by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Speaking Gigs, Ted Talks, TEDx List
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
TED or TEDx Talks are an invaluable resource for everyone, including authors. Whether you’re an aspiring author, early on in your career, or have been on the New York Times Best Seller list multiple times, you can definitely learn something from them. Since there are countless TEDx Talks out there, I’ve put together this list of the top talks for authors. No matter what your goals are as an author, they’re sure to motivate, inspire, intrigue, and educate you in some way shape or form.
I’ve known Steve Harrison for 25+ years. He is a leading book marketing and book publishing expert whose company helped launch a number of bestselling books including Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Chicken Soup for the Soul. In his TEDx talk, you’ll learn a four-step method that will allow you to sell your book more effectively. All types of people, therapists, doctors, business owners, and authors reach out to him for advice on how to take their ventures to the next level.
Screenwriter Andrew Stanton and the face behind Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc, Finding Nemo, and many others shares all the essential elements needed for a great story. He explains that storytelling is a lot like joke telling because you have to know your punchline. Stanton reinforces the fact that whatever you write should connect with others emotionally. Give them a reason to care.
Regardless of the genre, creativity is key to a successful book. That’s where this quick, five-minute TED talk by Marily Oppezzo, a behavioral and learning scientist comes in. According to Oppezzo, a simple walk can be all it takes to get your creative juices flowing. It might help you out the next time you get stuck during your next brainstorm.
Mattie Bamman is a culinary writer and editor who came up with this TED talk to explain why writer’s block happens and what you can do to overcome it. She suggests that it’s the words themselves that often make writing a challenge. That’s why you should view words as objects, estimate how many you need, and create a blueprint that will help you complete the books.
Author of six bestselling books and CEO of Self Publishing School, Chandler Bolt gave a TED talk called “How To Write A Book In A Weekend: Serve Humanity By Writing A Book.” It revolves around his belief that the best way to serve humanity is to write a book. Bolt also dives into what keeps most people from getting started and how you can get your rough draft done in just one weekend.
The Bottom Line: TED’s mission is “ideas worth spreading,” and I believe these TED and TEDx Talks firmly live up to it. Check them out. You won’t be disappointed!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, List of Speaking Opportunities, Speaker Services, Speaking Gigs, Ted Talks, TEDx List
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
A TEDx talk is another arrow in the quiver for authors to propel their book… or to get a book deal.
Scott Lorenz, Book Publicist
Learn about how a TEDx Talk can help you make it big as an author.
Technology, Entertainment, and Design or TED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading ideas in the form of short yet powerful talks. Since its inception in 1984, its talks have covered a plethora of topics such as science, art, business, global issues, and education.
TEDx is a program of self-organized events that brings people together to enjoy a TED-like experience. To sign up for and give a TEDx talk, you must obtain a TED license that states you have agreed to adhere to certain guidelines like no selling, religious proselytizing, or speaking about politics.
While TED talks take a global approach to a topic and must be hosted by experts, TEDx talks focus on a local community and can be organized by just about anyone. Believe it or not, there are many authors that have given TEDx talks and landed book deals as a result.
For example, Celeste Headlee spoke at TEDxCreativeCoast on “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation.” Her talk was viewed more than 14 million times and she was eventually contacted by an agent who helped her publish her book, “We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter.”
In addition, Mac Barnett, award-winning author of children’s books like “I Love You Like a Pig” and “Places to Be” spoke at TEDxSonomaCounty on “Why a Good Book is a Secret Door.”
If you’re interested in taking your career and book to the next level, getting involved in a TEDx talk may be a great idea. Here are dozens of TEDx talks around the country that you can apply to as an author.
1. TEDxWilmington: https://www.tedxwilmington.com/
2. TEDxPortland: https://www.tedxportland.com/
3. TEDxBoulder: https://tedxboulder.com/
4. TEDxMidAtlantic: https://tedxmidatlantic.com/
5. TEDxMileHigh: https://www.tedxmilehigh.com/
6. TEDxSanAntonio: https://tedxsanantonio.com/
7. TEDxFargo: https://tedxfargo.com/
8. TEDxCharlottesville: https://tedxcharlottesville.com/
9. TEDxUCLA: https://tedx.ucla.edu/
10. TEDxOshkosh: https://www.tedxoshkosh.com/
11. TEDxNashville: https://tedxnashville.com/
12. TEDx ManhattanBeach: https://tedxmanhattanbeach.org/
13. TEDxJacksonHole: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/22246
14. TEDxRapidCity: https://www.tedxrapidcity.com/
15. TEDxDetroit: https://www.tedxdetroit.com/
16. TEDxSonomaCounty: https://www.tedxsonomacounty.com/
17. TEDxCreativeCoast: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/14007
18. TEDxCharleston – https://tedxcharleston.org/
19. TEDxElPaso – https://www.tedxelpaso.com/
20. TEDxMolalla – https://tedxmolalla.com/
21. TEDxNatick – https://www.tedxnatick.org/
22. TEDxYouthWilmington – https://tedxwilmington.net/
23. TEDxYouthSanAntonio – https://tedxsanantonio.com/youth/
24. TEDx Tullahoma – https://tedxtullahoma.com/
25. TEDxNaperville – https://tedxnaperville.com/
26. TEDxStLouis – https://tedxsaintlouis.org/
27. TEDxHickory – https://www.tedxhickory.com/
28. TEDxWilmette – https://www.tedxwilmette.com/
29. TEDxSantaBarbara – https://tedxsantabarbara.com/
30. TEDxLaJolla – http://www.tedxlajolla.com/
31. TEDxCincinnati – https://www.tedxcincinnati.com/
32. TEDxWilmington – https://www.tedxwilmington.com/
33. TEDxJacksonville – https://tedxjacksonville.com/
34. TEDxMiami – https://www.tedxmiami.com/
35. TEDxPortsmouth – https://tedxportsmouth.com/
36. TEDxAtlanta – https://www.tedxatlanta.com/
37. TEDxBayonne – https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/53028
38. TEDxAlisoViejo – https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/11098
39. TEDxBocaRaton – https://tedxbocaraton.com/
40. TEDxProvidence – https://www.tedxprovidence.com/
41. TEDxSavannah – https://tedxsavannah.com/
42. TEDxKeyBiscayne – https://tedxkeybiscayne.com/
43. TEDxSugarLand – https://www.tedxsugarland.org/
44. TEDxGoshen – https://www.tedxgoshen.com/
45. TEDxAsheville – https://tedxasheville.com/
46. TEDxSanDiego – https://www.tedxsandiego.com/
47. TEDxPittsburgh – https://www.tedxpittsburgh.org/
48. TEDxRockville – http://www.tedxrockville.org/
49. TEDxMinneapolis – https://www.tedxminneapolis.com/
50. TEDxInglewood – https://tedxinglewoodca.com/
51. TEDxRochester – https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/53151
52. TEDxMarin – https://tedxmarin.org/
53. TEDxWarrenton – https://www.tedxwarrenton.com/
54. TEDxSaltLakeCity – https://www.tedxsaltlakecity.com/
55. TEDxDavenport – https://www.tedxdavenport.com/
56. TEDxOneonta – https://www.tedxoneonta.com/
57. TEDxHuntingtonBeach – https://www.tedxhuntingtonbeach.com/
Want a global list of TEDx events? Check out this interactive world map of TEDx talks: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events
If you do decide to participate in a TEDx talk, it’s important to listen and watch various talks so that you can get a feel for what they are like and what the audience expects to see. “TEDx presentations are an art form,” says Jess Todtfeld former TV producer for NBC, ABC and FOX-TV. “You have to deliver on the theme of the event and speak without notes. I help authors and experts fine-tune their talks to fit the TEDx style so they can crush the talk,” says Todtfeld.
Contact Jess at: https://www.successinmedia.com/ted-talk-training/
Also, when speaking in a TEDx talk, focus on one idea worth spreading, create a hook that grabs the audience’s attention and sparks their curiosity, and make sure you are clear and conversational. In addition, keep in mind that some TEDx talks require video applications or in-person auditions.
The Bottom Line: A TEDx talk can be a great opportunity to get yourself noticed as an author. It may be just what you need to land the book deal you’ve always wanted.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
