A further note.....
To further the above[sorry for the double post], let me add. I won the statewide competition in the West Virginia Young Writers' Competition this year, and let's say well. I was excited and then I learned that I had to read my short story to the auditorium at the University in Charleston on May 16. Well, I'll bet there were at least 600-800 people sitting in there [maybe a 1000...?]. It was large and every seat filled, though. And well, when I got up there, I was really so much better. I talked nice and slow and it was totally a great experience for me. I only knew two people there, my mum and sis. My mum even said that I had a woman either in tears or almost in tears. [To read the story visit this link:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/59084566/ .] So, that day was great. And then I guess the energy and confidence I got from that day blew into May 25....
My graduation date. And as I was Salutatorian, I had to make a speech. And well, as I am a writer... it was about 2 1/2 pages long. And I spoke clearly. Our ceremony was held in our gymnasium, which I know sits at least 2000 people, and seeing as my class was in chairs on the floor of it, and guests in the benches and along the floor of the benches, there were a good 300 more than that to boot. So nearly 2300 people to talk to, a eighth of which I probably actually knew, and I had to make a speech. Surprisingly, it was the most relaxed I'd ever been in my life. So yeah, I think it helps when you have a mixed audience when you're doing something live. Many of my teachers and friends of my mum approached her and told her I did a wonderful job, writing and delivering it. One person thought my mum had written it or at least helped me, but as she told this person that I would not even let her read it let alone help with it, the person was surprised. I was so proud when my mum told me all these things.
It's nice to get praise, and I think it helps build confidence in yourself when you go on to another project. The shy factor recedes after a while in something you do for a while. In speechmaking and in performing live I think I have mastered myself. But when I go on to something new, like film acting, it will be new, so the shy factor will loom large once more. And it'll be the fact of breaking past that with confidence.
So, never lose confidence, believe in yourself, and never give up on your dreams because you think you're too shy ... because one day, it'll be but a memory!
Fate Bless,
SWK78