The Trouble With Word Counts

[The Bluestocking]

Good diversity; that's pretty neat. It's good to make your acquiesce, fellow global citizen!

Online critiques might work better for me. I might want to bite someone in real life critiquing my plan. Online I can just think, "Well you just don't appreciate my brilliance," while writing, "Exactly, thank you so much!"

Oops. Is anyone going to give me critiques now?

To be honest, if there is harsh critique from my group, it's because it's deserved. And it's fair. And it's not like they would lob harsh critiques just to wind me up. It's all constructive, so I just digest what they say and then more often than not, they are right.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I tried another one today. They did a stand up oration session, where the members read aloud their work, but I didn't participate, just listened. No way am I reading my stuff aloud.

Which is odd, because I actually like public speaking - I love the opportunity to pontificate.

Try, if you can, to have a go. At some point, somewhere, if you end up published, you will have to read out loud. Critique groups are a great way to get some practice.

 

[DelActivisto]

Try, if you can, to have a go. At some point, somewhere, if you end up published, you will have to read out loud. Critique groups are a great way to get some practice.

Not sure I see the point in reading out loud?

 

[SPoots]

Not sure I see the point in reading out loud?

It's similar to seeing your work presented in a new format. You can see it with fresh eyes and spot the changes that are needed. It's also good as you can hear how the sentences flow, those moments where you stumble in reading. I find it especially good for dialogue as I can hear whether or not this sounds like a real character or just myself putting on a funny voice.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Not sure I see the point in reading out loud?

As well as all SPoots excellent reasons above - once published you might have to for conventions, events, book clubs, launches etc etc It's nice to have had the practice.

 

[SPoots]

I never used to but while I was in Japan a bar payed me to read out some of my published stories. I ended up taking a pencil with me and correcting the sheets in between reading.

 

[DelActivisto]

It's similar to seeing your work presented in a new format. You can see it with fresh eyes and spot the changes that are needed. It's also good as you can hear how the sentences flow, those moments where you stumble in reading. I find it especially good for dialogue as I can hear whether or not this sounds like a real character or just myself putting on a funny voice.

As well as all SPoots excellent reasons above - once published you might have to for conventions, events, book clubs, launches etc etc It's nice to have had the practice.

I see. That makes sense. I've heard one should read a story aloud to see if it flows smoothly off the tongue as well as in the mind. That may maybe it sounds like what other people hear in their heads.

 

[R.T James]

Try, if you can, to have a go. At some point, somewhere, if you end up published, you will have to read out loud. Critique groups are a great way to get some practice.

*grabs throat*

Is this expected? Is this a requirement?

I'm not sure how well a stuttering author would do getting strangled by his own words. Can't imagine it'd help drive books sales.

That's actually one of the reasons why I turned to writing was to get away from my issues, and to express things without using a flawed voice, or being judged because of something I have no control over. Now with writing I can be judged fairly over something I have complete control over... my writing!

I was forced to read my stuff out loud many times, and I state to this day, as I did then. If you give me a screwdriver and tell me if I plunge it through the centre of my hand you wouldn't mak-

The screwdriver would be through my hand before you could even finish the sentence.

I am not joking. I am envious of all you who have a voice that works. Even ordering with, or picking up the phone is a form of torture to me. Even having somebody asking me to read a cereal box back is tough. I have times where I can't speak at all as my throat is so locked up.

 

[SPoots]

I am sure that if a reading of your work was ever required you could find someone willing to do it for you.
When Terry Pratchett's Alzheimer's prevented him from public reading, he would simply write his presentations, give an introduction and then someone else would read the main body of his work, usually his assistant Rob or the actor Tony Robinson.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I am sure that if a reading of your work was ever required you could find someone willing to do it for you.
.

I think the likelihood of that for most unestablished authors is slim. Who would pay this person? And, frankly, people like the author to read not someone else. Once you're established, maybe, but I suspect learning to get on with doing a reading is a rite of passage

 

[SPoots]

I think if it's a bad stammer or something of a physical disability, people would understand if you got a friend or family member to read.
If it is a case of being crowd shy or scared of public reading, then yes it's probably a case of biting the bullet.