Tech Talks: How to get started speaking at technical conferences

Ready to share your software engineering knowledge in a way that truly makes an impact? Speaking at a technical conference is one of the best ways to do just that! This book is your guide to stepping onto the stage with confidence. It covers all the essential aspects—why speaking at conferences is valuable, how to craft and submit a winning proposal, and how to manage backstage nerves—without overwhelming you with unnecessary details.

With tips from seasoned speakers and plenty of real-world advice, this book provides everything you need to successfully navigate your first conference talk. With these tools in hand, you'll be ready to share your knowledge and officially start your speaking journey!

Contents

• Forward by Daniel Steinberg
• Introduction
• Part 1: The Decision
• 1. Why
• 2. Obstacles
• Part 2: The Proposal
• 3. Finding an Idea
• 4. Structuring Your Idea
• 5. Finding Conferences
• 6. Call for Papers (CFP)
• 7. Getting Rejected
• 8. Getting Accepted
• Part 3: The Talk
• 9. Stress
• 10. Telling a Story
• 11. Introduction
• 12. Conclusion
• 13. Slides
• 14. Presenter Notes
• 15. Q&A
• 16. Practice
• 17. Delivery
• 18. Equipment
• 19. Problems
• Part 4: The Trip
• 20. Travel Plans
• 21. Packing List
• 22. Last Minute Details
• Part 5: The Conference
• 23. Checking In
• 24. Social Events
• 25. Other Talks
• 26. Your Talk
• Part 6: The Future
• 27. After
• Conclusion