Chairing writers' festival panels, hosting Q&A events, interviewing authors in bookshops or concert halls has become part of the writing life for many contemporary authors. It's a way to contribute to the literary community, keep your literary presence alive between books and take part in interesting debates – but running a live interview or hosting an event can be terrifying for the novice. In this short, useful guide author Charlotte Wood shares her best tips for wrangling podiums, authors and audiences, gained from more than 15 years of experience of festivals, events and public speaking.