Public Speaking Workshop - Writing the Talk Proposal and Beyond

Do you want to start giving talks at conferences or meet ups but aren’t sure where to start? This session will help you get things rolling. We’ll cover what makes a good conference talk, how to write a quality talk proposal and brainstorm topic ideas for what your next talk (or first talk!) could be. In this two-hour session we’ll cover:

• Finding a topic that fits you and your interest
• How to write your proposal to fit your audience
• Finding themes and narrative for your talk
• How to write a proposal to submit to Calls for Proposals (CfPs) and calls for speakers
• Where to submit your proposal (Hint: Vermont Code Camp!)
• Things beyond CfPs that can help you land speaking opportunities
• And if we have time we'll talk a little bit about preparing, practicing, and delivering your presentation!

Note: This session will be focused topics and techniques for web conferences in particular.

After the workshop there will be ample time for Q&A! Bring your questions and get help brainstorming your ideas with the group.

Speaker:
Maureen McElaney is a developer advocate at IBM Codait (Center for Open-Source Data and AI Technologies). She is a co-organizer for Vermont Code Camp and has served as a conference proposal judge for Burlington Ruby, UX Burlington, Vermont Code Camp, and Hackference (in Birmingham). She took her first steps in speaking at meetups five years ago and now gets invited to speak at web design conferences around the country. She founded Girl Develop It Burlington in 2013 and is passionate about encouraging diversity in tech.