[process] Listening to the book

[jaylake]

As recently discussed [ jlake.com | LiveJournal ], I have added a step to my novel manuscript revision process. I know from experience that reading a manuscript aloud always helps me find copy editing errors, infelicitous wording, word echoes and so forth. But I also dislike reading aloud at length, and especially all by myself

Comments

[lrcutter]

I generally include a "read out loud" draft as part of the process. I view it as part exercise, part writing. I print out the chapter or story, get my clipboard, if it's dark, turn on every light on whatever floor of the house I'm in, then walk around and read out loud. It generally takes at least an hour, and I figure it's good exercise as well as good writing technique. I scribble notes on the hard copy as I walk, with some shorthand, like what you do (circling repeated words or accidental rhymes, etc. ) Then I take another hour or so to incorporate all the comments and do any rewriting.

I used to do it as a book, but quickly figured out that I need to do chapters as I finish them. Trying to do the whole book ended up with me throwing up mental roadblocks, feeling as though it was too long and hard.

[jaylake]

mental roadblocks, feeling as though it was too long and hard

Yes, this.

[cathshaffer]

merriehaskell had a great post recently about that kind of word fatigue. I loved her conclusion, "OH. I NO LONGER SPEAK ENGLISHES."