Media is a Public Service

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BONUS FREEBIE: I have a resource for you that will help you prepare to talk with media and audiences. It’s the 10 Questions Every Author Needs to Answer. You can grab the fiction and nonfiction lists here.

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So many people struggle with self-confidence about doing media. When I media-train authors and experts, I hear the same things over and over. People don’t feel ready. They don’t want to toot their own horn. They feel self-conscious about putting themselves out there. Doing media or creating videos can make you feel vulnerable. That’s a very common experience — because it’s true that when you speak to the public, you’re opening yourself up for judgement. But you’re also opening yourself up to changing lives through your expertise.

This is the golden rule of doing media: media is a public service. There are people who can really benefit from learning about the topic that you’re an expert on. They need to hear your message and read your book. Don’t keep it to yourself — tell the media who you are so you can connect with readers!

The first time you do media may be hard. That doesn’t mean you did something wrong or that you’re not qualified. It just means you tried something new and you’re still learning. That’s a good thing!

The important thing is that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing your knowledge, because that’s how you can help people. That’s your public service as an author. 

Here are three ways to help reframe media as a public service:

1. Reflect on the impact books and authors have had on your life. 

Sometimes it’s helpful to go back to your own experience to get some perspective. What are your favorite books and authors? What have you learned from them and how have they changed your life?

Whether it’s a cookbook that taught you how to make healthy food for your family, a self-help book that got you through a tough time, or a novel that changed your viewpoint, chances are you’ve had some really impactful experiences with books.

Imagine if you’d never found those books — your life would probably be a lot less rich, fulfilling, and creative. That’s the power that books and authors bring to the public. That’s why doing media is a public service. It connects authors with the people who benefit from their work. 

2. Reconnect with your “why.”

Why did you become an author? What made your want to share your ideas with the world through books? What drives your passion for writing books?

Thinking about these questions can help you reconnect with your “why.” Your “why” is the reason you do what you do — and it’s also the core of what you have to offer to readers. Doing media is how you share your expertise and creativity with people who will benefit from your knowledge.

3. Imagine your readers — and speak to them. 

When you think about who will benefit from reading your book, who do you picture? Is it novice birdwatchers who are ready to learn more about their local flocks? Is it teens looking to escape into a magical sci-fi universe? Is it recent grads learning to cook for the first time? Really picture those people and think about the impact your book will have for them. 

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, your book has an audience. These are the people whose lives will be tangibly improved by reading your book. Reframe doing media to think about them (not yourself). Doing media means connecting with your readers, and that’s a public service.

If you’re ready to level up your media prep as an author, I invite you to take my online course Elevate Your Platform. It’s  a strategic course designed to help authors and experts clarify their message and build a platform that supports media visibility, speaking opportunities, and book promotion. It’s ideal for authors who feel scattered or unsure how all their efforts fit together and want a clear, sustainable plan to grow their audience and visibility. You can grab your spot here. 

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

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