[00:00:00.070] - Crystal Evans Hurst
You kind of learn what your Lane is, and then you learn how to stay in your Lane so that you can be as consistent as possible in your delivery.
[00:00:13.610] - Clarissa Moll
Here at Hope Writers, we're all about knowing our Lane, which means understanding what we feel called to do and doing it well and writing our words with a clear message and reader in mind. What do you do when you sense you're ready to expand your Lane? What if you're ready to say your words out loud? Not just put them on the page? How do you know when to add speaking to your writing life? If you've asked questions like these, this episode is sure to help you out.
[00:00:44.330] - Clarissa Moll
Hi, I'm Clarissa Moll. And welcome to The Writerly life brought to you by Hope Writers, the most encouraging place on the Internet for writers to make progress. Here at the Writerly Life, we help you expand your creativity, explore new techniques and express your hopefilled words in a world that needs them. We'll help you learn to balance the art of writing with the business of publishing and learn to hustle without losing heart. You have words and your words matter, and as you write them, you can be you boldly, bravely, maybe even a little scared.
[00:01:21.530] - Clarissa Moll
Sometimes you can be you in your writing life. So welcome to the show, friends. Lean in, grab a pen, let's chat. Writing and speaking can go well together as you build your writing life. How do you know when you're ready to add speaking to the list of what you can offer? What do you need to know as you develop your writing and delivery skills for a live audience? Our special guest today, Crystal Evans Hurst, is a great guide to all things speaking. A homeschooling mom and dynamic writer and Speaker, Crystal keeps it real when she talks about how a speaking career can grow from your writing or enhance the words you're already putting on the page.
[00:02:10.950] - Clarissa Moll
Lean in as she tells us more in this recent Hopewriters Tuesday teaching with host Emily P. Freeman.
[00:02:17.250] - Crystal Evans Hurst
Tell us about your if you have a system, if you can parse it out enough in order thinking of creating your talks of writing, your talks. I think a lot of us have this image of, like, oh, she must go off to a cabin in the Woods. I wish come up with these talks, but that's not real life, right? So tell us what it looks like for you.
[00:02:37.470] - Crystal Evans Hurst
Well, I have friends who do that. I have a very good friend who is a pastor's wife locally here, and she takes a study retreat twice a year. Wow. Somebody walked in here. Literally. A kid walked in here and I was on the side going.
[00:02:53.710] - Crystal Evans Hurst
Get out, get out.
[00:02:54.610] - Crystal Evans Hurst
This is my life. So just ten minutes ago. So what it looks like for me is along the way. So as I'm studying something, in other words, I have never gone in search of something to talk about. I let what is happening in my mind and in my head and in my heart bubble up and overflow to something I can offer. I'm not saying that that's not something you should do. Actually, the discipline of writing for Power 31 forces me to come up with something to say if there's no overflow and that's the discipline too.
[00:03:27.430] - Crystal Evans Hurst
But how I like to speak is that as I'm studying, there's something that hits a nerve. I want to read more about it. I want to look it up. I have examples in my life that become easy to share. And honestly, I'm sharing with my kids at the breakfast table. So as I share with them, it becomes obvious what I have something to say about or some life experience or some illustration, and it kind of manifests itself to me along the way. And then along the way.
[00:03:55.510] - Crystal Evans Hurst
As I keep writing notes in my Bible or keep jotting down notes in my notebook, it becomes clear. It's like this is a talk. And then I do the work of once I see that this is something that is resonating with me, then I do the work of making sure I've got a good open, a good close two or three, no more than four points, making sure that I've quoted somebody else. That there's a statistic. Now, as a home school mom, I've taught writing both in a co op setting and to my kids.
[00:04:23.950] - Crystal Evans Hurst
I've got multiple years of multiple different programs. I was a natural writer. My oldest daughter was not. So I had to give her a formula, and one of the formulas for writing is the same formula I use for speaking at SEE. Every time I make a statement that needs to be followed by an explanation and an example. So SEE every time I make a statement in a talk, three points, those major points. I need to explain it and need to show I it explain it and give an example.
[00:04:51.970] - Crystal Evans Hurst
So using that format, I am looking for that. If I tell you something and I don't show it to you or explain it to you, I really haven't illustrated that point. And then another great point is repetition by use of alliteration or by use of tying the thoughts together. The last thing I would say that has been is the sandwich we heard about sandwiching. When you're telling somebody negative, give them something positive, then the negative and then the positive. I was in BSF for eight years and my BSF teacher is Bible Study Fellowship.
[00:05:19.630] - Crystal Evans Hurst
She did her talks exactly the same way every week and she would start it out with a story. Then she would never finish the story and she would come back at the end and wrap up the story and talk got sandwiched in between the story. Sometimes I do that. So I just think you come up with the meat. What's the main thing, and we don't just slap a steak on a plate. We serve it up with baked potatoes or green beans or macaroni and cheese or spinach saute spinach.
[00:05:47.890] - Crystal Evans Hurst
We put the main thing on the plate and then we dress it up. And so what's the main thing that you want to say? Your calling, your passion, the information, your education, your skill, your ability, and then dress it up. Make them want to hear it with a story? Yes. Make them laugh and cry. Help them to remember it with alliteration. Give them pegs to hang their memory on because a lot of times they won't remember your whole talk, but they will remember your story or the three things that rhyme.
[00:06:10.570] - Crystal Evans Hurst
So sorry. I'm like overflowing at that.
[00:06:14.410] - Emily P. Freeman
No, Don't stop.
[00:06:14.650] - Crystal Evans Hurst
So it's like that good.
[00:06:17.290] - Emily P. Freeman
So good. Listen, you had me along the way and I know you said that a minute ago, but that is so good. If we could just remember to write along the way and then that SEE. Tell us the SEE again
[00:06:28.930] - Crystal Evans Hurst
Statement Explanation Example.
[00:06:32.770]
That's so good. Such a great writing tip. Such a great speaking tip. We can use that for blog post. We can use that for a whole talk. You could use it for a book chapter. That's a great tool you've given us. Crystal, thank you for that.
[00:06:44.770] - Clarissa Moll
Did you get that down? I love how Crystal describes finding her content along the way and balancing her beautiful real life, complete with interrupting kiddos with the meaningful life of her writing work. And Crystal's method for developing a talk is a proven method and solid gold for any kind of writing you do. What a great way to normalize how speaking can become a part of the work you're already doing. New speakers tend to say yes to any opportunity that comes their way because they're eager to get in front of an audience.
[00:07:19.330] - Clarissa Moll
However, as you gain experience and your schedule begins to fill, it's important to carefully waive the time and energy required for each event. As a busy mom, pastoral assistant, writer and sought after Speaker, Crystal can't say yes to every organization that advises her to speak. In this conversation. Crystal tells us more about what she needs to know about a speaking event before she says yes, she says there are questions you ask when you're ten years, 20 years in that you don't ask when you're two months in it's good practice to begin asking questions that help you understand the commitment and the needs of the audience.
[00:08:01.870] - Clarissa Moll
As soon as you begin your speaking career, however, your own needs and questions will develop alongside your level of experience. Consider asking these questions as you prepare to expand your writing life to include speaking number one questions about venue. Since you're a speaker, a writer, and a real person with a full life, it's important to take into account where an event is located before committing, Crystal recommends asking these questions about the venue? Where is the event located? What airport will you need to fly into? How far is the venue from the airport?
[00:08:44.350] - Clarissa Moll
Will a car be provided, or will someone pick you up? If you need to add a few hours of driving onto your travel time after a flight, this could significantly impact your schedule. You'll need to account for all travel time and any expenses associated with a farflung event before saying yes. Number two questions about Content The event planners may have a very specific idea of what they hope to offer their audience. Knowing this in advance will help you make an informed decision. Be sure to ask questions like, what is the theme of the event?
[00:09:23.230] - Clarissa Moll
Do they hire speakers who make the audience laugh or tap into deeper emotions? Do they tend to look for storytellers teachers, lecturers, or preachers? What previous speakers have they invited to speak? Previous presenters are an indication of what an organization expects from its speakers. It's likely they'll expect a similar delivery from you. Look at previous speakers carefully and ask any clarifying questions before moving forward. Once you know the feel of the event, ask yourself, Is this a topic you feel wellversed in? Perhaps one you speak about already?
[00:10:04.510] - Clarissa Moll
Will your talk require hours of research and planning? Knowing the answer to these questions in advance will help you anticipate your time commitment, the tone of your talk, and the needs of your listeners. Number three questions about Frequency When you're a new speaker, this may not be a critical question for you to ask. However, for a speaker with lots of experience, this question can make or break your commitment. Be sure to ask. Is this a first time event? Crystal Evans Hurst says she always wants to know if this is a first time an event is being held because there are certain things she says.
[00:10:45.430] - Clarissa Moll
I know about first time events that they don't know because they haven't done it before. She continues. It usually means they're going to want more help from me, and I have to decide if I have the bandwidth to give it. As your influence and your skills grow, the demand for your speaking services will increase. These questions will help you learn when it's best to say yes or no. Depending on your own schedule and bandwidth. Your questions about venue, content and frequency will help you determine whether a speaking request is right for you.
[00:11:22.690] - Clarissa Moll
Speaking is a great way to expand your creativity and find new audiences for your writing. Using many of the same skills you use. Every time you sit down to write, you can create a dynamic talk that captures your listener's attention and delivers hopeful content they need to hear.
[00:11:41.830] - Crystal Evans Hurst
I find that a lot of the overflow of what I want to talk about is because I read a book about leadership or I read a book about writing, or I read a book about parenting and what I read. They said a lot of good stuff, but I'm like, oh, but you forgot to say this. You know what I mean? Or I'm writing in my margin as I'm reading. And even that gives me food for the thing I want to say about parenting or the thing I want to say about leading or the thing I want to say about running a business or the thing I want to say about people management.
[00:12:07.990] - Crystal Evans Hurst
I realized that where they left off. I have something else to say. So that's a part of building up the food for Fodder that stocks your pond. Like, what's the lady's name? The Bird by Bird by Anne Lammot stalking your pond.
[00:12:22.630] - Emily P. Freeman
Yeah, that's good. Well, and that's such a great word for those of us who people who might be beginning, I think, are sometimes afraid to read writers who write about similar things. But you've just spoken to the value of it that you'll read it, and then you'll be like, oh, but they left this whole thing out, and then you can make your note and you can kind of pick up where that artist left off. And that's the beauty of this creative life, right? That we're not just making this up in a corner by ourselves, like we are learning on the backs of other writers and that it's communal, right?
[00:12:53.770] - Crystal Evans Hurst
It's communal. And I feel that I have the demon in me that says, Crystal, you shouldn't write about this or speak about this because somebody else already has. And then I have to remind myself, Well, if that's the case, nobody should ever write anything, right. But nobody has ever been me. Nobody has ever been me. So they cannot bring even with the same principles and the same truth, my humor, my nonsense, my literal voice, my written voice, they can't bring my experience. They cannot bring my story.
[00:13:27.250] - Crystal Evans Hurst
And if what I have to say is the same thing somebody else says. But Susie Q that lives in some town in New Jersey, doesn't hear their message, but she hears mine, that I need to speak about it. And I need to write about it because she may only hear me.
[00:13:41.770] - Clarissa Moll
If this episode was helpful to you, just imagine how helpful the entire hour long interview with Crystal Evans Hearst would be every week. Hope Writers members have access to a new 1 hour Tuesday teaching with agents, publishers, social media, strategists authors and speakers like Crystal Evans Hurst. Hope Writers helps you make progress in your writing life, whether you're writing blogs or articles on social media or for a talk. If you want to be serious about your words and your reader, we're here for you for writing tips and encouragement.
[00:14:19.510] - Clarissa Moll
Find us on Instagram at Hopewriters or at our public Facebook page. Hope Writers Community Last a final word from author and Speaker Fran Lebowitz, "think before you speak, read before you think." As you read, think and write, you may be surprised to discover that you desire to speak as well. Even better. Those in your life may identify those gifts in you too. You can integrate speaking into your writing life to give more space for your creativity to grow and your message to reach new listeners and readers.
[00:14:55.990] - Clarissa Moll
Your words matter whether they're delivered live to an audience or written down. Your voice matters whether we hear it from the page or through a microphone. Thanks for listening, writer Friend as you step into this week, remember to keep writing your words matter, we can't wait to read them. If you found this episode of the writerly life helpful, be sure to hit subscribe and tell your friends rate and review the show and liking comment. If you're tuning in on YouTube, your reviews help others know you found the content helpful.
[00:15:33.250] - Clarissa Moll
See you next week. Bye.
