There’s a classic mistake I see time and time again when someone is giving a presentation, or being interviewed.
- trying to say too much
In fairness, it’s completely understandable.
They’re talking about a subject which is important to them, sometimes a passion, so they want to tell the world all about it.
And I do mean ALL.
The problem is, the audience only has a limited capacity to take so much information in.
Which means it’s critical to be clear on exactly what you want to come across.
And, if necessary, return to those key points time and again.
I’ve just been interviewed by the BBC about my writing and teaching.
I’m happy to say the interview went well, and received some lovely feedback.
I wish I could tell you that was down to my charm and charisma, but…
No such luck.
It was all because of the planning.
Before the interview, I thought carefully about what I wanted to say.
It was an obvious opportunity, with tens of thousands of people listening.
So I made a mental list of three points that I wanted to emphasise.
And that’s the subtle secret of getting your message across:
- three points, just THREE, and three ONLY
Three is the perfect number, in that it gives you plenty of content but doesn’t muddle your messages.
Try it if you’re sketching out a talk or plan for an interview.
So, what I decided to focus on in the BBC interview was:
1. My books
Writers are mercenary creatures, after all.
No opportunity for self promotion should be missed.
So I made sure to mention the republication of my TV Detective series, as above.
And when I’d mentioned it once, I thought I had better mention it again, naturally!
2. My training courses
I love teaching writing, and know many people yearn to write a book.
So I wanted to point out that I was ready, willing and able if tuition was required.
To help enhance my credibility, I also mentioned I've delighted in mentoring a few writers into publication.
In fact, that's been on of the most rewarding parts of a wonderful career in the world of words.
3. Writing is a joy
Call me a romantic, but the main point of the interview was simply to emphasise what a wonderful hobby or profession writing is.
I’ve learnt so much about myself, the world around me, and enjoyed so many new experiences courtesy of its loving embrace.
I would highly recommend it to anyone, and wanted that to be clear.
Those were the three points I decided I wanted to make, those three alone, and…
The interview worked beautifully.
The producer sent me a kind note thanking me, telling me it was splendid.
But perhaps more importantly, going back to the point of making the most of any opportunity…
A couple of people contacted me afterwards, asking if I could help them with writing events and teaching.
