Hello, writers. Sorry about the-hit-and-run diary posting last week! I'm especially sorry as so many lovely people did show up. My internet went out at about 7:55 pm and stayed out. Fortunately I'd preposted, as I'm doing now. Hope the same thing doesn't happen again.
Moving on.
Have you ever read your own work aloud?
If not, I really strongly suggest that you give it a try.
I read my first two manuscripts (this is back when I was a teenager) aloud, one to my sister and the other to a group of family and friends. I was lucky to have a willing audience. If that's not available, you should still read aloud, for your own ears.
Things I find when I read aloud:
-Excess words that can be cut.
-Things that I find myself rephrasing as I read.
-Continuity mistakes I didn't notice before (one my sister once mentioned finding in her own work: “Dead man talking!”)
-Things that just don't sound right
-Bits that just go on too long.
-Words that I've overused
This is something that always comes up at the writers' conferences I've been to. Some working authors have their computers read to them. Others record themselves and then listen. Some just read straight through to themselves, aloud. The most successful authors that I've met all seem to be avid readers-aloud.
I no longer read all of my own work aloud. It's too difficult physically; my jaw starts aching after a paragraph or so. Still, I do read aloud any scene I'm having trouble with, and any key scene where something big is happening and I want maximum emotional impact.
If you haven't tried it, I really, really recommend it. In fact, let's make it tonight's challenge.
We're back in scenic Togwogmagog. If you've never been there before, here's the set up:
A callow youth and his/her stout companion must recover the lost Jewel of Togwogmagog in order to save the realm.
Last week, this was the challenge set-up:
They're in a long, twisting underground passage, at the end of which they can see an ironbound door. The not-always-reliable Froop has told them the Jewel lies beyond the door, and he's given them a key he's not entirely sure will open it.
He's also told him the underground passage is patrolled by a terrifying creature.
Then they hear a loud snuffling behind them.
Whether you wrote last week's scene or not, go on to the next step for this week's challenge.
Either they've managed to get the door open, or they've found themselves face to face with whatever was making the snuffling noise. Take it from there.
Write what happens next. Try to limit yourself to 150 words. But don't post it yet!
After you've written it, read it aloud to yourself. If anything sounds wrong on the read-aloud, change it.
Then post your post-read-aloud version. If you'd like to, please tell us what you changed as a result of the read-aloud.
Write On! will be a regular weekly diary (Thurs 8 pm ET) until it isn't.
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