🗣 How to Talk About Your Book Without Feeling Awkward or Salesy

Katrina De Milano
6 дек. 2025 г.
2 мин. чтения

Because sharing your work shouldn’t feel like selling your soul

For many writers, the hardest part isn’t finishing the book.

It’s talking about it afterward.

You know it matters to you.

You poured your time, your voice, your late nights into it.

But now, when someone asks, “What’s it about?” — you freeze.

You don’t want to brag.

You don’t want to sound rehearsed.

You definitely don’t want to come off like you’re pitching them something.

So how do you talk about your book honestly — without feeling fake, pushy, or exhausted?

❤️ 1. Talk about what the book means to you, not what it should mean to them

You don’t have to convince anyone.

You don’t need a “hook” every time you mention your work.

Instead, try this:

“It’s a story I started when I was trying to understand grief.” “It’s about identity, but told through fantasy — because that’s how I process the real stuff.” “I wrote it for the version of me who didn’t have this kind of story growing up.”

People connect to emotion, not sales language.

Lead with heart. The rest follows.

🧭 2. Find a few honest sentences — and practice saying them aloud

If you dread the “what’s your book about” question, you’re not alone.

But fumbling through it every time only adds stress.

Here’s a tip: write out three versions of your answer:

One sentence (for casual moments)
Three sentences (for curious listeners)
A short paragraph (for bios, interviews, your website)

Keep them true to your voice.

Practice them aloud — not to sound polished, but to feel comfortable in your own skin.

🪞 3. Remember: talking about your book is part of your voice, too

Writing a story is one kind of bravery.

Speaking about it is another.

When you share the story behind the story — why it mattered, how it changed you, who it’s for — you’re still being a writer.

You’re just doing it out loud.

This isn’t about selling.

It’s about being visible in your own truth.

🌱 4. Let connection guide you — not conversion

Not every conversation needs to lead to a sale.

Not every post needs a call-to-action.

Instead, ask:

Who might need to hear this today?
What part of this book still feels alive in me?
What would I say to one reader, not a crowd?

Marketing can be an act of generosity — if you let it come from a place of sharing, not shouting.

💬 Your Turn

Have you ever struggled to talk about your work without shrinking or selling?

What helps you feel grounded and honest when you speak about your stories?

Let’s talk about quiet self-promotion — and how it can feel like self-expression instead.