How a writer journeys into public speaking.
一位作家如何從寫作走進公開演講的旅程
If you’re a writer, or you’re close to one, you know the drill. The
writing life is a secluded endeavor. Hours spent alone, by choice, where
the only speaking you do is in your head, and the only discussions you
have are with the characters you’ve put down on the page. Phone calls,
neighbors’ visits, lunches with friends — all must be set aside to allow
your brain the sanctuary it needs to manufacture a universe of
possibilities.
如果你是一個作家，或者你差不多已是個作家，你就知道這種訓練。寫作生活是一個與世隔離的努力。獨自花了許多時間，選出你腦袋裡的自我對話
隨著角色躍然紙上。電話，鄰居的拜訪，與朋友的午餐約會-
所有雜事必須放一旁，以便讓你的大腦挪出空間，去製造宇宙的可能性。
Writer and editor Robert Yehling, of Word Journeys and numerous other
projects, is familiar with this territory. “When writing alone, it is
very solitary and insular, almost like being in another world,” he
says.“Especially when writing fiction, when we should be in another
world, the world of our story and characters.” Everything happens
between the creative and thinking minds
作家兼編輯羅伯特•葉林。文字旅程和其他無數項目，很熟悉這範疇。他說“獨自寫作，是非常孤獨和封閉的，幾乎像在另一個世界。「特別是當在寫小說時，我們應該在另一個世界，在小說故事人物所存在的世界。」一切都發生在創造與想像之間。
However long it takes, the next step in a writer’s life often brings
some culture shock: Speaking. Aloud. To other people. Real people.
Together in one room!
無論需要花多長的時間，緊接著下來，作家的生活，常常會帶來一些文化的衝擊：說
。大聲說出來。 對其他人。活生生的人。 一起同在一個房間的人！
Speeches and
Conversations
演講和對話
Breaking the
silence can be enough to send many writers into fits of fright. These
days, publishing industry executives advise writers to use social
networking and build a “platform” to connect with their audiences.
But even that leads to readings, signings, interviews or other
situations where you, the reticent writer, must give a presentation.
With public readings, the speaking assignment is more than merely
reading a portion of your work. You must also reveal your creative soul,
describing your book, writing process, successes — and even failures.
Then, after sharing all that’s noteworthy about the process,
you’re finally able to read a portion of the work aloud. And, of course,
for some writers that can be a challenge in itself.
打破沉默可以給許多作家一點小驚嚇。這些日子以來，出版業的管理人員提醒作家要使用社交網絡，並建立一個『平台』來連接他們的讀者
。但即使是朗讀會，簽書會，訪談或其他的情況下，一位沉默寡言的作家，還是必須進行演講。隨著公開的朗讀會，
發言將不僅僅是朗讀你作品的部分內容。您還必須透露你創作的靈魂，描述你的書，你寫作的過程，你的成功甚至於失敗
。然後，在分享所有寫作過程的值得注目的地方後，你終於可以大聲說出你的部分作品。當然，對一些作家而言，這本身就是個挑戰 。
Charles
Allen, a fiction writer and past member of ADP Toastmasters in Roseland,
New Jersey, says, “Public speaking has always been my biggest fear. As
an author, I knew it was something I had to conquer if I really wanted
to sell books. Speaking in front of an audience just goes with the
territory.”
查爾斯•艾倫，一位科幻作家並且過去曾是紐澤西羅斯蘭市ADP演講會的成員，他說：「公開演講一直是我最大的恐懼。身為一位作者，我知道這事是我必須克服的，如果我真的想讓書賣出去的話
。在觀眾面前演講是接下來的範疇 」
Toastmasters
provided the help Allen needed. And here’s good news for writers: You
don’t need to be in a specialty club to practice for these events. Table
Topics in any club will prepare you for a radio interview, and several
assignments in the advanced manuals can help with nailing down your
performance technique for readings and book signings. “What I have
learned in my eight months of membership is priceless,” says Allen. “I
feel like I am being transformed into a new person, empowered to take
control of my future and give my books the exposure they deserve”.
演講會提供了艾倫所需要的協助 。這是給作家的好消息：你並不需要在專業演講會來練習這些項目
。在任何演講會的即席問答將讓你隨時準備可接受一家電台採訪，而高級手冊中的幾個任務可以更明確幫助你在公開朗讀會與簽書會上的表現。「身為八個月的會員當中我學到的是無價的。」艾倫說。「我感覺我正在轉變成一個新的人，對我的未來有控制權，並且給我的書有應得的曝光機會。」
The
Writer’s Other Job: Teaching
作家的其他工作：教學
Often, a
writer’s life resembles that of a club mentor. Even the most successful
writers frequently turn to public speaking to share what they have
gleaned from years of putting words on a page. Some writers teach to
boost their income, but others do it for the art, to make sure that new,
emerging talents benefit from their experience.
一個作家的生活，經常類似一個演講會裡的指導會友。即使是最成功的作家也經常在公開演講，分享他們多年來寫在書裡的話。有些作家藉由教學來提高他們的收入，就好像有些人會為了藝術這麼作，以確保能跟上潮流。後起之秀，能從他們的經驗中獲益。
Yehling has
contributed significantly to the latter effort. He has spoken at nearly
200 workshops and events for writers and writing students. “We have to
carry all this information outward and be crisp and confident,” he says,
“because attendees are seeking to apply your experience and knowledge to
their work.”
葉林對後者有顯著的貢獻與努力 。他曾在近200名作家和學生的寫作講習班中發表演說。「我們必須對外傳遞著所有信息，清楚的表達並展現自信。」他說：「因為參加者希望您的經驗和知識能夠應用在他們的工作上。」
For
those who write film and TV scripts, the challenges remain the same.
Pilar Alessandra, director of the Los Angeles writers’ studio On the
Page, worked as senior story analyst for Dream Works Studios and Radar
Pictures, along with other major entertainment companies, before moving
into roles at movie studios that required speaking to larger audiences.
She has trained writers at the Disney/ ABC Television Group, UCLA’s
writing program, the National Screen Institute and the Los Angeles Film
School.
對於那些寫電影和電視劇本的人來說，仍有著相同的挑戰。皮拉爾•亞歷珊德拉，
一位洛杉磯作家工作室主任，表面上擔任夢工廠工作室和雷達影業的資深故事分析師，與其他主要娛樂同業一同工作，在電影製片廠進入選角前他需要對很多的觀眾描述角色
。她曾參與訓練迪斯尼/
ABC電視集團，加州大學洛杉磯分校的寫作課程，並在全國電影學院和洛杉磯製片學院裡授課。
Making the
transition from analyzing scripts to analyzing student works has brought
her a new perspective on writers, especially the quiet ones. “I’ve
learned not to underestimate anyone,” says Alessandra. “The most
unassuming person might have an incredible story to tell.”
從分析腳本轉而分析學生作品的，給身為作家的她帶來了一個新的視野。尤其是平常安靜的人。「我已經學會了不要低估任何人。」珊德拉這麼說到：「最默默無聞的人，可能說出一個令人難以置信的的故事。」
Alessandra’s
original speaking style tended toward long lectures, but she has learned
to apply some writing rules to teaching. “‘Less is more’ is a great
lesson for any writer ... and an even better lesson for a public
speaker,” she warns. “I try to keep my lessons to the point, backed up
with examples and translated into useful writing tools that a writer can
immediately apply to his or her own project.”
亞歷珊德拉的原先演講風格趨向是長期講座，但她已學到一些寫作法則並應用於教學。「『較少是更多』對任何作家是一堂很特別的課
... ..對一個公開演說者而言，甚至說是更好的一堂課。」「我試著保持我的教學能扼要切題，佐以範例，並轉化為有用的書寫工具，作家可以立即適用於他或她自己內容。」
When Toastmasters Focus on the Writing
當演講會聚焦於寫作
Rough Drafts Toastmasters in Irvine, California, is a specialty club
“for people working to improve both written and communication skills,”
according to its website. In one meeting, the club enjoyed a unique
version of Table Topics where the Topics master asked a question and
gave members two minutes to write a response. The verbal
portion? Participants took turns reading their responses aloud.
Rough Drafts演講會位於加利福尼亞州歐文市，是一個特別的演講會，根據該協會的網站說明，這是「專門為了提高寫作和溝通技巧的人」成立的分會
。在一次的會議上，
演講會有一個特別的即席問答方式。即席問答的主持人問了一個問題，並給成員兩分鐘寫回答
。
那口說部分呢？就由與會者輪番大聲唸出他們所寫的回答
。
Another club, Toastmasters 4 Writers, meets in Burbank, California,
where it is hosted by a screenwriting software company. Writers Michelle
Gilstrap and Barbara Schiffman, both from Burbank, started the club to
help screenwriters learn how to “pitch” their screenplays after noticing
at one event how poorly other writers communicated with producers and
agents. The club was a hit as soon as it was announced. Though it
welcomes non-writers too, meetings sometimes center around writing. Past
District 52 Governor Gilstrap, a Distinguished Toastmaster and Executive
Director of the Universal City North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce,
mentors new members on success in today’s writing world. “Instead of
traveling to promote a book, authors are interviewed in podcasts,” she
says, “They need to know their books inside and out. The best way to do
that is to present a speech on each chapter as you write it.”
另一個分會，4作家演講分會，在加州伯班克市聚會。它是由一家編劇軟體公司所創立。作家米歇爾，葛莉絲翠普和芭芭拉希夫曼，兩位都來自伯班克市，創立分會，幫助編劇學習如何「調整」劇本後，他們發現其他作家與書商和代理商的溝通是多麼拙劣的一件事件。當他一宣佈有這個演講會時，這演講會立刻熱門起來了。它也歡迎非作家加入，
會議有時圍繞在寫作上。前52區總會長吉爾斯崔普，是一個傑出的演講會會友同時也是環球影城北好萊塢商會執行董事
，指導新會員成功就是在寫作世界成功。「比起以前到處宣傳新書，現在作者是在播客上宣傳書，」她說：「作者需要從內到外熟悉他們的書。最好的作法就是把每個章節用演講發表，就跟寫書一樣。」
This sound advice and other helpful activities attract members from all
over. “The club is filled with district leaders,” says Gilstrap. “They
come to visit and stay when they see our banner covered with President’s
Distinguished ribbons.
這不錯的建議和其他有幫助的活動吸引了來自各地的成員。「該俱樂部充滿了區領導幹部，」吉爾斯崔普這麼說。「他們前來參觀，當他們看到我們的旗幟覆蓋滿滿的總會長傑出絲帶，便留了下來。」
Finding the Way to Toastmasters
找到演講會的路
Robin
Spano, a mystery writer from Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, found
Toastmasters after her book sold to a publisher. “My agent was
describing all the promotional work a writer needs to do to make their
book visible, including readings, panels and other public speaking,” she
says. “I must have looked as terrified as I felt, because in the next
breath she suggested, strongly, that I join Toastmasters.” Spano joined
and overcame her speaking hurdles. “Now I love the stage,” she notes, “I
enjoy what butterflies I have left.”
羅賓•斯帕諾，來自於加拿大不列顛哥倫比亞省里士滿市的一位奇幻文學作家，在她的書賣給了出版商後找上了演講會。「我的經紀人是在描述一個作家需要做的宣傳活動，要使他們的書能見度提高，包括公開朗讀會，座談會和其他公開演講的所有宣傳工作。」她說。「我ㄧ定看起來像是被嚇壞了，因為接下來，她強烈建議我參加演講會。」斯帕諾最後加入了並且克服了她說話障礙。「現在，我熱愛舞台，」她說：「我滿意我已脫離忐忑不安的感覺。」
If you’re embarking on a writer’s life, consider your membership a part
of the necessary training. Then, when you possess the skill to
communicate with words — on the page and on the stage — you’ll know
you’ve finally arrived.
如果你正以一個作家的身分維生，考慮加入會員，進行一些必要的培訓。然後，當你擁有這些能用言語溝通的能力，-無論是在書上或舞台上-你就會知道你終於達到了。
Beth Black, CC, is an associate editor
for the Toastmaster magazine.
Contact her at bblack@toastmasters.org.
作者：貝斯•布萊克，合格溝通員，國際演講協會雜誌副主編。
可以用電郵地址 bblack@toastmasters.org 聯繫她。
譯者：陳建能
Jonathan Chen, ACB, ALS, ALE MAX Toastmasters Club |
