How do you talk about your book without it being cringe?

3 steps to stop the toe curling for both you and the person listening

As you read this, I will be in Palma, drink in hand, chatting with a group of (hopefully) lovely people.

I’m going to a birthday party and I know about, let’s say, five of the people who are going. The rest are friends I haven’t yet made, and I’m madly excited, because, c’mon, a birthday party in Palma? And I’m also a little anxious.

This is because I am a Jekyll and Hyde kind of socialiser.

Meaning, I really like to get out, explore and meet new people but at the exact same time, I also really like to be alone, read a book and talk to no one apart from family.

It’s a contradictory thing about myself.

I’m the person who really wants to be invited to the party, then hopes that the party is cancelled so I can stay in my PJs.

But oh! Before I carry on, my book Closer Than She Thinks is now £2.99 on Kindle so if you fancy chucking three quid on a book about adultery and a middle aged woman finding herself, then it would make a lovely gift to yourself for some weekend reading.

Annnnnnd, if you have read it, would you mind putting up a very quick review on Amazon?

Thank you!

Right, back to the party.

So here’s the thing I know about the upcoming situation.

I’m guessing there will be some small talk that will involve people asking what I do, and as a consequence to that, some people might ask what my book is about.

And if you’re reading this and also have a book, or writing project, up your sleeve, I’m guessing that you also come across this same dilemma.

Can You Even Mention Your Book Without Feeling Like a Salesperson?

How do you tell someone about the plot, without boring them (and yourself) with all the small details?

How do you make it sound like the exciting, brilliant book it is without sounding like an self-congratulating idiot?

I used to hate this.

I hated admitting that I was a writer at all. For years I didn’t even put it on my social media bio as I thought I had to have a published book, or at least an agent, to validate myself with the title of ‘writer,’ even though I’ve been writing stories since I was a teenager.

A pitch? Really?

Is it a pitch? When you tell a stranger at a dinner party the plot to your book? Yes, my friend, yes it is.

Because, OK, whilst you’re not exactly on Dragon’s Den, that person hearing about your book is deciding if they like the sound of it. If they want to know more. If they’d look it up after the conversation is over.

And the other thing to bear in mind, is that you never know who you’re talking to, or who they know.

Could be they run a huge book club.

Could be then know the owner of the local book shop really well and could get your book stocked in there along with an event.

Could be that they have huge mailing list and they’ll offer to mention your book in it.

You could be talking pitching to a number of unknown possibilities with every conversation about your book, so yeah, sorry, it’s pitching.

ARGHHHHH! I’ll just keep quiet

The wonderful Daniel Priestly, the main guy when it comes to pitching and author of Key Person of Influence, says:

“You get what you pitch for, and you are always pitching.”

I have the pitch for my books rehearsed.

I suffered waaaaay too many conversations where I mumbled the plot, forgot the ending and interrupted myself over different aspects of my writing and what I actually do.

And it’s not as hard as you may think, so I’m sharing the key steps to getting the perfect non-cringe way to talk about your book here. All it takes is three simple steps.