After attending my first conference at WordCamp Orange County in 2014 and watching the volunteer speakers passion for design, business, and web development I craved sharing my own experiences, but my fear of public speaking always kept me from submitting a talk.
I faced them head on at WordCamp Riverside 2017 and it turned out to be the perfect venue. I chose a topic that I knew very deeply and spoke conversationally. It was exactly like chatting among a group of friends.
“Public speaking is adjacent to Papyrus as one of my greatest fears.”
Joseph Dickson
My tips for creating a successful session
Choose a WordPress related topic you already know deeply and could chat about informally over coffee. Prepare your talk by creating a timeline or loose script. I like to draw up a simple outline a month ahead and chat into a webcam for thirty minutes then re-watch while taking notes for refinement.
Prepare your slide presentation only after you’ve tested an outline in front of a camera or mirror. I always find that I try to cram too much into my slides only to toss half of them out after a few rehearsals.
Run though your finished presentation a few times about a week before WordCamp. You’ll be surprised how easily everything starts to flow almost automatically from start to finish.
Remember you’re among friends
- WordCamp attendees know speakers are volunteers and don’t expect perfection.
- WordCamp is an informal affair. Business attire is optional.
- You’re speaking among professionals like yourself.
- Most importantly, a session is only 30-45 minutes long.
Interested in speaking at WordCamp Riverside? Submit a presentation topic.