Writing Fear Free: Reading Aloud
This weekend, I read the manuscript of Caroline Bingley aloud to my husband. (He wasn't held hostage or anything.) He wouldn't choose to sit down and read a Jane Austen sequel, but he does have a certain respect for books and movies that usually appeal to women. I also did this with Charlotte Collins, and I plan to make it a part of the writing process of every manuscript in the future.
His general indifference to the genre is actually a huge benefit to the process because he has tighter tolerances. If I read the book aloud to him, I automatically think about it from his perspective. A slow part suddenly seems slower, a cheesy part suddenly seems cheesier, a bad line suddenly seems worse. He is like a magnifying glass; he helps me see the flaws better so I can fix them.
Here's what's great about reading aloud to someone:
You read the manuscript from start to finish in one or two sittings. Writers spend so many months and years picking apart a book, but sometimes they don't try to see it the way a reader will.
You will start to think like a reader, not a writer. You'll start to recognize the repetitions and slow passages.
You will see your connections more clearly and you'll be able to strengthen your story lines accordingly.
You will have another person's honest reactions in real time. I knew I had a good line if my husband laughed. You get immediate feedback.
You will discover where you have been unclear because the listener will stop and ask questions.
If you cannot coerce anyone to sit still for hours and listen to a book, then read it aloud to yourself. I have heard other writers do this with great benefit too. It's a great way to experience your book in a new way and to make it even better for your readers in the future.
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I loved your blog. It's great your husband is so cooperative. I agree totally with your perspective. A friend asked me a question about a time travel thing she was writing with a austen twist. My husband loves sci-fi and time travel but the austen and regency connection in my mind he doesn't get. So his input was so useful. He had great comments I could let her know. I think you're on to something. I wonder how many other authors do the same thing?
My DH is an engineer, so he thinks differently than me (and most humans). It is really helpful to have such a different source of input. And he always makes sure any numbers I use add up correctly. :) I don't know about other authors, but I like to have "non-experts" read my work because they see different things.
I understand totally. How nice! My husband went to college to be an electrical engineer and also a pilot. Deciding neither of those suited him since he'd been raised on farms his whole life he chose construction. So he's done construction for 40 years but amazingly still retains a useful store of information (especially mathmatics) from those years. Since his tastes are so different from mine and he actually hates to read. I run short clips past him just for fun since I'm not an author to see what he thinks. It's always nice to get another's opinion. I do it for the sheer joy of it. Mine, I'm not sure about his...smiles. I've been fortunate enough to have read a couple authors manuscripts before publication and after (nothing professional mind you) & it's delicious. Unfortunately for them however I do take extensive notes every few pages and if something is confusing or redundant I let them know. a 600 page book can take me a bit of time needless to say. I find I get waylaid by spelling errors etc. which is just a nit picky thing in my brain. I'm sure your non-expert enjoys the time he spends with you in all your endeavors.
