Warning: Some Violence and Much Strong Language.SHE WROTE: Apologies to Space Coast Writers
I just did something I've only done once before in my life: I blew a speech. Completely.
I didn't sleep last night, but then I gave an hour talk on revising, and I kept thinking, "I sound like I'm shrieking, am I shrieking?" and then we went into lunch and I could feel any brains I had seeping out my ears. I was sitting with lovely people and Bob, and I kept losing focus. Everybody sounded like they were underwater.
But that was okay because I always get a surge when I get up to speak, and I had all my notes, and it was a good speech, it said important things. But when I got up there, my notes didn't make sense. The words didn't make sense. I kept getting lost, and I knew there was important stuff in there, but it was like gibberish. Nightmare time.
People were very nice, but it was a truly terrible keynote. I think I went off the rails completely at the end.
So my apologies to the Space Coast Writers, who now think I'm a drug addict because the keynote was so bizarre.
And now I'm taking a nap so I don't start speaking in tongues at the booksigning. Bob can blog the rest of this conference. I've lost it completely.
Oh, and anybody who had window envy in Hilton Head, here's my window in Cocoa Beach:
I think Moot improves the view, but then I'm biased.
The clams would have improved it, too.
14 Comments:
Oh, Jenny, I'm sure that it wasn't that bad. Anyway, whatever actually happened you really don't sound very well. Hope you feel better soon.
Order some hot chocolate and have a nice nap. Your fans will love you- tongues, drug abuse and all. :P
I hate public speaking.
Maybe you've been training so hard you've forgotten how to just let everything flow.
I think this is just bad karma evening the score because you didn't buy Clams Playing Poker. It was meant to be, but since you ignored the fates, bang! I think you should, therefore, blame it on Bob.
Oh sweetie - you always think you sound worse than you really do. And that's confusing to me, because the first thing you always say is that you don't remember a thing about what you said. So obviously you're making it up. (And being a fiction writer, what are the odds?) I'm sure you were brilliant.
Don't let Jenny pull your chain. She did fine at the Keynote address. The revising session was great, when she slowed down enough for us Southerners to understand her (same with Bob). SLOW DOWN...sigh...I can't write that fast.
And it's official...I am a real GEEK around Jenny. She is just too nice to hide from me. But some other authors were pretty awed by her too, so I didn't feel so bad!
Had a blast with both of them.
Advise from a retired nurse: GET SOME SLEEP. Ya'll have the schedule from h*ll this year.
Arkansas Cherry
Jenny! You did NOT blow the keynote. I was there. I've heard you speak before, too, and I have lots of objectivity to make this assessment of the talk. Maybe you're overtired and that's why you thought you did a horrible job, but you DID NOT!!
Karen Kendall is here with me. She is pounding her fist on the nightstand and telling me to make sure I add her name to this comment and tell you that she also says that you did not blow it! She says it was a great speech. Warm, uplifting and genuine. (And that's not why she refused to pass the salt.)
It was a great speech. We were fortunate to hear you give it.
By the way, for all of the rest of you reading this, Karen and I did the "Bobster Track" of workshops which means we attended all of Bob's presentations. He, too, is abso-freaking-lutely amazing.
Jenny, you are just tired. From the comments given you did a great job. I can't wait to hear you speak next month in Columbia, S.C.
Get some rest. Pamper yourself, you deserve it.
OMG - The "Bobster Track" You have just started a new phrase...I'm so sure he'll just love it! *g*
I only did the "three-fourths Bobster" I went to 2 other speakers while he was presenting...*gasp* I know, I know...how could I two-time him with other presenters? Life is full of tough decisions. *g*
Take care, get some rest, and don't be so hard on yourself, Jenny. (((hugs)))
Jenny,
As a member of the Board of the Space Coast Writers' Guild, I would like to firmly state that you gave a wonderful keynote address at our conference. Those who were privileged to hear you recognized that they were exactly that, privileged. From where I was sitting I was able to watch faces in the audience, and I tell you, those people were impressed! Didn't you notice them scrambling for their notepads, eager to record the truths you shared? You must not have seen the way people nodded in agreement or caught the 'Aha!' looks when parts of your speech resonnated with them. You must not have realized how thrilled we were that a writer and speaker of your caliber took the time to attend our little conference.
And for that, I apologize. Because it was our job to let you know how much we enjoyed seeing and hearing you, and how much we hope you'll come back and see us again.
(And next time, we'll get you a better room. I promise.)
>>And it's official...I am a real GEEK around Jenny<<
LOL, that describes me to a T! When Jenny was at Moonlight and Magnolias a couple of years ago, my roommate said that my state of tongue-tied giddiness gave her some idea of what I must have been like in junior high when I had my first crush. Bob was going to be one of our M&M speakers this past year and while that didn't pan out, I sincerely hope he'll get to do some workshops for us in the future!
(And I can't believe any speech by Jenny was bad--especially given Karen Kendall's testimony. She's too sweet to lie!)
Tanya
Jenny,
I thought your talk was wonderful and I even took notes on it so if it wasn't coherent, that says something about my brain then. Tell you what...why don't you come back next year and have a do-over? Joyce
I suspect Jenny Crusie on a bad "brain full" day is better than most on a brilliant day.
Can't wait to see you guys in Oz next year - brain full or not.
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