Indie publishers complain that the mainstream publishing establishment acts as a “gatekeeper.” Many readers rely on big publishing houses to filter out low quality books—even though trade publishers regularly print celebrity crap with impunity. Indie publishers often see themselves as … More ☛
Never play the victim card, on stage or in life. Don’t use your audience as a therapist. Your triumph over cancer, escape from an abusive relationship, or successful battle with addiction is admirable but… When we’re in pain, we tend … More ☛
Many of us can recite poems and lyrics we first heard when we were children. Rhythm and rhyme are beyond memorable. So why don’t we use them more often when we speak? I was bored with my elevator pitch and … More ☛
Dynamics—change—is the hallmark of an engaging speech. One variable that’s often overlooked is emotional intensity. Changes in intensity offer a powerful way to cue your audience to whether you’re playing a role in a story or narrating. A lesser speaker … More ☛
Hopefully, you’ll never face a hostile or unruly audience but it’s worth thinking about how you’d handle one. If members of the audience are obstructive and rude to the point where you can’t continue speaking, don’t give them the pleasure … More ☛
Sometimes we say one thing when we want to say another. Maybe you need to reject someone but you want to let them down easy. It goes something like this: Oh thank you Beth. That’s such a kind invitation! (hand … More ☛
A colleague was speaking and that lady in the front row was making him nervous. He was sure she wanted to kill him, and he had no idea why. After the performance, when he was posing for selfies and signing … More ☛
Here’s one of my favorite advertisements: This hair salon bills itself as the place “where the women you hate get their hair done.” That’s funny because most salons tell women they’ll make them more attractive to men. Instead, this one … More ☛
Is sexual harassment a problem, or a symptom of a larger, deeper issue? The answer depends on the stories we use to define and discuss it. Challenge: Write a story about sexual harassment. Use fictional avatar characters. (If you call … More ☛
