I've made it my mission to contact local libraries to host several writers to speak. The first such event happened at the Mary Duncan Library in Benson on June 7th.
Three writers were to come out, but a family death prevented Gary Ridout from attending. Evelyn Wool accompanied me as a scheduled speaker. We sat behind a table sporting a pressed linen tablecloth and tent cards identifying us. Derrick Barefoot, the Library Director, had set up six rows of seats facing our table in the Children's Room. He also designed a publicity flyer for us and provided us with cold water. Neat!
Evelyn and I swapped writing anecdotes while we waited for the public to arrive. A steady stream of library patrons came and went. No one stopped to hear what we had to say. However, that did not deter us from regaling Derrick and a few Town of Benson employees with some of our stories.
We made plans for the future. Evelyn hopes to read her two books to Benson children after the summer reading program is done. I vow to try again in the fall to set up speaker events on Thursdays and/or Saturdays. Dunn Library prefers that we come on Saturdays.
What we learned:
- Writers should advertise the event about a month in advance on social media
- Whomever hosts our speakers should promote the event a month prior
- Post weekly to remind everyone about the event
- Ask writer's groups to help advertise the event
- Ask friends and fellow writers to attend the event
- Distribute flyers to people as you "talk up" the event
- To go the extra mile, have a local radio station (WPYB) announce the event.
