public speaking

How overcoming my fear of public speaking inspired my short story in this week’s The People’s Friend
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How overcoming my fear of public speaking inspired my short story in this week’s The People’s Friend

Two years ago, I would’ve rather taken my chances before a firing squad than got up in front of an audience for public speaking. I know I’m not alone. Public speaking regularly ranks as the nation’s biggest fear. It even ranks as scarier than death. Like most people, I dealt with my fear by avoiding…

To Newcastle in a flash: my experience of reading at Virtual Noir at the Bar
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To Newcastle in a flash: my experience of reading at Virtual Noir at the Bar

One unexpected upside of a global pandemic is that it makes “travel” much easier. Virtual travel, to book events, anyway. Attending Newcastle’s Noir at the Bar, a boozy evening with crime writers, would have been difficult for me two months ago, what with the expense and travel time. Now that all our social gatherings are…

5 things I’ve learned as a beginner in public speaking

5 things I’ve learned as a beginner in public speaking

Public speaking has always been a huge fear of mine, but over the last year, I’ve been working on getting past my nerves and anxiety. I’ve been doing this by joining the worldwide public speaking club Toastmasters. (You’ll probably find there’s one in your town, too.) After a few months of regular public speaking, I…