Talk #2 - Success in the business

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This is a very competitive field and one that gets more and more crowded every day.  So, it is vital for those looking for work in this business to think outside the box and create presentations that are unique, informative, and lively.

If you read the group chats, you will hear authors talk about the many author visits that they do. They throw around the word's tons and lots without any clarification as to what that means. I know these claims make other authors feel bad because they sit back and wonder why they are not getting lots of visits.

But before you feel bad, remember tons and lots are only words, and without clarification those words don't mean much. I am always asking authors that use those terms what they mean, give me some numbers. One woman told me that she did 1 to 2 author visits a month, she considered that a lot, another told me she books about 10 a year. 

Author visits take planning and there is not a lot of that going on during summer break. So, for that reason and some others the normal fall/winter school presentation season or what I call the front half of the school year, is frustratingly hard to book. Remember we are all competing with the beginning of the school year, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas festivities.

So, in reality the bulk of the author visit assembly season runs from the last week in February, which ties in with Read Across America week, ending around the first week in June.  That's 3 1/2 months or in booking terms 72 days, in which the bulk of the schools book programs. 

The truth is that most author don't do more than a handful of in-school author visits a year. A few years ago, there was a blind survey done that polled authors about their bookings, some traditionally published and others self-published. They broke the results down in groupings, they listed how many books they had, fees, traditional, self, by region, etc., but in the end, most authors were booking between 6 and 16 visits a year. 

I have been in this business for nearly 20 years, and I know many authors. Based conversations I've had with other authors, and my understanding of the 72-day window, those numbers make sense. There are authors that break that norm regularly, but not many. Some authors will have a season here and there that will break the norm, but in the end those numbers seem to be accurate. 

Can you break the norm? I know that's what you are thinking, and of course you can. I have been doing it for 16 years. And I can name several others that I know who break that norm, year after year. The list isn't long, but if we have found a way to do it so can you. 

In the end it comes down to creating an exciting learning experience that leaves the staff and students talking about the day and you, long after you leave. Creating the experience comes first and then you have to be able to market it properly. 

Years ago, an author could get away with a program that revolved around:

• How they got published
• How a book gets published
• Showing family photos
• Showing rejection letters
• Ending with a Q&A

   This was a popular format and is still used. But is it one that will get talked about after you walk out of the school, and will it get you more and more work? I do not believe it is. It's old and outdated. 

    I am not saying that you can't include these elements, many do, but if you look at it from an educational perspective, the kids get little out it. We are professional writers, experts in the field, so leaving the kids with concepts that are classroom applicable goes over well with teachers and administrators. The best way of using any element from our lives, our skills, our talents, and writing journey is to find ways to tie that information into the writing process. 

Today school event coordinators are looking for well-rounded programs that include:

• Audience Participation
• A Dynamic Presenter
• A presenter who can be relatable to students of all ages
• A presenter that can convey a message in a fun and exciting manner
• Eye-catching and thought-provoking material
• Material that supports the school's curriculum
• and again, Audience Participation

     Many authors try and present programming that revolves around the topic of their books, be it bullying, self-esteem, wildlife, math, science, etc., and there are ways to include topics like that in an author's presentation and make a big impression from it, while making sure that reading and/or writing, remains the main focus of the event. If you get hired, it's most likely going to be for a literacy event.

      There is a place in the market for programming that focus on specific topics like social issues, and there are many people doing just those types of shows. Normally event coordinators looking for that type of program will go shopping for it. If that is what you are selling, and hired to do, great! Otherwise, try and keep the main focused on the purpose of the event. Use those life lessons, but do it in small doses, and tie them firmly into the literacy message.  

What do students need to know to make them better writers, and/or hear or see to get them excited to read more?