I'm giving my very first presentation at a conference tomorrow. Yipes! I'm so nervous.
I'm going to try and wean all my favorite kidlit bloggers -- plus a bunch of people I never met, even virtually -- from thinking that reviewing is all about their opinions. Or about authors and books.
No, it's about what literary big shot Steve Wasserman called "a cultural conversation of critical importance."
That's big stuff. Am I up to it? Is a 7-page handout sufficient? Is going over the material 5,000 times enough? Is 50 minutes too much time or not enough?
These are the things you sweat about when you're an introvert. I've eaten myself into a new dress size today fretting about these things. Since my presentation comes at 2 p.m. tomorrow, I'll probably spend the whole morning stuffing myself out of abject misery and fear and downing more free coffee than is good for me. And I don't even like coffee.
Of course, all these people are ridiculously nice or they'd be blogging about politics or law or other not-nice topics. So I have nothing to fear, right? Except that I'm preparing to tell them that the fun can't go on forever. That to write at a professional level means understanding that reviewing is a genre, with its own tropes and quirks and readers' implicit expectations.
Function follows form in reviewing, and I'm going to be teaching them those forms. And they're not going to like it. Not one bit. It's anathema even to nice bloggers to be told there are forms to follow, and they make sense, and the wheel doesn't need reinventing.
I should make myself pretty unpopular. Sigh. And who am I to upset the order of the blogosphere? Humble, mild-mannered Book Buds?
So, I'm in quite the state today. Terrified. Depressed. And oddly energized -- I must be anticipating the free coffee.
I let you know how it goes. More on Monday.
Your talk sounds great! I wish I could be there!
Posted by: Anastasia | October 05, 2007 at 02:04 PM
Dude, I wish I could hear what you have to say! Will you send me the 7 page handout? Dang. I've been thinking along similar lines lately, too. Do you know the book "Faint Praise: The Plight of Book Reviewing in America," by Gail Pool? (University of Missouri Press, 2007) The author says that one of the problems with book reviews today is that there is too much praise and that certain often-used expressions don't really mean anything. The latter reminded me that I need to boot certain pet phrases from my work--I've overused them. I'm slowly working my way through "Faint Praise," but do recommend it.
Bust a move.
Posted by: Susan Thomsen | October 05, 2007 at 02:41 PM
You're going to do great, Anne. I wish I could be there. And I'm with Susan - is there any way you can post something about your talk afterwards? Because it sounds like information I'd really like to have.
Posted by: Sheila Ruth | October 05, 2007 at 03:49 PM
I would also love to see notes or handouts from your talk, if you don't mind.
Posted by: bookbk | October 06, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Anne- I was in the audience and I thought your presentation was fabulous. Thanks for all the hard work and the wonderful handouts.
Posted by: Wizards Wireless | October 06, 2007 at 08:19 PM
Hey all:
I do have to say that I totally wasn't expecting so many comments on this post. I figured it would quietly slip into the electronic ether.
I had a fantastic time, the talk went over much better than expected (avoiding coffee helped) and I even have extra handouts.
I will have to mark up the handouts with a few notes for those who want it mailed to them, but will be happy to do so.
Email me at anne (at) bookbuds (dot) net with your snailmail address and I'll have one en route to you by week's end.
I'll also post on it for Monday or Tuesday with photos stolen off others' blogs. Heh.
Posted by: Anne | October 07, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Anne, I didn't see this post beforehand, but I would never in a million years have thought that this was your first conference presentation. You were GREAT! I think you walked the line perfectly, in terms of trying to bring us to a higher level, without offending people. I know that I want to make my reviews at bit more professional now. Thanks! And it was such a treat to finally meet you, and talk with you.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 07, 2007 at 09:55 PM
Thanks, Jen. I'm going to post a full rundown on the talk on Tuesday.
Hey everyone, click through to Jen's blog for a great summary of the event.
Posted by: Anne | October 08, 2007 at 04:55 AM
Anne, your talk sounds so interesting to me! And I totally identify with being anxious before a speech--but it sounds like you were great, and very well prepared.
Posted by: Cheryl Rainfield | October 08, 2007 at 09:42 AM