How I media practice my reluctant, ADHD self, one query at a time
I’m nicely conscious that launching my debut novel — like launching any sort of product — would require media appearances.
Tons of them.
Podcasts, blogs, YouTube channels, you title it — the extra interviews, the extra visibility for my upcoming ebook, and the higher its possibilities for fulfillment.
That will be thrilling, if it weren’t for a tiny downside: I’m a horrible self-marketer. Speaking about my ebook and my writing feels awkward; I concern my stress is displaying, and that makes me — you guessed it — much more edgy. On prime of that, I’d overlook what I wished to say and go on limitless tangents (thanks, ADHD!), and even lose focus throughout 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, surprising, and requires smiling when all I wish to do is cover.
Not enjoyable.
But, essential. 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 writer who has scoured the web searching for launch steerage is aware of how simple it’s to lose your self in recommendation. Nevertheless, every now and then a worthy thought comes your manner.
In a single such quest — supposed to offer me an excuse to keep away from writing, in fact — I got here throughout an attention-grabbing suggestion: movie your self speaking to the digicam every day for thirty days. You’d be struck — stated scores of movies — by how a lot your confidence and video-deftness enhance.
Is sensible. If speaking to the digicam feels intimidating, working towards it throughout the security of privateness may assist tame the concern. However what would I speak about — aloud, to myself — on daily basis for a month?
A lightbulb lit in my head, illuminating the phrases in neon: observe one thing helpful; one thing like being interviewed about my upcoming ebook.
Why do it?
Earlier in my writing journey I organized my first ever podcast interview. Regardless of the introduction above, I completely loved talking to the stunning Advert on “Their Story Their Voice”.
The expertise was pretty, but additionally helped me understand I used to be completely unprepared for interviews of the book-launch sort.
I, for one, have expertise each as a lecturer onstage and as an interviewee on digicam, 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 residing with ADHD.
In the previous couple of minutes of our dialog, Advert requested me about my ebook. We agreed on this beforehand. I knew I used to be imagined 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, in fact, I knew my ebook 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 completely unprepared for this.
Why is it so laborious?
In addition to the necessity to see your self in a harshly goal manner and talk this successfully, in addition to highlight your self whereas remaining approachable and genuine — it’s merely a brand new set of abilities. It’s all the time a good suggestion to expertise necessary new issues relaxed, earlier than leaping into chilly water.
Firstly, technical points want addressing: getting used to wanting into the digicam, relatively than on the interviewer (or your self, within the observe method I’ll elaborate on subsequent); adjusting the lighting; quantity of talking; digicam and audio high quality — all require consideration nicely earlier than the primary interview, however can normally be tackled inside just a few days, at most.
Some elements that require longer coaching embrace:
- Physique language: Do we glance bored? Enthusiastic? Can 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 non-public notions, ideas and feelings into phrases takes observe. We might not have even shared them earlier than, which suggests we haven’t articulated them clearly and concisely.
- Turning into the subject: Talking of ourselves the identical manner we might about our experience could also be an amazing thought. It requires studying to suppose from our viewers’s viewpoint. For example, being too humble may come throughout as boring (why would the viewers hearken to somebody who seemingly finds themselves bland?); however showing self-centered doesn’t assist, both.
Within the frighteningly busy time referred to as “ebook 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.
How one can go about it?
I settled for a every day digicam observe, predicting doable interview questions and responding to at least one or two every time.
Besides, I now needed to suppose up thirty to sixty matters which may come up in future interviews on my yet-unfinished ebook. Oy vey.
And did I point out I’ve ADHD?…
The overwhelm threatened to kill the entire thought, till I remembered ChatGPT. And Gemini. And Claude. And Perplexity.
I wouldn’t belief an AI engine with necessary solutions, however it may well definitely generate questions. And so, conjuring as many PR “story angles” as I may consider, I queried every of those engines:
Give me a listing of 100 questions I could be requested in a podcast interview. I will probably be interviewed because the writer of a comfortable fantasy novel impressed by ADHD. It’s my debut ebook. 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 right. I now have a listing of 400 observe questions. And sure, some are sillier than others, however let’s be trustworthy: that occurs often in actual interviews, too.
The Journey
I used to be carried out with a lot of the technical checks and changes within the first two days and located an answer that labored, with my cellphone sitting serenely on a tissue field. Whereas not advisable for precise interviews, it is a good — and ADHD-friendly — association that I can stick to for 2 minutes every morning. It is sufficient to produce one thing worthy of critique and development.
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 digicam. The Weird turned regular, and I may lastly watch and hearken to myself with recent eyes, judging my look.
This gave rise to a revelation: I used to be supplying literal solutions to questions, relatively than engaging causes to take an curiosity in me and my writing. Sure, I gave the info in reply to “What impressed you to jot down cozy fantasy?”; “Are you able to inform us about the principle themes in your ebook?” or “How does your Jewish heritage play a job in your tales?”, however none of what I stated conveyed neither the passion with which I consider these points, nor the thrilling methods during which my writing approaches them.
For example: I used to be unaware of the “cozy fantasy” subgenre once I started writing… nicely… cozy fantasy. That is primarily because of the time period solely gaining reputation later, and but I discover this a relatively 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 troublesome, and of the nice and cozy ambiance and the magical really feel of the story. These info, whereas maybe much less humorous, would maintain larger attraction for my potential readers.
Worse: I heard myself say “I solely function one Jewish folktale within the ebook.” Sigh. This was imagined to be advertising and marketing! Actually, alongside that includes cameos of meals from numerous Jewish traditions, the ebook 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!
Significantly, nonetheless, I’m content material to have recognized a primary downside with my look. This is a vital first step in my journey to grow to be a assured, participating podcast visitor, whereas undertaking my advertising and marketing wants. These abilities will additional assist with different types of interviews, media appearances, dwell occasions, and so on., each on-line and face-to-face. I consider this sort of advertising and marketing expertise might 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 talents, which surpass these of talking about myself and my writing. After placing these theories to the take a look at, I hope to share passable conclusions with you in a later story.
Will you do that two-minute every day problem your self? When you do, with or with out ADHD, with or with out a tissue field, I’m curious to listen to what you’ve discovered. Please share within the feedback!
