I have attended hundreds of readings and literary events, both as an observer and as a coordinator. I absolutely love attending readers, and every event has been fruitful in its own way. Yet, there is one thing that happens more often than it should. I’m talking, of course, about the seven most dreaded words in the publishing industry: “I have a comment and a question.”
Let me rewind a little and set the stage, just in case you’ve been lucky enough never to experience this phenomenon. The typical format for an author event includes a reading from the author’s work, followed by a panel discussion or a conversation with an interviewer. At the end, the author usually answers a few questions from the audience. And nine out of 10 times, at least one person will raise their hand and begin their inquiry with the following words: “I have a comment and a question.”
Here’s the thing: when I attend a reading, I’m there to listen to the author speak. Don’t get me wrong, I love connecting with other book-lovers. But, there’s plenty of time to do that before and after the main event. During the event, I want to hear what the author has to say, not what you have to say.
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