You don’t have to be shy to benefit from this book. It’s helpful to me and I’m not shy, but I’ve been struggling with whether or not I should write a book as I have a hard time interacting with groups because I’m hard of hearing. Though I’m a decent lip reader, a study says lip readers catch only an average of 33 percent of what’s said.
You could be an “I” in the Myers-Briggs, which means a person who is an introvert. This doesn’t necessarily mean “shy.” It means your energy drains when you’re in group situations while extroverts bathe in the energy.
Writing, as you know, is a lonely job. Those who love it without the group situation obviously prefer the solitude of working alone. Those same people may not be comfortable around crowds, much less speaking in front of one! Public speaking is one of the top fears.
Clark offers ideas on ways to promote writing without facing a large crowd. It’s difficult to completely avoid group situations, so she provides tips on how to handle it and make the most of it. She also encourages the reader to be comfortable with shyness and not feel a writing career is doomed because of the inability to schmooze.
Every shy writer has a different comfort level. The advice covers a variety of suggestions to help the very shy to the somewhat shy. Clark also lends help in taking the shy writer a little out of the comfort zone to do more. Everyone is uncomfortable when trying something for the first time and taking small steps pushes a person to try something new. The book has many suggestions for taking those steps.
The book’s theme is that writing is not just for super minglers. Any writer belonging to the “I” group can use the book as a tool to grow a writing career rather than shrink from it.
Title: The Shy Writer: An Introvert’s Guide to Writing Success
Author: C. Hope Clarke
Publisher: Booklocker.com
ISBN: 1929154178
Date: September 2004
Format: Paperback
Pages: 180
Cover Price: USD: $14.95 Amazon: $14.95
