I’m a natural introvert. Well, one friend claims I’m more of an ambivert, as I can be pretty outgoing with people I know and trust, or if I really have to be. But the thought of being “in the spotlight” is an anxiety-inducing situation.
As a writer, this isn’t always a problem. Most of the work is done in relative solitude behind the keyboard. But over the last couple of years, I’ve tried to break out of my shell a little, and public readings have been a great way to do that. They’re still nerve-wracking experiences for me, but I’ve found the audiences to be generally engaged and enthusiastic. One of the great things about being a genre writer is that for the most part when people come to listen to you read, they’re already invested and interested in the genre. And one of the great things about being a horror genre writer, is that horror fans are just super enthusiastic and supportive.
So I’ve done a couple of public readings over the last few years, and they went well. Well enough that they’re getting easier each time.
Last night, I was invited to read my story “Desiderium” during the Story Hour virtual event. It’s a weekly event where two authors read for about a half an hour each. Fun stuff, and I thought that story was perfect for it. Strange, melancholy, Twilight Zone-esque, without being too gory or grim.
Of course, I was still nervous about this event. I’ve never done a reading which was recorded for distribution on the internet. Thinking about what would happen if screwed up, and then the thing was there for everyone to see forever was nerve-wracking. In the end, I did it, nervously, but I think it turned out okay. Got lots of compliments and positive feedback from the audience in the Zoom chat window, so that’s good.
So, in any case, if you have any interest in watching me read one of my stories, here it is.
The story itself was first published in “Tales of the Lost, Vol. 1” if you’d like to get a copy.