In Space No One Can Hear You Scream.* On Lecture Mode, You Can't Hear Anyone Laugh.

February has been the month of presentations for me.  First, I did a call for Sophronia Scott, The Book Sistah, on the eight signs of amateur writers.  It was a regular telecall with 50-60 people on the phone,  asking questions at various points and entering into dialogue with me.

Then last week, I did a webinar for VANA, Virtual Assistant Networking Association, on taking an idea and running, er, writing with it.  While it was great for the attendees to see the slide presentation, I was the only one talking.  People could type questions in the chat area, but voice to voice, it was just little old me.

On Tuesday, I co-presented "From Idea to First Draft," one of eleven sessions of the Virtual Publishing Conference.  At this session, 200-300 people were expected to attend, and lecture mode for the call, in which only the presenters can speak, was a must.

One of my gifts is connection.  I love connecting with people, understanding what makes a person unique, communicating, and being together on a journey, even if only briefly.  Put me on a phone call on lecture mode, and I don't get any of that.  I can't see smiles, heads nodding, looks of confusion.  I can't hear questions or validating "uh-huhs."

Worst of all, since I think I'm funny, I can't hear anyone laugh at my jokes.  Now that's not to say that I didn't give great presentations this month.  However, I like to pepper (not salt.  Hee hee.  See, I really do think I'm funny) my presentation with humor or, at the very least, self-deprecating remarks.  Gee, you don't see any of that in my blog writing, do you?

Would I do a presentation like that again?  Absolutely.  For one, it's a great opportunity for me to connect with people, albeit not in a way I'm used to.  Two, creating and delivering presentations feels like a natural part of Write Well U.  The more presenting I can do, the more I can refine my presentation skills (and perhaps work on that pitiful humor), and the more I can reach people.

*compliments of Alien.

Comments

[Cindy Hillsey]

Dawn,

*I* think you're funny. Even if you can't hear me laughing, know that I am. :->