ARRRRGGGGHHHH!
I have to write and produce a lecture for the camera that is to go out by the weekend, and I have been struggling for weeks. The fact is that it is on a topic that is only peripherally related to my primary interest(s) and expertise, and the only investment I have in delivering it is the fact I will be helping out the course director, and the small payment that will come with doing it. In any case, I am close to finishing the script, but my eyes keep glazing over, or I get distracted and can't bring myself to finish it. The fact that I need to deliver it on-camera is not helping.
I have had to lecture on things that don't interest me much before, but I have never encountered such difficulty in committing ideas to paper as I am right now.
Suggestions for overcoming the hump - serious or not - will be gratefully received.
To be honest, whatever you write or present you only have to do it once then forget about it. If it's something way outside your usual area of interest or expertise then nobody will be expecting a fantastic lecture.
Bash something out quickly now, ad-lib on the day and have a beer.
Honestly?
MTFU and just get it done.*
Everyday, all over the world, people need to do things that are truly distateful to earn enough to eat.
Having to show a temporary, passing interest in something for long enough to get it done and get paid isn't really that hard in comparison.
*A bit harsh maybe, but from a good place đŸ˜‰
What's the topic? If the audience is normal people maybe I or we can ask a few questions to prompt some answers?
I am properly terrible at doing something I'm not interested in, to the point I often think it threatens my job (and it has in the past), however the one thing that gets me interested is when there's another person involved so I have to explain it to them or do something to help them directly.
Writing something on a topic of little interest
Is there not some irony to me even responding to this thread?
Slowly work in lots of ice hockey analogies to link the key points of your delivery, you will fly through it.
Happy Friday đŸ™‚
Write a very rough outline as quickly as you can. Practice talking through it a couple of times and refine it. Leave it for a bit, then come back and talk through it a couple of more times and refine it more. Keep repeating until you are just fiddling with details rather than making any real changes.
The sun is shining. Get it finished and catch it before it goes.
Having to show a temporary, passing interest in something for long enough to get it
Sounds like being a hormone driven teen all over again.
Get outside, go for a walk and think. Take a small notebook and as you think, jot down main themes or ideas.
Get back inside and smash it out...
Get back inside and smash it out…
And then finish writing your lecture.
Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough
Richard Feynman says get on with it. Tie it to the odd anecdote for recall.
My savings accounts are of little interest both to the bank and the rate
You have to imagine that everyone is naked I think.
Is it done yet?
Make it factual and dull.
You have to imagine that everyone is naked I think.
You've got enough to think about as it is. Theres loads of them - how are you supposed to mentally undress them all and concentrate of giving your presentation at the same time. Â Share the workload by asking the audience to imagine you naked instead. Its not like they've got anything better to do.