You agreed to a live event. You are now Googling 'fake illness convincing enough to cancel.'
The misdiagnosisThe misdiagnosis is that you need to be an extrovert.
The real diagnosisYou do not. The best author events I have ever attended were quiet, specific, and small. The introvert plays a different room and wins it differently.
The Introvert Event
| Element | Standard | Introvert |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 60 min | 30 min |
| Format | Talk + Q&A | Reading + structured Q&A |
| Q&A | Open | Submitted in advance |
| Mingle | Open | Signing table, no obligation |
| Recovery | None planned | Walk after, alone |
Three Event Survival Rules
- Eat protein before. Not after.
- Bring water and a script of your opening.
- Plan an exit. Use it.
You are not required to perform extroversion. You are required to be present, specific, and on time.
Most readers prefer the quieter author. They came for the book.
The dare (not assignment)At your next event, request submitted Q&A. Build a 30-minute version of your standard. Plan the walk after.
Image promptA small podium with a single microphone, audience seats blurred. Painterly. Dark blue and sea-green. No people.
— The Book Maven
