2025.40 Romantic Suspense Story Excerpt
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for November 14, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. I’m back from my travels, so I have time to both write and record! This is part of a romantic suspense story. Without looking as if she was rushing, Liz Daniels turned right, apparently to walk down the corridor to the Ladies’ Room in the Burlington Mall, just northwest of Boston, Massachusetts. She stopped just after she turned the corner and pulled off her black spring jacket. She turned it inside out. Now, the light...
info_outline
2025.39 Fantasy Short Story Excerpt
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for October 31, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is part of a fantasy short story. “What’s your offer?” Lisa asked. Then she coughed. “Tell me your offer. Celeste did a little fist-pump. Yes, her friend Lisa’s world and social mores had affected even how she, a celestial being, reacted. “You can ride on a comet.” “I can what?” Lisa asked. She shook her head. Maybe her hearing had left her. Celeste could not be offering what Lisa heard. “Ride on...
info_outline
2025.38 Spy Excerpt
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for October 24 , 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is part of an espionage short story. Susan Cabot, dripping in diamonds from her ears, neck, and wrists—and at least eighty—winked at Phoebe as Susan danced a waltz on the arm of a much younger man. Phoebe grinned, tapped the side of her nose once, and winked back. She had enlisted Susan’s help to snag an invitation to tonight’s party. And it was worth it—especially if she could catch her spy. Then, the music...
info_outline
2025.37 Romantic Suspense Opening
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for October 17, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is the opening of a romantic suspense short story. At midnight, Jackson Turner wondered what the heck he was doing, walking to the bar around the corner from Pallas on First Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was a beautiful, warm May evening. The half-moon offered enough illumination that he could see the clean, white, concrete sidewalk. Jackson had been wondering—not for the first time—how Charlie Watkins managed...
info_outline
2025.36 Portal Fantasy Short Story Opening
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for October 10, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is the opening of a (hopefully) portal fantasy short story. Alexis Bond smiled ruefully as she clomp-stepped down the wide asphalt path of the Franklin Park Zoo. Her orthopedic boot made much more noise than she expected. Oh well. Maybe no one would notice her. She suspected not, with the spectacular light show. On either side of the asphalt walkway, Alexis could see the normal green grass, but now, in the dark, the LED...
info_outline
2025.35 Solarpunk Short Story Opening
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for September 26, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is the opening of a (hopefully) solarpunk short story. The final low-pitched train whistle of the Solar Amtrak train as it left the Libby, Montana, station meant Isa Block was on her own. And thank goodness she was. She had taken her seat at the far end of the observation car on the upper level of the train. She’d already counted the length of the car as she walked down the central blue-carpeted hallway—a grand total...
info_outline
2025.34 Black Boxes on a Virtual Presentation
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for September 19, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is from the Effective Public Speaking book. What About Black Boxes On a Virtual Presentation? Many audience members leave their cameras off during your virtual presentation. There are all kinds of reasons for people to leave their cameras off, including eating a meal, dealing with small children, or being just plain tired of being on a screen all day. Instead of being perturbed, consider inviting people to turn on...
info_outline
2025.33 A Caper Opening
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for September 12, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is the opening of a caper mystery. Lexi Flint was in her element. Smack in the middle of Boston’s Financial District, in the IT department—aka the basement—of the People’s Liberty Bank, in the ridiculously small conference room, she’d created her own little spy conclave. Posing as auditors, Lexi and her boss, Zara Glick, now commandeered this teeny, twelve-by-six auditor’s conference room in the middle of the...
info_outline
2025.32 Offer More Examples
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for September 4, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is from the Effective Public Speaking book. Offer More Examples I have a rule of thumb: The less ideal this audience is for my expertise, the more I need to tell nested or linked stories. (See the link to the stories for more specifics.) With more stories, I can bring my less-than-ideal audience along with me on this presentation's journey. That way, they tend to stay with me and continue to pay attention to the content....
info_outline
2025.31 Impostor Syndrome Can Create Your Fear
Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman
The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for August 29, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress. This is from the Effective Public Speaking book. Recognize if Impostor Syndrome Creates Your Fear Some people have trouble recognizing their expertise. Instead, they worry that "everyone" will discover they are a fraud. Most of those people have deep expertise. They might not have a lot of speaking experience, but they have the expertise. Instead of allowing Impostor Syndrome to create fear or discourage you from speaking,...
info_outlineThe Transcript:
This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for June 6, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress.
This is from the Effective Public Speaking book.
Take Time to Breathe
One of the best things you can do to prepare physically is to take a little time to breathe. While I don't do deep breathing exercises, you might consider doing so. However, especially if my allergies are acting up, I'll breathe, blow my nose, and otherwise make sure everything is working.
We can't easily stay present if we can't breathe. Breathing allows me to stay physically and intellectually present. I bet it does for you, too.
You're physically ready. Now it's time for the last-minute preparations. I recommend you arrive early enough to prepare.