Former actor, now scriptwriter and novelist, David Nicholls has a blog on which he chronicles his adventures as a writer. Here are some amusing (except when you’re the author, I guess) observations about book signings and readings:
“The first words I always expect to hear at a reading are ‘Would everyone like to move down the front, please?’ Six years ago, shortly after publication of my first book, I travelled to a bookshop in Bournemouth, only to be told by the manager that they hadn’t managed to give away - give away - a single ticket, but not to worry because the bookshop staff were going to pretend to be the audience.”
“Even at a literary festival, there is always the anxiety that no-one will turn up. Just three weeks ago I spoke about adaptation with two other writers in a marquee in the pouring rain. The marquee was a cavernous affair of the kind that is usually found at society weddings, with seating for two hundred and fifty people. Twenty-five people were there, damp but enthusiastic, and we spoke and chatted and answered questions, some of which were a little eccentric (‘Do you think, as a rule, that writers are good at drawing?’). I sold perhaps six books.”
“It isn’t always like this. I once did a reading at a literary festival in Cologne for two-hundred people, which is practically Wembley Stadium for me… the audience were responsive and engaged… and the whole experience was completely exhilarating, the nearest I’ve ever come at a reading to punching the air. The tour rolled on, and the next evening in Hamburg I read for nine people in a four-hundred seat theatre.”
I know from (limited) experience that these things can be excruciating and the temptation is to take along a couple of friends to chat with, but that can deter any genuine readers/fans from approaching you. I think going in with no expectations and a sense of humour is the only solution.
(Want to have your own book signings? First you have to write the book--for help with that, see my book, "Your Writing Coach," published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon and other online and offline retailers.)
