I am getting ready to go to my first National writing conference in Orlando, Florida at the end of the month. And no matter how prepared I try to make myself, I just can't shake the nervous anticipation that is currently plaguing me.
Will I make new writing friends? Will I remember my pitch if asked what my book is about? How many names will I be bombarded with, only to forget them when I see the same people the next day walking around? I'm really bad about that by the way. Great with faces. Crappy with names.
I know I will probably get myself all psyched out about the whole thing and be extremely overwhelmed. So how do you calm yourself?
I was thinking about it as I sat at a table during our monthly writing meeting and listened to others pitch their books. The one thing I realized is that we are all human. We all handle public speaking differently. Whether it's to a room with over a hundred people or if it's just a small intimate one-on-one meeting, we all get some form of "the nerves".
I believe some people are better equipped to deal with it, but for me, I might as well be back in high school with a case of the shakes and cold sweats. I hate that my voice trembles slightly so that people wonder if I'm going to burst into a fit of laughter or a fit of tears. And I always try not to hold anything because that's the one dead give away to my nerves. You'd think there was an earthquake happening with how much my paper shakes.
So should I do yoga? Cut out coffee? (Seriously, not advised) Or try some form of meditation?
I don't know? I guess I'll just close my eyes and dive into the shark tank in a few weeks and pray that I'm a strong enough swimmer.
Rejections: 20
Queries Out: 7
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