THE Group for Authors! discussion

Advice please. I live out in the boondocks, so I have never actually been to an author reading and now I'm supposed to do author readings. My first experience was at a gathering of mostly friends. Everyone was reading bits of things, some their own, some from others. While the response to my books has been very enthusiastic, the response to the reading wasn't. Most of what was being read that night was poetry and mine isn't, so I wondered if that was the reason, even though friends and family pushed me to go through with reading fiction there. Anyway, I only read a very short passage and I could just tell that the excitement wasn't there so I kept it real short.
Now, I'm scheduled to do a real author reading at a bookstore. I'm concerned because I've never been to this kind of event. Frankly, I read A LOT and love reading. I particularly love audio books. BUT I can't imagine going to a bookstore to hear an author read an excerpt, even one of my favorite authors. (Okay, I might go just to meet Diana Gabaldon or someone like that, but why would I want to hear an excerpt?) So, that makes me question what makes a good excerpt for this type of event. What are people who come to bookstore readings looking for? I'm assuming it should be really short. I'm thinking 3 or 4 paperback-sized pages, no? But in that short of a passage, very little can happen. Is an action seen really the best given the likelihood that the context will be confusing? Might a really good dialogue be better? Any experience/advice?

I have no advice as to a good reading, as readings aren't my thing. I've never seen the appeal. (Apologies to any authors who love to give readings, but I'd rather just go home and read the book. Well, okay, there's one author I could listen to all day but that's got nothing to do with excerpts - he could read me the lunch menu and I'd be enthralled.)

Anyway, perhaps you might check out Youtube and look for videos of readings by authors. Everything ends up on the internet these days. Think of authors you would consider to be writing in the same realm as what you write and search "(author name) reading" or some variant. Might give you an idea of what goes on, and average reading length and such.

A reading is a public performance, though, and that is something I have some experience with. Give yourself enough time to assess the group beforehand, if you can. This does play into your original question, because you won't know the "feel" of things until you're there with the attendees, so I would suggest having a few possible selections on hand as you might find that one suits the crowd more than another. If they seem relaxed, a longer selection might work, but if they seem restless, shorter may be better. An energetic group may do better with something with more action, whereas a calmer group might do better with a piece focusing on character, emotion, or setting.

I go to author readings and have done a couple myself. The most recent one i attended, the author read for 10 minutes from his current novel, a scene that had a fairly contained beginning/middle/end and which was engaging.

In graduate school we were required to do public readings, and we were asked to prepare selections of 5 minutes or less. I got in the habit of reading with a stopwatch to get an idea of how long it was taking me to read various selections.

Good luck with your reading!

In the last reading I did, I read the first few pages of Chapter 1. It's supposed to be the hook so I figured I'll go with that. If I leave the crowd wanting more, they'll buy the book.

Interesting to read the well-known authors on this topic on google and youtube. Most think you should read little to nothing and mainly talk and mainly about yourself--e.g., why you wrote the book, where it came from, etc. My marketing person agrees

I've listened to a number of audio books. They can sound really goof if the story has been read by a competent vocalist. (They're just great in the car - especially when you're in the car for a while). I haven't heard that many authors that have done the audio themselves. :)

as you said, keep it short. Find the excerpt you love, give it life as you did when you wrote it. I agree about telling why you wrote it. I read my novel's excerpt with the Scottish burr of the characters and listeners love it! I talk about being from Scotland, an immigrant living in San Francisco back then (in the olden days) and much conversation and questions follow. I once heard, What sells books? Authors sell books and based my marketing on that. So far, so good.

June wrote: "as you said, keep it short. Find the excerpt you love, give it life as you did when you wrote it. I agree about telling why you wrote it. I read my novel's excerpt with the Scottish burr of the cha..."
Exactly. We should get you to read ours.

Paul wrote: "I've listened to a number of audio books. They can sound really goof if the story has been read by a competent vocalist. (They're just great in the car - especially when you're in the car for a whi..."

Sorry - I got off track. :)

Also keep in mind that at any reading, you have a few people there who have read the book and that's why they're there, but you also have a lot of people who are there because they just happened to be in the store at the time, or thought the description of the book sounded interesting so they're checking out the reading to see if they might want to buy it. And people do like to buy a book from an author who's stood in the same room with them and read/said something that sucked them in. So pick something that you think will be interesting to those serendipitous attendees, because a reading is a fantastic opportunity to direct-sell books.

Jane wrote: "June wrote: "as you said, keep it short. Find the excerpt you love, give it life as you did when you wrote it. I agree about telling why you wrote it. I read my novel's excerpt with the Scottish bu..."
Ha! Sure, I'd love to. Really though, sit up, and read your excerpt with gusto, or sadness, or whatever. Potential or those who have read it, enjoy the author's read on his or her story. Practice in front of some already devoted fans and get feedback.

June wrote: "Jane wrote: "June wrote: "as you said, keep it short. Find the excerpt you love, give it life as you did when you wrote it. I agree about telling why you wrote it. I read my novel's excerpt with th..."
Agree!

Thanks for the excellent advice. I think keeping it short will be crucial and I will focus more on fun discussion.

Arie wrote: "Thanks for the excellent advice. I think keeping it short will be crucial and I will focus more on fun discussion."
Video yourself reading to find what works and doesn't. Like this of one of my novels and meant for family, friends and fans of one of my novels. Proves you need to practice before going public!I should take it down, but it's a lesson to me. http://youtu.be/jpsdgC__9kQ

Before my book launch party at Vromans bookstore in Pasadena, CA, a knowledgeable friend suggested having several very short favorite sections ready to read, because she said, i might change my mind. She was absolutely right. Looking out into the audience, seeing smiling faces, friends and acquaintances who wanted me to succeed, I absolutely knew in my gut what they would want to hear. I read two very short passages (against a background of tango music).

I like answering questions rather than simply talking about myself. That way I can tell readers and potential readers what they want to know. They ask all the best questions, which animates you and your answers. They are there because they are interested in you and your book.

Be present. Look into the eyes of the people in the room. Acknowledge friends and family. Return their smiles. They want you to succeed.