How to Stop Nervousness on Camera: A Beginners Guide

You are a writer. You publish your words on Substack. You know how to connect with people through the printed word. It feels safe. It feels comfortable.

But lately, you have probably noticed a shift. Substack has been moving into video.

The truth is, video changes the game. When your readers can see your face and hear your voice, they connect with you on a whole new level. It builds trust faster than text ever could. If you want to grow your audience, share your wisdom, or make an income as a creator, you need to step in front of the lens.

I hear the pushback already. “Mike, I hate the way I look on camera.” “Mike, I get terrified.” “I am too old to learn this stuff.”

I hear you. But I am here to tell you that you can look, feel, and sound naturally comfortable on camera. And you can start today.

I started appearing on camera back in the 1980s. At the time, I was working as a community education officer for a welfare group. I was terrified of public speaking when being interviewed for TV and speaking to audiences. So, I started reading every book I could find on how to overcome stage fright.

Do you know what I discovered over time? The rules of public speaking transfer perfectly to the camera.

Since the early 1990s, my weekend ‘job’ has been as a professional entertainer. I have been on stage, on television, and on the radio. And I will let you in on a big secret: the nervousness never completely goes away. Even today, I still feel those butterflies.

The goal is not to eradicate your nerves. The goal is to channel that energy into a different feeling.

Most video and on-camera advice tells you to buy a better camera, better mic, stronger light or use a teleprompter. That is wrong. Trying too hard is actually what makes you look and sound stiff and unnatural.

Instead, I teach my students a concept from Neville Goddard, a famous 20th-century mystic. He said to "assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled."

What does that mean in plain English? It means you don't fight your anxiety while you are live or recording. Instead, you jump straight to the finish line in your mind.

Before you press the button, take five seconds. Close your eyes. Imagine the video is already finished. Imagine the immense feeling of relief washing over you. You did it! It went great!

Bring that exact feeling of relief from the future into the present moment. Act from the feeling of relief, not towards it. When your mind is completely filled with the feeling of success, there is simply no room left for negative thoughts like, “What if I mess up?”

When beginners stare at that tiny, glass camera lens, they freeze. It feels like an oversized interrogation room.

Here is how you break that spell. Do not look at the lens. Look through it. Treat the lens like an imaginative portal.

On the other side of that portal is just one person. Not a crowd of strangers. Just one person you know very well and love dearly. It could be your partner, your child, or your best friend. Picture them standing right there, smiling at you.

When you speak, you are just having a chat with your friend.

What happens if you trip over a word or lose your train of thought? Do what you would do if you were sitting in a cafe drinking coffee with them. Just pause. Say, “Oh, I lost my place. What was I saying?” If it comes back, great. If not, just move on.

We are everyday people, not Hollywood actors. We do not need to be script perfect. If you cough or sneeze, just say, “Excuse me,” and keep going. Audiences love human moments. Perfection is boring; naturalness has appeal.

I have a huge heart for older creators and seniors who are starting out online. Often, seniors feel a unique kind of anxiety. They think they missed the memo on 21st-century technology. They worry they don't know the "right" way to do things.

Let me ease your mind: It is never about the technology. It is about communication and connection.

You have a lifetime of stories and wisdom. The camera is just the wire that delivers it. There is an old saying: “If you want to be interesting, be interested.” Stop worrying about your own performance. Turn your focus outward. Focus entirely on the person on the other side of that portal.

Ready to practice? Grab your smartphone or laptop. Do not worry about publishing anything yet. This is just for you.

Record a tiny, fifteen-second video. Just look through the lens and say your name, your age, and where you live. Then, stop recording.

Now, for a simple three-step exercise. This idea was mentioned by Veronica Llorca-Smith 🍋 when she appeared recently as my special guest on an episode of the Star Maker Show. I've tweaked Veronica's idea…

Step 1: Watch with the sound off. Just observe your body language. Get used to seeing yourself on screen. You might cringe at first, and that is totally normal.

Step 2: Listen with your eyes closed. Press play, close your eyes, and just listen to your voice. Listen to the pitch, the volume, and the rhythm. Get comfortable with how you sound.

Step 3: Watch and listen together. Put it all together. Do this exercise as many times as you need to until looking and hearing yourself feels naturally comfortable.

My friend and fellow Substack writer, Shannon R. MacKinnon was a school teacher. While transitioning into writing, she was highly hesitant about appearing on live video. But she read my articles and Notes, shifted her mindset, and pushed through the fear. She came on her first Substack live stream with me, and now she is hosting her own show doing video interviews! She caught the bug. You can too.

An ancient Stoic philosopher once wrote that things are only as hard or as scary as we make them in our own heads. We have the power to make appearing on camera feel hard, easy, or even fun.

Assume the feeling of relief. Look through the portal. The choice is yours.

To your on-camera success,

Mike

P.S. If all else fails… be courageous and just do it.