Always Show Up

As an author, we love those events when we have a good number in our audience - an audience who is engaged, who ask questions about our writing or author journey, and who seem genuinely interested in what we share. It makes us feel like we truly are doing something special in our writing. Sometimes we get such an audience. But sometimes we don’t. I’ve been in both situations. While I’ve had several families attend an event or book signing, I’ve also had only one family show up to an event.

Of course, I was discouraged and a little hurt. But in hindsight, this became a good on the spot learning experience for me as an author. How I react and how I attend to the one, or two, or few, is really important.

Whether many or just one attend your event, it is important to get your mindset right. That one person showed up to participate in what you promised them. You need to show up for them. Do your best presentation for one, or the few, the same as you would for many. Make each person feel extra special just for being there. Focus on them and their experience and what they came to get out of the event.

Find your positive mindset. Don’t act disappointed. Don’t make comments or apologize over the lack of other participants. Just enjoy time with the ones who are in front of you.

It’s like my motto with family reunions. While I miss those who might not have come, my focus is on enjoying those who are with me in the present.

Don’t get me wrong, minutes before any event, I still worry. What if no one comes? Just recently, this doubt creeped in as I watched the clock tick closer to staring time for my What Farm Boots are For kid’s launch party in Bagdad. Luckily this time, I had a good crowd. But I have to always be prepared to enjoy the one or the few.

It is bound to happen sometime that only a few will show up to an event you worked hard to promote and make happen. But when you show up no matter what, you never know the impact you might make. Did you get one child, or adult, excited about reading or writing? Did you get one more person signed up to your email list? Did you make good contacts that might lead to other events or more contacts? Did you make a lasting fan?

An author’s journey has many ups and downs. The ups are great, and we must learn how to make the best of, and learn from, the downs.

Most importantly, we must ALWAYS show up.

Carol June Franks