As I have become more active in leadership in my two writers groups – Words for the Journey and Mile High Scribes ACFW, I have found myself in the position of finding speakers for the groups. Being an introvert, I found this very difficult. But I’m learning I just need to pay attention to who’s talking and reach out to those people.

Writers need to learn two things – how to improve their craft (including how to publish) and how to make their writing real.

The best way to find speaks on craft is by networking with other writers at conferences and through writing groups. Sometimes there are experts even within my own group or friends of members, if I pay attention to what people do. But today, I’m addressing how to find speakers about making writing real.

I’ve learned to listen to people talk, rather than I know them or not. I listen to hear if they have an area of expertise I’m interested in. The interesting part I’ve learned is people like to talk about what they have a passion about. This works for interviews for a specific book, but it can also work for finding speakers for a writing group. For example, many books have characters who are police officers. Had I not known some officers through my husband I could have walked up to officers anywhere I saw them and asked them if they knew an officer interested to speaking to a group. Even if they aren’t interested, they might know someone. The same is true of any occupation, if you just listen. Following this advice, so far I’m talking to a police officer, a personal trainer on health, a Biblical scholar and am talking to others.

I enjoy listening to people talk around me and digging up the courage to ask them to speak.