After more than three years writing full-time a very good friend asked me to help her run a client workshop with over 120 people in attendance, so last week was a topsy turvy one with conference calls, prep work and a day-long client facilitation event. Phrases like consensus building, communication strategy, stakeholder engagement, business model, goals and principles, and governance structure filled my head. Just like exam preparation, I studied the players involved, made notes on their issues, checked facts and figures and then reminded myself of effective facilitation techniques.
Thursday night I readied my briefcase (!!) and set the alarm for 5:45. Friday morning I was downtown by 7 and with coffee in hand organized flip charts, chairs, coloured markers and posted a page reminding participants of proper etiquette like turning off cell phones, respecting diverse viewpoints, and allowing others to be heard. As people filtered in, the chatter built like gathering thunder until just before 9 when I could hardly hear myself think. My friend approached the podium, my stomach tightened. Showtime.
Surging energy. A whirl of faces. The sharp smell of marker pen. Pages and pages of flip charts. Spilled coffee. Smiles and frowns. Slumped shoulders. Arms akimbo. Aching feet. Then before I knew it, we were done.
I used to do this kind of work for a living. And now I write historical fiction. The contrast could not be greater.
10 Responses
This sounds very interesting. Mingling with the public has a positive way of getting the creative juices flowing and may provide inspiration for your writing.
So true, Rachel. I can see a few characters in my mind who might make it into a future story 🙂
How did it feel, dipping a toe back into your old life?
It was fun, Downith. But I prefer writing!!
Very different worlds. I hope it all went well.
It did, Kirstie. Sort of like getting back on a bicycle when you haven’t ridden in a while 🙂
What a challenge. But how lucky you are to be able to live off your writing!
Hi Debbie … I don’t live off my writing. But I did save some funds from my years working as a consultant and so I think of my writing as a small business that I’m investing in. I’m expecting it to take a long time to move from being in the ‘red’ to being in the ‘black’.
Stakeholder engagement! Wow. That is my job.
Interesting, David. I’d like to hear more about what you do (other than writing historical fiction). Or did you mean stakeholder engagement in the context of writing? An interesting thought.