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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A few months ago, I led the Media Pitch Lab, a course to help authors craft effective pitches. And I realized that a lot of fiction authors were struggling to come up with effective hooks. The solution? Thinking about the audience. When it comes to creating your own content as well as pitching the media, you need to be thinking about your audience and how you can offer something of value to them.
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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Do you follow writers and experts who are always posting content, publishing blogs, and sharing videos?
And do you wonder where they get the time to create it all? Well, they’re got a little secret. And I’m going to let you in on it so you can use it too.
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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Whether you’re presenting at an in-person conference or leading a virtual workshop, the secret to a successful talk comes down to one thing: preparation.
I’ve learned this firsthand after speaking at events for years now. From in-person events like the Writer’s Digest Conference to virtual presentations at the Willamette Writers Conference, I’ve been giving talks about productivity and media training to audiences across the country.
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mic-6357230_1280.jpg8501280Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2025-09-05 14:37:222025-09-05 14:37:42Preparing for Conferences As a Speaker
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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Whether it’s a podcast interview, a TV appearance, or a feature in a print publication, authors need the media to connect with readers. The media is how people find you and your writing.
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/office-3199659_1280.jpg9681280Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2025-08-13 23:40:342025-09-05 14:25:15How to Know You’re Ready for Media
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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Interviewing yourself on camera is a hack for authors and experts that I recommend to clients all the time — because I do it myself! When it comes to sharing your expertise, self-interviewing can be a game changer. It’s one of the most efficient and effective ways to get your message out clearly and on your own terms.
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/laptop-7978588_1280.jpg8541280Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2025-05-13 19:37:532025-05-13 19:45:54Author Hack: Interview Yourself via Video
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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I’m a media trainer.
That means I work with authors and experts to help them communicate their message to their audience.
Lots of people think media training and publicity are one and the same.
But the job of a publicist is distinct. As an author, it’s important to know the difference. Once you know what each one does, you can create a media plan that draws on the resources of both jobs. I’ve worked with publicists for years as a senior television producer when they would pitch their authors to me. And now as a media training we team up again so I can help get their authors ready for primetime interviews.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about media trainers and public:
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/public-speaking-3926344_1280-1.jpg8531280Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2025-01-22 21:11:442025-01-22 21:17:42Media Trainer vs. Publicist: How We Complement Each Other and Are Different
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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As an author, appearing in the media is a key opportunity to promote your book, share your insights, and connect with your audience. However, there are certain things you should avoid saying in an interview — these no-nos can derail your message or even alienate potential readers and fans.
It usually goes like this: the interviewer asks the expert a question, and the expert responds by saying something like, “Thank you for having me” or “Thank you for asking me that question.”
Agh! I always wish I could tell them to cut it out. It’s not a matter of being rude. I know we’re socialized to say “thank you” all the time, but it’s a bad habit when you’re appearing as an expert. We already know you’re thankful to be there — and talking about it is wasting precious time. You could be using that time to get your message across — a message that can help people.
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/microphone-1172260_1280.jpg8241280Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2025-01-10 15:16:252025-01-10 15:18:515 Things Never To Say in An Interview
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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Doing media interviews is an exercise in accepting the unknown. You need to accept that as much as you prepare, you won’t be able to predict every single thing that happens.
The best way to prepare for media interviews is to decide beforehand how you’re going to handle unexpected questions. This is half a mental game (how will you respond with grace?) and half about preparing for the kinds of pushback you’re likely to encounter.
Because while your goal is to put yourself out there and share your message with your audience, that doesn’t mean everyone will respond to your content the same way.
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/video-2562034_1280.jpg7201280Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2024-10-08 20:10:392024-10-08 20:13:34How to Handle Unexpected Questions in a Media Interview
If you’re an author or expert, you probably dream of being a producer’s first call — that expert they know they can go to for high-quality content.
But how can you get there? One of the best ways to plot out your career goals is to look at others who have done it before you.
That’s why I want to introduce you to Chris Kilham, also known as the Medicine Hunter. His speciality is alternative medicine, and he’s traveled the world looking for healing plants. Chris has written fourteen books during his long (and colorful!) career!
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-9.57.50-AM.png13682874Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2021-07-30 00:47:492021-07-30 00:49:49Case Study: Becoming a Go-To Expert with Chris Kilham
JOIN ME FOR GO LIVE! MASTERCLASS: Everything you need to produce a polished, lucrative and fun live-stream show that makes you stand out. Sign up here!
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Back when I was a TV producer, experts needed to pitch their idea, meet with me, come into the studio, and find their audience that way. Now, all you need to connect with people is your phone or laptop!
Just kidding — there’s a little more to it than that.
Doing live video on social media is one of the best ways to grow your audience and establish yourself as an expert — but only if you do it right.
https://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Screen-Shot-2021-04-23-at-11.23.03-AM.png7561439Paula Rizzohttps://paularizzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paula_Rizzo_Media_Expert-300x77.pngPaula Rizzo2021-04-23 15:30:252021-05-18 19:27:09How to Create a Live-Streaming Show
