Regular readers of this blog will already think/know I’m weird…
But now be prepared to consider me even stranger.
Although! I hope this story, and a couple of experiences from my week, will provide a powerful insight into the golden secrets of success in life.
In two months’ time, I’ll be teaching novel writing, along with public speaking for authors, at a wonderful writing festival in Winchester.
It’s the first in three years, because of the evil intervention of our old enemy Covid, and I can’t wait.
Life is returning at last, and it’s blooming wonderful to say the least.
Anyway, back to the point:
If you were me, and you were teaching a couple of two hour courses in two months’ time, when would you start preparing them?
A few weeks before? The week before? A few days before? The night before, even?!
Want to know what I’ve done?
I've outlined, prepared, and written the courses this week.
Yes, that’s two months in advance. Two whole months.
Here's the evidence, in the picture!
And before you say anything rude, two months ahead is actually reasonably late for me.
The first time I ever taught an extended course, which was admittedly more than 10 years ago, I started preparing nine months in advance.
However strange you might find it, the point was:
The course, which was at the lovely Swanwick Writers Summer School, went really well…
It gave me a beautiful insight into how much I loved teaching…
That I had a reasonable talent for it…
The people greatly appreciated me sharing my experience…
And all that has set me off on so many joyous adventures since.
The lesson of Swanwick has stayed with me, and now I always prepare a long way in advance for anything:
As long as possible, in fact.
Because that way I know I’ll get the best results, both for me and - most importantly - anyone I’m working with.
Don’t get me wrong: the Winchester courses will still change.
I shall polish and preen, edit and amend, practice and practice and practice some more, until they're as good as they can be…
And that goes right up to the day of delivery.
Usually, I'll still be changing little details just minutes before we start.
As for those two examples from this week of the golden secrets of success in action:
I had the pleasure of teaching how to pitch for commissions at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, with their film and video students.
The task after the teaching was to produce a five minute pitch for a 90 second video to feature on social media, at festivals, in cinemas etc:
And I’m pleased to say the students did brilliantly.
Why was that?
Because they all said they had worked so hard, and practised and prepared so much.
On the same day, I also taught advanced business communication skills at the University of Cambridge, above, and had a delightful moment as I was leaving.
A few of the group were kind enough to tell me how much they had enjoyed the lecture, and how much they had learned.
Why did it work so well, they asked.
You won’t be surprised by my answer:
- Hard work, practice and preparation
The golden secrets of success.