Invitations to celebrate a success don't come along every day, so I was delighted at the weekend to be invited to join a zoom awards ceremony for the 2026 H. G. Wells Short Story Competition on 15th November. My entry is shortlisted, and the winners will be announced at the event. I've been asked, along with my fellow shortlisted authors, to read an extract.

I say all this not just to show off, but because while it should be fun, it will also be a little nerve-wracking to read out my work to the other guests. I belong to a writers’ group and am used to reading work out to other members, but this will be reading to people that I don't know, so I've written myself a few tips prepare.  If you're facing reading your work to an audience for the first time, they might help you too. 

* Make sure that your work is printed clearly. Choose an easy to read font that is large enough to decipher without having to fiddle around finding your glasses. 

* Fasten the pages together or keep them in a folder, so you don’t have to worry about them getting lost or muddled if you drop them.

* Lower your voice. That is, deepen the tone and speak from the diaphragm rather than the throat. Think Margaret Thatcher rather than Mickey Mouse. Your words will be easier to hear without you having to shout or strain your voice.

* Take it slowly and remember to breathe. The temptation is to rush, but this increases the chances of you slurring your words or tripping over sentences. If you run out of breath in the wrong place, it makes a nonsense of punctuation. Rushing makes it harder for people to make out what you say and could result in people asking you to repeat something (not for an encore).

* Bearing in mind the previous point, it's a good idea to time yourself if you're reading an extract of your work. Check with the organisers whether there is a limit on the length allowed and don't go over it. You don't want to get cut off mid-sentence.

* Practise, but not too much. Simply read the piece through once or twice to discover places where you might stumble and change them if you can. If it’s too late for amendments, at least you’ll be ready. If you do stumble, don’t be thrown. Correct yourself and carry on.

* Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to have a drink to steady your nerves–it’ll only make your tongue to big for your mouth!

* Finally, don’t be tempted to chicken out and get someone else to read the work for you, or worse still, not go. Being invited to read your winning entry at a prize-giving is part of the prize, so enjoy being in the limelight and have a day to treasure.


If you want to find out how I get on, the awards ceremony will take place from 12 noon to 2pm on Sunday 15th November at https://hgwellscompetition.com