I went as a writer, an author, a member of Harrow Writers' Circle, to North Harrow Book Festival. This was my first time reading or performing at such an event and it was, to put it politely, 'a learning experience'.
First, what went right? Sangeeta did all the liaising with the organisers. All I had to do was turn up and read but, frankly, that in itself is a major undertaking when you are planning to read more than one poem from more than one book.
I solved that problem by printing out all the opening couplets of poems on three A4 sheets. In addition, in the books, I had marked the pages to read from. Previously I'd used pieces of paper as markers. That looks untidy. The markers fall on the floor as you read which is messy and involves crawling about to retrieve them. Post-its were designed by a hymn-singer to solve the dropped marker problem.
My new system is to mark the pages with paperclips. Better still, not just one page, but clip together several pages behind the one you intend to read from so the clip is easy to find. I clip both sides of the open book. A plain metal clip goes on the opposite page. A coloured clip is on the page where I start reading. A post-it can be stuck down for a one line preamble such as, 'This is from my book entitled ...' Or after the ending, 'You can buy this book signed by me now or from bookshops.' I used to be embarrassed to admit, 'My book isn't stocked in bookshops'. If this applies to your book or product, make this a selling point: 'Unique opportunity, get it from me now - you can't buy it in bookshops!'
We had been told we would have a 'stage' which sounded important and scary. However, our stage was a small tent on the pavement. No raised dais. You have to try to grab the attention of passers-by. I arrived early and found only man with a microphone and a list which did not include our group. Since nobody else on the list had arrived, I had a chance to practise shouting into a microphone - which was not yet switched on.
Then I practised performing poems to a row of parked cars. A couple of people who spoke no English and hurried past without even looking. To get eye contact with passers-by in the hope of stopping them, along with what I call 'reverse heckling', shouting at people hoping they'll stop, requires brief readings. No good reading sections of War and Peace, novels or short stories.
So I stuck to calling out couplets. 'Take the met line train to Harrow, faster than an old wheel barrow, where the streets are steep and narrow, take the Met line train to Harrow! That's a new poem written for this festival. My older poems are in this book, Writing Poetry For Fun With Angela. Price £10. Or nearest offer. Make me an offer I can't refuse.' Nobody made me an offer. Of any kind. Not even the sort I would refuse. I didn't see anybody. Not even a parking warden.
Robin of the Writers' Circle arrived. He had efficiently brought a large boldly printed A4 sheet saying Harrow Writers' Circle. We should have had A3 posters.
Another girl, promoting something else, had brought fold-up tables. What a great idea. That's what we needed. That's what I need for next time.
We had nowhere to put our books as the organisers wanted their table for their microphones, order list and other items. I ended up putting my books on the edge of the walkway. That was better than nothing. It was good to have large titles which people could read as they walked past. But few knelt down to look inside the books. I needed leaflets to hand out, bookmarks, postcards, anything to leave people with the message about how they could buy the books on Lulu.com.
I am disappointed that lulu.com books which were available through Amazon in 2011 seem to have lost the arrangement. I hope the two sides are re-negotiating. Many potential book buyers don't have the money or time to stop but express an interest in buying later from a bookshop or on line.
I had stuck stickers with prices on the back of the books. You need prices for several reasons. Even if you plan to offer the books cheaper than the asking price. First, because people might think the books are a free giveaway so you need to make it clear the books are for sale. You don't want to waste time talking to a potential customer who can't or won't afford the price when you could be speaking to another who is thinks the price is reasonable or a bargain or is ready to pay.
Distractions
One person wanted to ask my advice on writing his novel. This created two problems. When you are trying to sell to several people, you can't spend a lot of time on one person who wants to counter-sell - promote their products to you, or seek advice. I gave him my card and told him to come to the Writers' Circle.
He said he would phone me. I then had to consider whether I want to be a salesperson like a doctor or lawyer who only gives advice by appointment to people who pay, or a vicar, who helps everybody as a calling. I've had the same problem as a tutor of English. Most people book a lesson for somebody such as a daughter. I'll give 10-20 minutes of advice on how to prepare for the lesson. If I have spent an hour teaching and been paid, I happily give 10-20 minutes feedback to a parent along with advice.
But occasionally you get somebody who wants to interview you, talk for half an hour, getting as much advice as they can, without committing themselves to paying for anything. If you have to break off, they start again, trying to get another 30 minutes or more of free advice. The only polite way out is to limit the time you can spend with them, be busy with what you should be doing, your next lesson or other people. You might keep asking if they want to pay you or anybody, or join a group. If not, direct them to where to get free advice, from your website or a group.
I mentor would be writers who join the Writer's Circle. But this is to support the Writers' Circle which supports me and to help my long-time friends at the circle.
To read extracts of my books and have the chance to download or buy them, go to Lulu.com Angela Lansbury author. If that doesn't take you immediately to my page, type in the title of one of my books, such as:
Quick Quotations For Successful Speeches
Writing Poetry For Fun With Angela
POETRY WORKSHOP Workbook
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To join our Writers' Circle and attend meetings or be in email contact, go to harrowwriters.org.uk Meetings are on alternate Thursdays at Harrow Arts Centre, Hatch End. Cost for visitors is only about £3-5 (Depending on whether we pay only for room hire or also have a paid speaker. Bring along a cheque book or cash for about £40 if you want to join the group for a year and/or buy lots of books. If you decide to join, the cost of attending the meeting is deducted from your annual fee. We have members who are so thrilled with the group that they stay members even when they go overseas, and they email their entries for competitions or chapters of novels to be read out at meetings and they ask for feedback.
