Public Speaking For Authors, Creatives And Other Introverts

1. Introverts can be powerful public speakers.

Speaking is not an act of extroversion.

Embrace your nature. Public speaking is often mistakenly seen as solely for extroverts, but introverts, who recharge alone and prefer depth over breadth in interactions, can excel. The author, an author and introvert, demonstrates that speaking can be a vital part of a creative business, used for marketing, income, and sharing a message. Understanding your introversion helps you develop a sustainable speaking style that works for you.

Visibility is necessary. In today's crowded creative landscape, simply creating alone isn't enough for a viable income. Sharing your knowledge and being visible is increasingly important for a successful career. Planning for success means preparing for speaking opportunities that arise as you become more well-known.

Authenticity matters. Trying to adopt an extroverted persona on stage is draining and inauthentic. Embracing your true self, including your introversion, allows you to connect with the audience on a deeper level. Many successful speakers, including those who appear energetic on stage, identify as introverts and manage their energy accordingly.

2. Define your purpose and niche for speaking.

You cannot be everything to everyone.

Find your focus. To stand out and attract the right opportunities, you must decide on a specific topic or niche. Specialization helps you become perceived as an expert, leading to word-of-mouth recommendations and future work. Your niche should stem from your expertise and passion.

Consider the market. Think about who is interested in your topic and whether they are willing to pay for it. Research existing conferences and speakers in that niche to understand the landscape. Your speaking goals, whether aiming for a multi-six-figure income or supplemental income and travel, will influence your target market.

Develop your message. Once you have a topic, explore it in depth, reading widely to gain different perspectives. Writing a book can help clarify your ideas. Ensure your topic is scalable, allowing for different formats like short keynotes or multi-day workshops. Decide what makes you unique and how you will stand out.

3. Preparation is your foundation for confidence.

Preparation is one of the most important things, especially as a new speaker, regardless of personality type.

Know your audience. The biggest pitfall is a mismatch of expectations. Talk in detail with event coordinators or use questionnaires to understand who the audience is, what they want, and how you can best serve them. Tailor your material, examples, and stories to their specific needs and level of knowledge.

Plan the logistics. Agree on the talk title, timing, venue details, and dress code in advance. Arrive early at the venue to prepare the space, check technology (slides, microphone), and settle in. Having a checklist of items to bring can prevent last-minute stress.

Engage before starting. Arriving early allows you to chat with attendees as they arrive. This helps calm nerves by connecting with individuals, grounds you by seeing real people, provides live material to incorporate, and allows you to make connections between audience members. Being prepared physically and mentally is crucial.

4. Master energy management, especially as an introvert.

As a speaker, managing your energy is crucial, and if you can do this effectively, it will enable you to give your best to the audience, and enjoy the event more yourself.

Schedule alone time. Introverts are drained by extended social interaction. It's vital to schedule dedicated alone time before and after speaking engagements to recharge. Blocking out downtime in your calendar helps prevent burnout and exhaustion, especially after multi-day events.

Find moments to recharge. During full-day sessions, seek out brief moments of solitude, even just a few minutes alone in a quiet room or taking a walk outside. These small breaks can significantly help manage energy levels throughout the day. Pay attention to your body's signals of stress or overwhelm.

Understand your rhythms. Identify your peak energy times and try to schedule speaking engagements accordingly. Don't feel guilty about needing quiet time; it's necessary to sustain a healthy relationship with speaking and ensure you can give your best to the audience. Planning ahead based on your energy flow is key.

5. Cultivate a strong mindset: authenticity, confidence, and managing anxiety.

It's not about you. It's about the audience.

Shift your focus. Anxiety is a common fear in public speaking. Reframe the experience by focusing on serving the audience and what they will learn, rather than your own performance or potential judgment. Acknowledging and accepting anxiety without judgment can help manage its symptoms.

Embrace the energy. View anxiety not as fear, but as creative energy ("shakti") that can give your talk an edge and hyper-awareness. Being incredibly prepared, meeting some audience members beforehand, using visualization, breathing exercises, or music can help channel this energy positively. The fear is often worse before the event than during it.

Be authentic and confident. Confidence comes from expertise, preparation, and authenticity. Speak from your personal experience and share your own stories, including lessons learned and problems overcome. This vulnerability connects you with the audience and makes you relatable. Project confidence, even if you don't feel it initially, and remember that continuous practice builds genuine confidence over time.

6. Leverage online presence and content marketing to attract opportunities.

When you build your brand, opportunities come to you.

Be visible online. Make it clear that you are a speaker by adding a speaking page to your website, mentioning it in your bio and email signature. Building an online presence through blogging, podcasting, video, and social media can attract speaking opportunities without needing to cold pitch. This inbound approach often suits introverts who prefer expressing themselves online.

Create valuable content. Content marketing involves creating free material like articles, videos, or audio related to your niche to attract your target audience. This content helps people discover you, understand your expertise, and begin to know, like, and trust you. Each piece of content is a potential entry point into your ecosystem.

Build your email list. Your email list is a critical asset, providing a direct channel to communicate with interested individuals. Offer valuable freebies (like an ebook or report) in exchange for sign-ups. Respect your list by providing relevant content regularly and making it easy to unsubscribe. This allows you to build long-term relationships and notify people about your speaking events or products.

7. Understand the practical business of speaking, from getting work to charging.

Professional speaking is not a hobby.

Treat it as a business. If you want to earn income from speaking, you need to approach it professionally. This includes understanding how to get work, setting appropriate fees, and managing finances. Opportunities can come from online presence, networking, pitching, or speaking bureaux.

Determine your fees. How much you charge depends on your audience, niche, platform size, demand, the specific opportunity, and the value you provide. Research comparative rates in your market. Remember you are charging for years of experience and preparation, not just the time on stage.

Create multiple revenue streams. Don't rely solely on speaking fees. Supplement your income by selling books, courses, or products related to your topic at events or through your website. Consulting or coaching can also be additional income sources. Running your own events can offer higher potential income but involves more work and risk than speaking at established events.

8. Commit to continuous improvement through practice and feedback.

As with any skill, the more you do it, the better you will become.

Gain experience. The most effective way to improve is to speak as often as possible. Start with free opportunities to build confidence and refine your delivery. Reflect on each session afterward, noting what went well and areas for improvement.

Seek feedback. Actively solicit feedback from audience members and event organizers through forms or direct requests. Analyze this feedback to identify patterns and areas to work on. While some feedback may be negative, evaluate its usefulness and don't take it too personally.

Invest in growth. Consider joining professional speaking organizations like Toastmasters or the National Speakers Association to learn from experienced speakers and access training. Watching other speakers, getting a coach, or videoing your own performances can provide valuable insights for development. There is always room to grow, and consistent effort leads to unconscious competence.

Last updated: May 19, 2025