We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
How do you know if you have info worth sharing?
When people ask for your advice or “Like” the comments you make in social media groups, compliment your work, or ask you to speak. Maybe also when you have something that feels worth saying that you aren’t seeing in a given community or group.
Many freelancers are introverts. What would you recommend they do to develop their speaking abilities?
Practice with friends, refine with online/Zoom presentations, create outlines and speaking points, have a friend in the audience for making eye contact and feeling connected, and join a Toastmasters group.
Please define a public speaking persona.
Upbeat, accessible, engaging, friendly, informal.
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Whether you’re a writer, editor, proofreader, indexer, or other communications professional, you may have information worth sharing with colleagues (and maybe even clients). You’ve developed experience, knowledge, and a strong skill set in your editorial niche; on a certain topic, profession, or industry; and perhaps as a businessperson as well. It might be time to consider adding to that skill set by becoming a public speaker or presenter of conference speeches, workshops, or classes. This webinar will provide tips on why and how to develop a public speaking persona and service.
You can join in this conversation on July 18, at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on refining your public speaking skills. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker for more than 30 years. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally in, and does writing, editing, and proofreading for, publications, associations, nonprofits, websites, service firms, independent authors, and businesses. She sold her first freelance articles when she was still in high school. Often called the Queen of Networking, Ruth is active in about a dozen professional associations, serving as a newsletter editor, webmaster, publication author, speaker/presenter, blogger, program host or planner, and chapter leader. In 2006, Ruth launched the Communication Central Be a Better Freelancer annual conference, now cohosted with NAIWE — to help aspiring and established freelancers find greater success. Ruth is also owner and editor-in-chief of the An American Editor blog and owner of the A Flair for Writing publishing business. Her honors include member of her high school alumni hall of fame, in part for her publishing work and networking services; Writers and Books Big Pencil Award for teaching adults and contributions to the literary community; EFfie awards for writing, editing and newsletters; an APEX award for feature writing; the Philip M. Stern Award of Washington (DC) Independent Writers for service to freelancers; and IABC/DC Communicator of the Year and Silver Quills for magazine writing and newsletters.
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