In my last post I discussed the common advice of “reading like a writer” and my discovery of audiobooks that help me to “listen as a writer”. Well, tied in nicely with that is my topic this week: reading (aloud) as a writer!
At the end of this week I shall be attending the World Horror Convention 2010. As part of that I will be reading the first two chapters of my novel (Sunday morning at 10.30, in case you’re in the area!).
To prepare for this I have been reading the first two chapters and I’ve made a discovery - that advice about reading your work aloud because it “sounds different”…? Well I’ve never been a massive fan of it but I am hereby doing what no self-respecting politician would do and admitting I was wrong.
Reading my work aloud has made a huge difference… it has forced me to read every word and not simply assume I know what’s written there (How many times have I read the chapter only to discover, when I read it aloud, that I had my main character “parking the park” instead of his car!). As a result I have taken to walking around the conservatory at odd hours of the early morning (so they don’t hear me talking to myself and send for the men in white coats) reciting my chapters. I am a huge convert and if you’re a writer, and like me you’ve heard the message “read your work aloud” numerous times but have never taken it to heart, I urge you to find yourself a quiet spot and read, and read, and read….
