Why Pitching a Book is Scarier than Hannibal Lecter | The ...

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Did you know I try to do something scary every day?

Some days it?s something simple like reaching out to someone by email. Sometimes I send off a guest post I?ve poured my heart into. Now and then I just going surfing.

There are plenty of things that scare me. The lovely Jen Gresham at Everyday Bright interviewed me about this strange practice so you can read more about why I do it here.

Now the more scary things I do, the scarier the things I do keep getting.

You see I?m running out of scary things to do, so now I have to do the things I?ve been putting off longest. The things that scare me most of all.

So in March I joined Toastmasters to improve my public speaking.

Why Public Speaking Scares Me

I was a teacher for many years so I used to be at ease standing up front talking to people.

This year I?ve been doing a lot of talks and workshops about blogging and I feel comfortable with that. It?s okay teaching and talking to people about topics I know well but talking about myself is terrifying.

If you thought writing and sharing your personal writing on your blog was hard, then try talking about them to a room full of expectant strangers.

I also have a problem with putting my body on display.

I can talk away happily when sitting down. Standing behind the safety of a lectern is great. But I hate standing in front of people with nothing to hide behind.

I feel awkward. I don?t know what to do with my hands. I remember how I got teased at school for being a skinny giraffe.

Writing it down sounds ridiculous. Just as I can?t understand people who fear flying because it doesn?t bother me, so you may not be able to relate to this awkward body image thing of mine.

But it?s a deep-seated problem and to be honest joining Toastmasters (a group to help improve public speaking) has made it worse.

I never realized how scary it would be until I actually tried it.

I?ve given six speeches to my fellow Toastmasters on various topics but what bothers me is, unlike the people who?ve paid to learn from me, all they probably want to do is practice their own public speaking skills. Not listen to me. So I feel bad for boring them.

But deep down I know my speeches aren?t boring. I spend days writing them then many long hours practicing and memorizing them.

As with anything I?m a perfectionist.

I want my speeches to be better than anything Martin Luther King ever uttered. No wonder I get scared with the bar set that high.

Most times when I finish my speech at Toastmasters I want to run to the toilets and cry. Sometimes I do that.

But when I did my sixth speech there was a watershed moment. Afterwards I thought my speech was actually okay.

I know I shouldn?t feel so scared of speaking and I know the only way to kill my fear is to keep doing what scares me until I?m not ruled by that fear any more.

So that?s why I keep doing scary things every day and why I persevere with the things that scare me most.

Why Pitching a Travel Book Terrifies Me

Since my fear of public speaking is so out of proportion I decided it needs serious treatment. Instead of quitting like I so badly want to, I decided to participate in a live blog pitch for my book The Naked Travel Stories.

It?s doubly scary because I have to talk and, worse still, talk about my book The Naked Travel Stories which I?m terrified might not be good enough.

I haven?t even written the book yet and fear is probably why. I know procrastination for writers is driven by fear. It?s driven by the fear that our writing won?t be good enough.

I suffered rejection and it sucks but I know we can bounce back from rejection. I?ve done it.

Why I Pitched My Travel Book Anyway

So I signed up to pitch my book The Naked Travel Stories live in front of a publisher, an author and an audience of 60 other writers at a literary festival.

Here?s the video of the book pitch made about an hour before the pitch by Lake MacDonald in the Noosa hinterland. Can you tell how scared I am?

Now I?m ratcheting the fear up more by sharing this video with you. Because if speaking live in public is hard, being videoed has to be the worst.

Sharing the video on YouTube where who knows who might watch it strikes fear into my heart.

But hey, what?s the worst thing that can happen? Not much. It?s not exactly life-threatening is it?

That?s the thing about fear. It?s irrational, it?s cowardly, it?s idiotic. Worst of all fear robs us of living our dreams.

So we have to face those fears. They may seem real to us but really, they?re as fictitious as Hannibal Lecter himself.

I hope you?ll take courage from my exercise in conquering fear and do something scary too.

My Book Pitch For the Naked Travel Stories on Video

Can?t hear the video? It?s not your ears, the volume is low. I apologize. Next time I?ll really yell. Until then, please turn up your computer speakers and the YouTube video speakers ? full blast:)

Can?t see the video? If you?re reading this in an email or RSS you need to visit the blog to see the video. See you there.

Non-Fiction Book Pitch Transcript: The Naked Travel Stories by Annabel Candy

Here?s the full transcript. I divided my pitch into three parts: Who would read the book, what it?s about and why I?m the best woman to write it.

The Naked Travel Stories fill the gap between who we once when we were children and young adults and who we are now.

They?re written for women aged 35 and older to explore the conflict between our childhood dreams and our parents? dreams for us. Between the desire to follow those youthful dreams versus the instinct to play it safe and follow the beaten track. The desire to travel and have fun versus society?s expectation for us to settle down, have children and get a proper job.

The Naked Travel Stories cover the first ten years of my adult life when I was traveling the world, not just exploring the globe, but also exploring who I was, what my potential was and what I would become.

When I left school I knew I wanted to be a writer, in fact I?d known that since I first started school, but writing wasn?t a career or a lifestyle choice my parents supported.

So instead of following my dream I got two degrees, lived in eight different countries and traveled to more than 40 counties before finally coming to terms with who I am today ? a mother, a wife and, at last, a writer.

But during those 10 years when I was traveling I experienced things which are at odds with the respectable business woman and mother you see before you.

The English private school girl, wearer of white gloves and a straw boater, nicknamed Baby Doll by her English teacher Mr. ?Don?t Mention His Grandfather? Tolkien, has had a few adventures.

I?ve experienced sleep paralysis in Greece and, convinced there was a strange man in my room run outside naked, calling out to some nearby men for help then quickly switching from fear to confusion then tears when we discovered the intruder was nothing more than a figment of my imagination.

I?ve slept free in Germany during the Oktober Fest in Munich when beds are booked months in advance, wrapping myself in kitchen towels to survive the cold nights.

I?ve hitch-hiked extensively and traveled by donkey cart in Tunisia, Porsche in Germany, gravel truck in Zimbabwe and fire truck in Turkey. Palms slippery with sweat, hanging on grimly to the metal pole at the back as the truck careened round corners up a steep mountain pass with Turkish firefighters laughing merrily at me in the rear view mirror from the safety of the cab.

So how do we fill that gap between who we were, what we?ve done and what we?ve become?

It?s been a long, rocky journey. Sometimes funny, occasionally angst-ridden, at times plagued by depression but always in motion.

And over time I?ve learned to reconcile the little girl who wanted to be a writer with the hippy chick who traveled the world and unite them as happy room mates in this middle-aged body. They still have the odd skirmish but on the whole those three parts of me have learnt to get along.

Finally I?ve given myself permission to be the writer I was meant to be and accept that, while I might look like your average middle-aged mother, I?m not, and I never will be.

The Naked Travel Stories are a fun way to explore the differences between what we were and what we are now and come to terms with them.

Today I?m a writer and travel blogger. I started my blog Get In the Hot Spot two years ago and it now has over 20,000 unique visitors each month. I have over 2,000 subscribers and 5,000 followers on Twitter and Facebook.

I was chosen by Coca-Cola in 2010 as one of four Australian bloggers invited to become Live Positively Ambassadors because they liked my writing.

I frequently speak about blogging and social media to business and writing groups and hope to speak at BlogWorld, the largest social media event in the world, this November.

My travel writing has been featured in Escape Magazine and on some of the biggest blogs on the internet. I write for the local tourism company Sunshine Coast Destination Limited and Regional Development Australia and am frequently interviewed about travel, writing and social media.

Thank you for listening to my journey round the world and through my heart and for your interest in The Naked Travel Stories, about a woman who spends ten years traveling the world to find herself, but ends up back where she started.

Thank You, Merci and Kop Khun Ka

Many thanks to my dear friend Lisa Alexiou for recording the video and for her incredible, generous and much appreciated support for my writing and all my nutty ideas.

Thank you so much to all my Toastmasters mates in Coolum for listening to my speeches including this travel book pitch and encouraging me onwards and upwards.

Muchas muchas gracias to the Get In the Hot Spot team and readers who?ve made me brave enough to share my stories. I am so very grateful to have you here.

What scares you?

Click here to see Get In the Hot Spot website

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Source: http://www.gatekeeperspost.com/uncategorized/why-pitching-a-book-is-scarier-than-hannibal-lecter/

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Secured Personal Loans: avail finance at low rate of interest ...

Article by Simon Peyton

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Source: http://jalanblogger.com/secured-personal-loans-avail-finance-at-low-rate-of-interest.html

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General Liability Insurance for Small Businesses Immensely Helps ...

General liability insurance for small business could be the difference between life and death for the business. Being able to manage risk factors in the business is a big deal for a small business to thrive and survive in a cutthroat environment. This is true to many industries. That is why protecting the business from risks and in any event that they would face severe losses; the small business must be prepared. Taking out general liability insurance is a must for any risk management plan. Small companies are prone to mistakes in their production, and being able to contend with mistakes or failures done with any product or service is an ability that must always be kept available. If not, this could result in truly devastating losses for the business. Insuring a company or business against the losses to liabilities provide a dynamic solution to a number of problems. The importance of being able to be secure is vital for the survival of any business.

Source: http://www.thetuxproject.com/general-liability-insurance-for-small-businesses-immensely-helps-their-risk-management/251/

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Italian designers opt for ladylike chic (AP)

MILAN ? Midway through the current women's wear fashion week for the Spring-Summer 2012, it is clear that designers are thinking ladylike, not sporty.

There are few trousers in the collections, and when they show up they are slim and proper. Short shorts do have a prominent place on the runway, but after all it is summer.

Hemlines hover discreetly around the knee or are elegantly floor-length.

Colors vary from black and white to beige, pastels and a few bold colors.

The preferred footwear is the sandal, with either a high or a platform heel. Sneakers and summer boots, with the exception of a few eccentric models, are out.

Many shows hark back to the Roaring '20's or the chic '50's, the first fashion decade to make reference to the Charleston era ? think chemise dress.

Low waists, crinoline hemlines and sequined embroidery are everywhere, but the defining style is pleats ? small, large, accordion ? it makes no difference as long as the fabric folds.

VERSACE

Straying a bit from the fold, Donatella Versace Friday night presented a collection where everything, from fetching mini-dresses to clinging goddess gowns to aggressive platform sandals, was steaming hot.

By adding a little sugar to her trademark fashion recipe, she comes up with a sexy sweet style.

Models in pretty chiffon mini dresses and ultrahigh Plexiglas platforms looked like mermaids stranded in the big city. Seashells and starfish printed or stitched in sequins on the pastel colored dresses completed the demure look.

Things get hotter when bold metallic studs replaced the sparkle, and fabric for shorts went from chiffon to clinging neoprene.

At night, the little mermaids turn into sirens in goddess gowns with plunging necklines, bare backs and tempting slits up the sides.

EMPORIO ARMANI

Giorgio Armani on Saturday delivered one of the most ladylike collections seen thus far on the Milan preview runway for his second line Emporia label.

Taking a basic low-waisted silhouette, he gives the style a contemporary graphic look by defining the shape with contrasting black and white lines. The designer also gives a sculpted twist to yesteryear's crinoline skirt.

The Armani models looked like they just walked out of a tableau from a 1920s beach resort. They wore chic Panama hats, black high-heeled sandals and carried a transparent beach bag. Think Deauville where Coco Chanel got her first fashion inspirations.

BOTTEGA VENETA

In the preview collection presented Saturday, Tomas Maier mixes fabrics and colors to create a unique blending effect for next summer's styles.

A mix of leather and fabric and a contrast of black and brown make up the pleats of a skirt, while bands of different shades and materials are worked together to create a multi scarf effect for dresses.

Prints and embroidery, too, are a combination of shiny and opaque, color contrasts and mixing of fabrics.

The overall feel is of something very special ? which even when Maier uses pleats, a trend in the current fashion week, seems unique.

The silhouette is classic but sensual, a combination of a tailored cut and fluid lines.

The latest Bottega Veneta bag comes in various sizes, is ultrasoft and meant to carried in the hand.

JIL SANDER

Taking the label's staple white cotton, designer Raf Simons in the collection shown Saturday, turns it into a shift dress, a jacket, or even a coat dress.

The use of sheered fabric and layered poplin reveal the contours of the body, making the outfits subtly sexy.

The all-white look, paired with white-laced summer boots, has a slight hospital feel.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110924/ap_on_re_eu/eu_italy_fashion_wrap

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Discovering Accurate Internet Advertising Business Critiques

This article has been viewed 19 times.

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Internet advertising business critiques can come from a number of sources, however a common rule of thumb is to keep an eye out for a general consensus amongst the reviewers. If an enterprise is real looking in its marketing strategy and worth a look, the reviewers will likely agree even if they have a distinction of opinion on among the company?s philosophy. Finding this explicit kind of consensus could be challenging, because of the obvious bulk of unfavorable press available. It?s a reality that buyers are more likely to give a foul comment when they are dissatisfied, but will give no comment at all when they are completely satisfied.

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Reading Web advertising business critiques could be difficult and tricky, particularly because of the fixed use of flowery language and avoidance tactics. Many reviews will discuss an internet advertising opportunity without really mentioning anything in regards to the alternative itself. When reading internet advertising business critiques, it is very important preserve a clear focus so as to understand the reality of what the evaluation says and never just the spin.

In case you want extra knowledge in regard to website marketing, stop by Inga Dershtermain?s web site this minute.

Source: http://www.inventivearticles.com/health-and-fitness/discovering-accurate-internet-advertising-business-critiques/

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Ahmadinejad: It's not too late to fix US ties

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, listens during an interview with editorial staff from the Associated Press on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, listens during an interview with editorial staff from the Associated Press on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Mahmound Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Mahmound Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reacts during an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Mahmound Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Mahmound Ahmadinejad, center, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holds an interview with editorial staff of the Associated Press on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Hours after criticizing America so fiercely that U.S. diplomats stormed out of the U.N. General Assembly in protest, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that time has not run out for the two countries to repair their bad relationship.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Ahmadinejad claimed that explosive material and not planes brought down the World Trade Center, rejected the West's view of his country's nuclear ambitions and castigated U.S. policies from Libya to Pakistan. But he also complained that President Barack Obama never made good on a pledge to try to open a dialogue with Iran, and said he still hopes for a face-to-face meeting.

"I don't believe that this is a chance that has been completely lost," Ahmadinejad said.

The White House declined to comment on Ahmadinejad's remarks.

Ahmadinejad provoked a walkout by diplomats from more than 30 countries at the General Assembly when he attacked the U.S. and Europe as being greedy, arrogant and too ready to use military force. He has made similar waves in past gatherings in New York, but at home his powers have been weakened by Iran's ruling clerics.

That weakness was evident last week when Iran's judiciary knocked down his claim that two Americans jailed in Iran for more than two years as suspected spies could be on their way home.

Asked about the power struggle, Ahmadinejad gave a civics lesson on the separation of powers in the constitution. On the issue of his political opponents, he conceded that "some people don't like me very much in Iran."

The two Americans, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, ended up being released Wednesday in what Ahmadinejad said was a humanitarian gesture. He offered no proof the pair were conducting espionage but said it is beyond doubt that they illegally crossed the border ? an offense he added that the United States itself routinely prosecutes.

"Just the fact that they are in their families' arms is important," Ahmadinejad said.

In the case of Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent missing nearly five years in Iran, Ahmadinejad said he does not know where Levinson is. But he referred to unspecified contacts between the U.S. and Iran over the case.

"I think there was good collaboration between the intelligence apparatus in both countries," Ahmadinejad said. "I think we have reached concrete results ? good results ? and it would be good if such collaboration continues."

Authorities announced in March that Levinson's family had received proof in late 2010 that he was alive. The news touched off a hopeful round of fresh diplomacy, but there has been no word since.

On the Sept. 11 attacks, Ahmadinejad stopped short of saying the United States staged the disaster 10 years ago, but said that as an engineer, he's sure New York's twin towers were not brought down by jetliners.

"This was a systematic collapse of those towers," Ahmadinejad said. "I can say with certainty there must have been explosive material that was set off in sequence."

He said there are questions the world should resolve, and noted there are doubters in the United States as well.

"A few airplanes without previous coordination known to the security forces and the intelligence community in the United States cannot become missiles and target the heart of the United States," Ahmadinejad said.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology conducted a probe that took six years to complete of the tower collapses; the last report found that fire caused the collapse of 7 World Trade Center, a skyscraper north of the twin towers. In the collapses of the twin towers, the agency found that extreme heat from the jetliner crashes caused some steel beams to lose strength, causing further failures in the building until the entire structure succumbed.

The investigation "was the most comprehensive examination of a structural failure ever conducted," said Shyam Sunder, lead investigator of the collapse investigation and led to 40 building code changes to make safer, terror-proof skyscrapers. NIST maintains a website with its reports and computer-based animations that reconstruct its findings to reach out to the public.

Ahmadinejad was denied his request last year to visit the site of the World Trade Center collapse during his annual visit to New York for the General Assembly. Ahmadinejad said he did not ask for such a visit this year but might next year.

Noting that he had earlier called for an investigation into the cause of the Sept. 11 attacks, Ahmadinejad said lingering questions about the attacks presented Obama with an opportunity.

"We thought that the president of the United States would make up for the mistakes of the previous administration and perhaps this would have been a good starting point," Ahmadinejad said. "The current president could have said the information was incomplete or perhaps needed more investigation vis-a-vis the events of Sept. 11."

Ahmadinejad also said Iran remains ready to negotiate over its disputed nuclear program, and repeated the country's position that the program is for the peaceful production of energy. The U.S. and other Western powers believe Iran is aiming to build nuclear weapons, and the Islamic Republic is under four sets of Security Council sanctions for refusing to freeze uranium enrichment.

"You all know that the nuclear issue has been turned and manipulated into a political issue," Ahmadinejad said.

Obama took office in 2009 with hopes of improving on three decades of enmity between the U.S. and Iran, although he said from the start he had doubts about how far the effort could go. Initial outreach made little progress, which the U.S. blamed partly on the confusing layers of leadership in Iran and differences of opinion about whether to engage with the U.S.

The efforts all but stopped following Iran's bloody crackdown on demonstrators later in 2009.

"We were very much in support of change," Ahmadinejad said. "I sent a personal message to President Obama," he said. "Never received a response."

Ahmadinejad sent Obama a congratulatory letter days after his election in 2008, and another in 2010 apparently complaining about a lack of progress.

Obama probably has nothing to worry about in his re-election bid, Ahmadinejad said, and he suggested Obama need not cater to Jewish voters to ensure a victory.

"The people of the United States must make the choice and we do not wish to undertake any efforts that would impact the decision-making power of the people anywhere," Ahmadinejad said. "But I do not believe that President Obama has any serious roadblocks on his path to re-election. He really does not need to give unconditional support and leave the playing field open for the Zionists."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-09-22-US-Iran-Ahmadinejad-Interview/id-baecf18115494adb8fd055151f792523

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We're live from Facebook's 2011 f8 developer conference! (video)

Oh yeah, we're here, live at the f8 developers conference in San Francisco, and we're going to give you a blow by blow of what's in store for all you Facebook-loving folks. The streets is talking and the rumor mill's churning at full bore about what we can expect, but Mark Zuckerberg's keynote is mere minutes away, and all will be revealed soon. So, check back here to get the scoop on all the new social-networking goodies as he dishes them out.

Update: And it's underway. Head on past the break for the live stream.

Continue reading We're live from Facebook's 2011 f8 developer conference! (video)

We're live from Facebook's 2011 f8 developer conference! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/were-live-from-facebooks-2011-f8-developer-conference/

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