Advice for podcast virgins
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Podcasts. Eeek! For many writers, the idea of being a guest on a podcast is a terrifying thought. I’m naturally chatty, but the words ‘interview’ and ‘presentation’ are enough to bring me out in a cold sweat. No matter how much I prepare, or how much I try to relax, they just don’t come naturally to me. So no, I’m not going to lie to you and say that podcasts aren’t scary, because they are. Just a little bit.
But podcasts also offer fantastic opportunities to talk openly about your books, poems and stories, and help more readers to discover them. It’s free marketing, without trying too hard. Despite the anxiety you may feel, I highly recommend you give it a go! If you haven’t been invited onto a podcast yet, reach out to hosts of indie book podcasts. From short stories to series, they’re always on the lookout for new authors to feature!
If you’ve never podcasted before, here are 5 tips from my own personal experience that just might help…
1) BREATHE.
I’ve only done a couple of podcasts so far, and both times I was incredibly nervous. In my mind I knew that everything was fine, and yet I still had more tension in my shoulders than Eddie Hall trying to deadlift 500kg. This is perfectly normal. If you don’t get recording jitters, please return to your nearest android maintenance facility for a tune-up. Beep boop.
I find that doing some light stretching, clearing your throat, and even standing in ‘superhero’ pose for a few minutes (thanks, Grey’s Anatomy) before you start can help you to relax and let go of any tension. Practising deep breathing exercises also works wonders. Just do whatever feels most comfortable for you.
2) TRUST YOUR HOST.
There will always be a special place in my heart for Leo Adley and Joe Shwartz, who so kindly invited me to join them on their shows when ‘Connections’ first launched. While I was absolutely bricking it on the inside, Leo and Joe were both super friendly hosts and did such a great job of guiding me through the session over Zoom, helping me to relax and just letting the conversation flow. And that’s exactly how a podcast should be. It’s a two-way chat, not a job interview. Treat each podcast as a celebration of your success, and try to relax and enjoy it. They’re actually pretty fun! You can listen to my chat with Joe here:
As you might have noticed, during a podcast, I like to try and ask my host a question or two. It creates more of a dynamic, and also gives you some much-needed thinking (and breathing!) space to clear your mind and prepare for the next questions. Listen carefully to their answers, and try to bounce off them as best you can. Oh - and don’t worry about the Zoom camera being on. Your listeners won’t see you!
3) TRUST YOURSELF.
Let’s face it. Nobody knows your story better than you do, so you’re the best person to talk about it! You may feel that you panicked in the moment and said something silly, or like you didn’t do it justice at the time and wasted the opportunity you had to promote your work. At least, that’s how I felt initially!
But think about this. How do you feel when you listen to other people speaking on a podcast, or on radio interviews? If, like me, you sit there all impressed and think ‘wow, I wish I could sound that confident’ - have faith. You’ll sound like that too! You should also take comfort in the fact that from reading your work, your host will have some ideas on topics and themes to discuss together, and may offer their own interpretations of your stories - which makes for some pretty interesting debate! Be yourself, say what you think, and try to expand on your answers as best you can. If you can’t talk about your work, who the hell can?
4) KEEP NOTES HANDY.
If you’re really worried about an upcoming podcast, you can always ask for a list of questions from the host to prepare talking points for in advance. This will give you a chance to think about what you want to say. Of course, you won’t be able to recite your answers word for word, so I suggest keeping a brief list of bullet point notes close by to refer back to - just in case you get really stuck. But I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how little you actually look at them. Reacting in the moment will be much easier than you expect.
5) TAKE YOUR TIME.
If your mind goes totally blank, and you can’t find the backup note you wanted to talk about, don’t panic! Take a moment to breathe, and think. So what if there are long, awkward silences in the conversation? Those can always be edited out in post-production. I have a horrid tendency to ‘umm’ and ‘err’ my way through gaps in speech, which could be avoided altogether if I just slowed down, and learned to chill out. If you can teach yourself this life hack, you’ll sound far more confident and get an amazing end result, even if you’re nervous. I promise. Never forget that if things go REALLY, HORRIBLY wrong, your host can always just scrap a whole section. That audio disaster will never air, because it’s in neither of your interests. So, no biggie.
Any other tips?
I recently asked Twitter for tips on shaking off those dastardly podcast nerves, which seem to follow me from show to show. Lots of professional writers shared their experiences, and agreed that they too, find it scary but fun. Their best advice?
Have a cheeky bev just before to loosen up a bit!
I’m yet to try this, but if a Disaronno & Coke can help me to walk better in heels, I’m sure it can help me with podcasting too. Always drink responsibly, y’all - and let me know how you get on!
B x