FAQ: Questions You Want To Ask About Speaking At WCLDN

We want to hear your stories!

So to encourage you along, we’ve brainstormed some of the most frequently asked questions about applying to speak at WordCamp’s – and we’ve done our best to answer them here for you, in full. If there’s anything you feel we’ve missed, or something you think is worth adding – please leave us a comment below.

What is a Call for Papers?

A Call for Papers is the WCLDN 2016 version of a Call for Speakers.

This year, we’ve decided to open a ‘Call for Papers’, rather than a ‘Call for Speakers’, as we wanted to open up the variety of session formats available and encourage you to submit something other than a standard presentation. If you have an idea for a panel or something else, don’t hesitate to apply!

Please note, our ‘Call for Papers’ does not limit applications to academics only; it is open to anyone and everyone!

How long does my talk have to be?

We’re encouraging a variety of session formats this year, which include, but are not limited to;

  • Lighting talks: (max 10mins with a group Q&A)
  • Long form talks: (max 40mins inclusive of Q&A)
  • Ideas for Panels 

So don’t hesitate to get creative and submit a session format you think might be interesting!

Is there a speakers package?

All speakers will receive a complimentary ticket to the entire event, including the after-party and free use of the creche.

What kind of support does a speaker get?
Before the event – Mentoring

We love to support our speakers, and all invited speakers will be asked if they would like to participate in a mentoring programme. The mentor’s role is to help speakers overcome nerves and review slides and presentations.

Every speaker who chooses will be assigned a mentor in advance of the event, and will be encouraged to be in touch with their mentor for feedback, advice and support as they prepare for their presentations.

At the event – Green Room

We do encourage speakers to hangout with attendees and enjoy the event, but we’ve also arranged a green room where you can relax and go through your presentation at any time during the course of the day.

Speakers – Contact

We are also thrilled to have Diane taking care of our speakers. Diane will be speakers direct contact to the entire WordCamp London organising team and any questions should be directed her.

Does it matter if you haven’t spoken before?

Not in the slightest! If you have a topic that is interesting, then we would love to hear from you.

We are committed to helping you share your experience, idea or knowledge; and we hope that everything we’ve put in place will serve to support our speakers in contributing to an incredible WordCamp.

What can I talk about?

Anything you like! The WordPress eco system and community do such a variety of different things with WordPress – whether that’s designing, writing content or building businesses – we want to hear it all!

Tell us your stories of success and growth, but don’t be afraid to also tell us of your worst experiences and how you turned them around.

Does my talk have to be WordPress related?

All the talks we’ve picked in the past – and will be picking this year – are all about helping the WordPress community be the best they can be. As a diverse community, we share a range of interests, skills, knowledge and experiences – so not every talk will have WordPress at the core.

Similarly, if your talk has some connection to WordPress, or is directly about WordPress itself, we would love to hear from you!

How much do I need to write in my application?

As much or as little as you want – as a loose recommendation we’d suggest a maximum of three paragraphs.

To get a better idea of what makes a submission successful, take a look at last year’s abstracts. Abstracts should give us a taster of what your talk is about, but you don’t need to give everything away.

If you want to give us more information, then its best to use the “Why Do You Want To Speak” box. This will not be published publicly. We’ve also published an example submission from Jo Waltham who spoke at WordCamp London 2015, so you can have a look at what made a submission successful last year.

 Should I submit more than one talk?

Yes! This will significantly increase your chances of being accepted and give us a wider variety of talks to select from.

But don’t worry – we’ll never ask you to do more than one talk.

Ready to submit? We can’t wait to see you on stage!