Author classroom reading
at a request of a parent
10 tips on how to acquire and conduct a successful school visit.
This posting is intended to the would-be successful children’s author who is trying to make it big in the wonderful world of self-published children’s books. It’s another form of promotion for you as a serious author. Author school visits will be a milestone in your self-published journey towards advancement and progress. Continuous promotion guarantees your presence and exposure.
An hour of impeccable organization will take the frustration out of hours of agony for everyone. I have to stress on the importance of
organization and the attention to detail.
A successful school visit entails three important elements namely:
- The request for a presentation
- The meticulous preparation leading up to the successful presentation
- The actual presentation and thereafter
1. Contacting the school
– Call or e-mail the individual school to set up a meeting date. You have to contact each and every school, one school at a time.
– Call ahead and introduce yourself and ask who is in charge of author visits.
– It might be the librarian, principal or someone in the parent council.
– Request for a school visit and be willing to donate a book to the school library. Be polite and humble.
– Sometimes teachers request for individual classroom visits which can work to a self-publishers advantage.
2. Confirm everything, don’t assume anything or leave it to the common sense of someone else.
– Once the date is confirmed engage with the person in charge and start asking questions.
– How much time will be allocated for your presentation?
– Where is the presentation held?
– Who is the audience – which grades will be attending, will there be parents?
– How many people will attend?
– Inform the person in charge of all the things you’ll need.
– How and when the payment should be made.
– If a cheque has to be cut to your company’s name inform the person in charge.
– Print out an invoice and deliver it personally to the person in charge of making payments.
– Are pictures and video of the presentation permissible?
– Is the school allowing book sales?
– Is the school going to make a bulk purchase of the books at a discount and resell them to their students at a later date?
3. Get your Security Clearance
– If you do not have one already, it’s time to apply for one at your regional police service.
– Take the original copy with you to all school visits.
– Make a copy yourself and give the copy away if anyone at the school requests for it.
A few years ago I made the mistake of parting with my original Security Clearance Certificate, never to get it back again.
– I had to apply for a new one at the cost of $15.
4. Preparing the teacher/s to inform the students of an author visit.
– Teachers are not authors therefore it’s the authors’ job to get the teacher ready for the presentation.
– Sad to say that if you are not Robert Munsch, Jan Brett or have a few awards under your belt,
you have to work very hard at introducing yourself.
– You have to start somewhere and this is a good start.
– Get the names and e-mail of the teachers and send them the link to the about the author on your website.
– I’ve only met a handful of very organized teachers who were enthusiastic with author visits.
– Be in charge and e-mail the teachers a few days before, informing them to prepare the students
about the author and the name of the book that will be read.
– To tell the students to prepare questions for the author.
– That signed copies of the book can be purchased from the author.
– Send the link of the website to the teacher.
5. Honorariums and Paying the Author
– Inform the person in charge why you are charging a fee for your presentation. Something along the lines of — “The author brings his or her gift as a self-published children’s book writer, experience, talents and skills to the presentation. Her presentation adds to the school curriculum in a positive way. The author connects with the children inspiring them to perhaps someday become successful authors. If you can do it, they can do it too.”
– They charge for their time and service for a well-put together presentation which will leave a lasting effect in the child’s development.
– As a self-published children’s author I do free author visits to schools in my hometown.
– I request or mention an honorarium if I feel the school can provide one.
– Free author visits do come with their benefits so do not decline a free school reading or visit.
– You are exposed to an audience who will go out there and do some promotion for you in years to come.
6. Make a list of things to request
– Presentation room depending on the audience size
– Microphone depending on the size of the audience
– Tables and chairs
– WIFI access
– Smartboard
– Where can you park?
– Computer access
7. Make a list of all the things to take with you
– Bookmarks
– Business cards and postcards even though I rarely hand them out these days due to my website.
– Books
– Coloring Sheets
– Notebook
– If you are holding a workshop gather all the supplies needed.
– Lunch and drinks
8. Practice your presentation in front of the mirror.
– You want to give a perfect presentation and leave a lasting impression.
– You want to leave the schoolyard leaving fulfilled and accomplished.
– Make a list of all the things you’ll be taking with you and check it twice.
– Enter the school’s address into to GPS the day before and get a head start.
– Arrive early to familiarize with the surrounding.
9. Be proactive
– Contact the school or person in charge a week before the presentation to remind them of the author visit.
– E-mail or call back again the day before the visit. Schools are busy and unorganized people tend to forget. It’s your job to be in control.
– Post the author reading event on twitter and on your website.
– However, once in a while you will come to meet a highly organized individual and when you do
you will recognize this person for their effectiveness.
– If this happens leave it in their capable hands to assist you.
10. Following the presentation
– Send a thank you note to the school.
– Ask the teachers who were present to write a review of the presentation on your website.
Most wouldn’t do it and will ignore your request. But it’s your job to ask anyway.
On the other hand, parents who you meet might be eager to leave a reply.
– Ask teachers and parents to leave an honest review on Facebook.
– I’ve had parents who have contacted me for school visits, which was great.
– Post the highlights of the author visit session on your website.
To teachers and educators looking for an author visit please check out my school services on reading and workshop in the link below.
https://gawrimanecuta.com/mirwag-inc-services/school-visits/
Please contact me personally if you have any question at all.
Thank you.
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