I was scared of public speaking. But when I 1 my first novel ten years ago, I was invited to speak at a writers' festival.
The festival was held on a lawn. I arrived at the large tent set-up, 2 find two hundred faces looking at me. Five teenagers sat close in the front row, stretching out their legs. I was sweating 3 I even opened my mouth.
I only had one book to talk about, and it didn't seem like any of the students had read it, or 4 to. The five in the front row started heckling(起哄) and making jokes about some random cartoon characters, causing me to lose my place. 5 out of my depth, I started feeling nervous and 6 my words. I could feel the tears starting, and I didn't know what to do.
Then a teenage boy in 7 of tech for the tent took the spare microphone and began telling his own ghost story. The story was thrilling, full of fear and 8 , and better than anything I'd said so far. I used the five minutes he spoke to 9 and prepare. When he finished, I thanked him, knowing he'd 10 me. And I managed to bumble through the rest of the speech.
I knew I had to somehow learn to 11 my fear. After asking other writers for their tips and advice, I added slideshows, readings and question-and-answers to my 12 . I was still terrified, but the more I did, the better I 13 the unexpected. I had five more that week, none as 14 as the first.
I doubt I will ever look forward to fronting up to hundreds of students, but sometimes I 15 myself by enjoying it more than I ever would have thought was possible.
