Remember, You’re the Expert

Everyone has a different way of presenting themselves to the media whether your goal is to be authoritative or entertaining. The main thing to keep in mind is to present…

Everyone has a different way of presenting themselves to the media whether your goal is to be authoritative or entertaining. The main thing to keep in mind is to present yourself as an expert on your subject, whether you think you are or not. To be an expert, you don't have to be the world's most knowlegeable person about something... you simply need to know what you're talking about. If you research and write about a subject, stay up to date with the latest news regarding your topic and present yourself in a knowledgable way, then that makes you an expert.

Bottom line: you have to believe that you're an expert before the media or your audience will, so have faith in what you know and present yourself with an authoritative voice. 

Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).