then as opposed to later. Thanks for the good wishes.

    Darth: This is true. The problem with projecting the real me while at work is that it can come back to bite me in the butt.

    The real me is more often than not, an uncontrollable flirt and a major chucker of compliments, at least with the ladies.

    I thank you for the best wishes.

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  6. Sweated buckets, G.B., and then I had to remind myself it was only a group of teenage girls. Then the sweat got worse. But the librarian in charge of the event said I did fabulously, and the girls said so themselves. They never even noticed how nervous I was. I did use my hands a lot, I can't tell you how now. And I did read a bit from my book - a very good thing to do.

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  7. Congrats. Big but necessary step to the next level.

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  8. KC: Sorry about the delay in answering your comment as it somehow made its way to my "Spam" folder.

    I don't think that I can read from my book in this particular instance, although that does sound like a good idea for the future.

    Like I mentioned in the post, people at work have had about 6 1/2 years to develop an opinion about me, so I have my work cut out for me.

    Bearman: Thanks.

    And yes, it is a very necessary step. Got to continue taking chances if I want to continue doing this schtick for the foreseeable future.

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  9. I've done speeches, plays, music performances, wedding music, n was on TV a couple times.
    Yes it gets easier the more you do it.
    1st rule- you just be yourself- pretend nothing is special happening. Everyday stuff, that's all- n it keeps the nerves cool.

    Good for you! Toot toot away!

    Have a blessed

    Merry Christmas!
    G.B. n your family!

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  10. Snaggle: Sometimes its easier said than done, but if I'm serious about doing this pimping gig (and others in the future), then I'm just gonna have to suck it up and do it.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.

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  11. I'd be terrified, just like you! But I do think it gets easier the more you do. When I first started to dj I just couldn't speak on the microphone at all, now I enjoy it!

    Happy Christmas!!

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  12. I suppose the only similar thing I have done was to have stories with my name on them in the paper every day...which I never thought about until a cop told me, "I couldn't do that. Putting yourself out there every day like that. I'd be too freaked out." But I didn't have to pimp myself.

    Need more confidence? Two words: Stephanie Meyer.

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  13. Joe: Thanks.

    I think that dj'ing would be the ultimate freak out for me, in that you would know right away if you were a hit or a bust.

    M: Pimping at easy, that's for sure.

    I had problems even letting people know when I had a short story published last year, simply because of all the rules and regs that we have in place.

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Go on, give me your best shot. I can take it. If I couldn't, I wouldn't have created this wonderful little blog that you decided to grace with your presence today.

About that comment moderation thingy: While yes, it does say up above I can take it, I only use it to prevent the occasional miscreant from leaving thoughtless and/or clueless comments.

So remember, all of your comments are greatly appreciated and all answers will be given that personal touch that you come to expect and enjoy.

G. B. Miller

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