The past couple of weeks have been busy with speaking opportunities about writing. I confess, I didn’t always want to participate in speaking opportunities because I was afraid of public speaking.
For decades after high school and colleges when those classes were painfully fulfilled as requirements, I avoided all possible events that might require being in front of others.
But everything I read said public speaking was important for writers to accelerate their careers. I avoided it for almost 10 years until I finally said, “OK, enough is enough. I’m tired of being afraid.” I joined the international organization called Toastmasters (http://www.toastmasters.org/).
Am I glad I did! After being a member for six years, I had to quit because of a family situation. It felt like God was saying, “OK its time to take what you know and use it to bless others.”
So that’s what I’ve done. With the publication of my nine children’s books I’ve been asked to speak at libraries, churches, civic groups, schools and other venues. In 2012 the total number of venues I spoke at was 30 with more than 1,000 people in attendance.
I usually blog about each experience individually because each one is special to me.
Recently I spoke to 75 4th graders at Deerfield Elementary School in Fort Wayne Indiana. I’m being honest when I say that my knees did not quake and my voice was not shaking and I was excited to teach the students about the importance of reading/writing/books on that special afternoon. These photos are all from that visit.
I’ll post about more speaking engagements coming up in the next few weeks.
What is one of your fears and how are you trying to overcome it?
Writing of Kayleen Reusser 
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