Getting Real with Virtual Visits

I can still remember how nervous I was doing my first Skype author visit with a school in Virginia a year ago. As a children’s author, I’d done my share of standing in front of classrooms. I’d gotten pretty good at gauging if my presentation was going too fast or too slow, if it was a bit above or below my audience’s grasp. In person, I could encourage a timid student to ask a question or help a reluctant writer finish our writing prompt. But doing it all from my home office 3,000 miles away in Seattle? I wasn’t so sure. I remember the sinking feeling in my stomach as the call came in. Would a virtual visit work as well as a real one?

I saw the students and they saw me (on a giant movie-theater screen in the cafeteria, no less!). I waved. They waved back. So far, so good. I told myself I would treat this visit as if I was actually in the cafeteria with them. After my brief talk, we did a writing prompt. The students seemed eager to step up to the microphone and share their work with me. It didn't seem to bother them that I wasn't in the room. And soon, I forgot that I wasn't there, too. After the exercise, we did a Q & A session and even played a game (I had sent stickers ahead of time as prizes). The virtual visit went so well that when we hung up, it all seemed to end too abruptly. Was it over already?

Now, I do about two or three virtual visits a month. Sure, I have tweaked things along the way. I always do a test call with the school the day before (or an hour prior) to my visit to make sure all the technical glitches are worked out. I use professional photography lighting so I am well lit for the camera. I ask the teacher to turn the camera so that I can see the students. I pepper my talk with plenty of visuals to hold the students' interest. Most important, I let my cats stay in my office (where they usually hang out while I write) for our session. Initially, I had banned them, fearing it would look unprofessional and be disruptive, but have since discovered the error of my ways. Kids love seeing your pets, especially if one of them is a complete ham and loves tossing her toy mouse behind you while you speak. Her name is Bernadette.

So the answer to my original question is ‘yes.’ Yes, virtual visits do work as well as real ones. Maybe better. Why? Mainly because of Bernadette. My mischievous calico is a perfect example of the beauty of online visits. They give students the rare opportunity to peer into a writer’s world. I hope I am showing them how fun and wonderful and, yes, even ordinary, it is.

I would love to have a virtual visit with your class, group, or book club, too. You can find out more and contact me at my website, www.truditrueit.com.