Episode 274 - Elevating Your Presence with Panel Appearances with Joanne McLaughlin
February 11, 2025
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Joanne McLaughlin discusses ELEVATING YOUR PRESENCE WITH PANEL APPEARANCES, including participating in panels as a way to build confidence, network, and promote one's work. We discuss the importance of contributing meaningfully during panels and the benefits of both genre-specific and non-genre-specific conferences, and we touch on the roles of moderators, the structure of panels, and how varied experiences can enhance panel discussions.
Joanne McLaughlin’s novels include CHASING ASHES, a crime thriller, and NEVER BEFORE NOON, NEVER UNTIL NOW, and NEVER MORE HUMAN, a darkly romantic vampire trilogy. A POETIC PUZZLE, a romantic mystery, launches in early 2025. Her latest short fiction appears in RUTH AND ANN’S GUIDE TO TIME TRAVEL. An editor of prize-winning news and features for newspapers and public media, Joanne also is a former VP of a musicians-management firm. She lives in Philadelphia, where she indulges her love of design and walking.
Joanne McLaughlin’s novels include CHASING ASHES, a crime thriller, and NEVER BEFORE NOON, NEVER UNTIL NOW, and NEVER MORE HUMAN, a darkly romantic vampire trilogy. A POETIC PUZZLE, a romantic mystery, launches in early 2025. Her latest short fiction appears in RUTH AND ANN’S GUIDE TO TIME TRAVEL. An editor of prize-winning news and features for newspapers and public media, Joanne also is a former VP of a musicians-management firm. She lives in Philadelphia, where she indulges her love of design and walking.
Episode Links
https://joannemclaughlin.net/
https://www.facebook.com/joannemclaugh
https://www.instagram.com/joannemclaugh
https://x.com/joannemclaugh
https://bsky.app/profile/joannemclaughlin.bsky.social
https://www.facebook.com/joannemclaugh
https://www.instagram.com/joannemclaugh
https://x.com/joannemclaugh
https://bsky.app/profile/joannemclaughlin.bsky.social
Summary
This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Joanne McLaughlin about the journey of gaining confidence as an author and the benefits of participating in panel discussions at conferences. Joanne shares her experiences transitioning from being a behind-the-scenes editor and public relations instructor to stepping into the spotlight as an author on panels.
Joanne opens up about her hiatus from writing, describing how she re-entered the writing community after a challenging period. She candidly discusses the doubts she faced when she first thought of joining panels at conferences. Despite these initial hesitations, Joanne decided to engage actively in conference panels, which played a significant role in rebuilding her confidence. She emphasizes, "What you have to remember is that everybody is looking for different voices and new stories, and every author has a unique perspective to share."
One of the critical aspects Joanne highlights is the idea that, regardless of your level of experience, "You're an expert in who you are," making it important to impart your unique experiences and insights during discussions. This mindset has helped her in scenarios where she found herself alongside highly acclaimed authors.
The conversation also acknowledges the challenge of imposter syndrome, especially when participating in panels with more experienced authors. Joanne shares, "You can't help but feel like an imposter," but stresses the importance of overcoming this feeling by focusing on the unique contributions one can make.
Matty and Joanne also explore how attending or participating in panels can lead to unexpected and exciting opportunities. Joanne recounts an experience where her involvement on a panel led an audience member to share enthusiasm for her work with new potential readers.
The episode touches on the logistical aspects and etiquette of panels, including the benefit of cross-genre discussions that can lead to new insights. Joanne further emphasizes the benefits of engaging in panels as both a learning opportunity and a chance to network. She explains how these interactions can organically lead to other opportunities within the community.
Summing up their conversation, Matty reflects on the idea of writing a "script for yourself" to overcome personal barriers and doubts—a concept well-suited to fiction writers who craft characters for their stories.
In concluding the episode, Joanne reiterates, "You've got nothing to lose," encouraging authors to seize opportunities, challenge themselves, and embrace the value of networking through panels and conferences. Matty agrees, highlighting the importance of such experiences in an author's publishing journey.
Joanne opens up about her hiatus from writing, describing how she re-entered the writing community after a challenging period. She candidly discusses the doubts she faced when she first thought of joining panels at conferences. Despite these initial hesitations, Joanne decided to engage actively in conference panels, which played a significant role in rebuilding her confidence. She emphasizes, "What you have to remember is that everybody is looking for different voices and new stories, and every author has a unique perspective to share."
One of the critical aspects Joanne highlights is the idea that, regardless of your level of experience, "You're an expert in who you are," making it important to impart your unique experiences and insights during discussions. This mindset has helped her in scenarios where she found herself alongside highly acclaimed authors.
The conversation also acknowledges the challenge of imposter syndrome, especially when participating in panels with more experienced authors. Joanne shares, "You can't help but feel like an imposter," but stresses the importance of overcoming this feeling by focusing on the unique contributions one can make.
Matty and Joanne also explore how attending or participating in panels can lead to unexpected and exciting opportunities. Joanne recounts an experience where her involvement on a panel led an audience member to share enthusiasm for her work with new potential readers.
The episode touches on the logistical aspects and etiquette of panels, including the benefit of cross-genre discussions that can lead to new insights. Joanne further emphasizes the benefits of engaging in panels as both a learning opportunity and a chance to network. She explains how these interactions can organically lead to other opportunities within the community.
Summing up their conversation, Matty reflects on the idea of writing a "script for yourself" to overcome personal barriers and doubts—a concept well-suited to fiction writers who craft characters for their stories.
In concluding the episode, Joanne reiterates, "You've got nothing to lose," encouraging authors to seize opportunities, challenge themselves, and embrace the value of networking through panels and conferences. Matty agrees, highlighting the importance of such experiences in an author's publishing journey.
