Iona Winter

Now here’s a topic bound to generate some discussion – public speaking.

For most of us it’s something to be avoided at all costs. Bad enough being a writer, but asking us to speak, to an audience, who might not like what we have to say…come on! Do the askers not know that it might be seen as a form of torture (I use that term loosely and referring to an internal level of agitation).

Words are powerful aren’t they? So easily taken out of context – so easily thrown away – so easy to say and not able to be returned inside the fluffiness of our mouths – so difficult to say to someone we love, when we don’t know what to say, or are too scared to say anything, something or nothing. It’s no wonder we struggle as writers to make sense of the world, and then have to reflect it IN WORDS. I can spend hours agonising over a single paragraph sometimes – true fact. 

Over the weekend I attended a hui, where we discussed (at length) what it means to be a Māori artist. It was a wonderful time, where I rubbed shoulders and shared kai with some incredibly passionate and talented people – most of whom create visual art or curate it, but nonetheless I was inspired (many times) and wrote things down (because that’s what I do and I’d warned everyone that I would be doing so, thereby avoiding any nasty shocks or suspicion).

Afterwards, I was surprised at how some people responded to me (in deeply connected ways). I’d said very little and to be honest, felt like a newbie in an art class with no talent to even put paint on a canvas. But I was welcomed into the fold and entered most willingly. And then I was asked to speak (some more) next weekend at a Pecha Kucha presentation. Really? Me? What’s a Pecha Kucha? Potentially a bloody steep learning curve!

OK, so I’m going to do it. Speak in public to a group of people who know nothing about me, and I’ll be sharing something of who I am with just 20 images and 20 seconds spoken to each image – that’s a grand total of about 6 minutes 40 seconds. I mean it’s not like it’s an hour or anything and the pictures might be a distraction and it’s not like I have to tell my whole life story and hopefully I won’t mess it up…yeah, so I’m a wee bit anxious eh? CLEARLY.

To bolster my confidence, I’m telling myself that I have to live life to the fullest, take some risks, be more visible and less afraid. Yeah…AND BREATHE! Besides, it’ll be good practice for any future book signings…mmhmm…you keep telling yourself that lady and you’ll do it.