b3126044e8
- Simplify flatten_vault API to return usize instead of MigrationResult struct - Add KEEP_FOLDERS: attachments/ and _themes/ alongside type/, config/, theme/ - Use HashSet for collision tracking in unique_filename - Update wikilinks from path-based [[folder/slug]] to title-based [[slug]] - Clean up empty directories after flattening - Flatten demo-vault-v2: move all notes from type-based subfolders to root - Update smoke tests for flat vault structure - Remove migrate_to_flat_vault from repair_vault (one-time migration only) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
2.4 KiB
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Public Speaking
Public speaking covers the craft of preparing and delivering talks at conferences, meetups, and company events — from structuring a narrative and designing slides to managing stage nerves and engaging an audience. It is a skill developed through practice rather than natural talent, and one that compounds in value over time.
Why this matters
Public speaking is one of the highest-leverage activities for building a personal brand and expanding the Refactoring audience. A single well-delivered conference talk can generate hundreds of newsletter signups, open doors to podcast guests, and establish credibility with sponsors. It also forces a level of clarity in thinking that writing alone does not — when you have to explain an idea on stage with no backspace key, you discover quickly whether you truly understand it. The themes explored in writing-for-clarity-vs-writing-for-credit apply equally to speaking: the goal is to be understood, not to impress.
Key resources
- writing-for-clarity-vs-writing-for-credit — the principle of communicating for understanding, applicable to both writing and speaking
- note-show-your-work — the philosophy of sharing openly, which translates naturally to the stage
- note-on-writing-well — Zinsser's principles of clarity and simplicity apply to spoken communication equally
- "Talk Like TED" by Carmine Gallo — practical techniques for structuring and delivering memorable presentations
- Speaking.io by Zach Holman — the best free resource on the logistics and craft of conference speaking
Notes
- The biggest mistake in conference talks is trying to cover too much — one clear idea, well-developed, is worth more than five ideas rushed through
- Nerves never fully go away, but they become manageable with repetition — the 10th talk is dramatically less stressful than the 1st
- Storytelling is the most effective structure for a technical talk, more effective than a list of tips or a tour of a tool — stories create emotional engagement that bullet points cannot
- Slides should support the speaker, not replace them — if the slides make sense without narration, the talk is probably a blog post in disguise
- The Q&A after a talk is often more valuable than the talk itself for building relationships and understanding what the audience actually cares about