As I go through last revisions on the novel, I’m seeing again (or should I say hearing?) that there’s great value in reading aloud the words you’ve written, or, more precisely, hearing them read aloud.  Tricks of speech that sound natural on the page reveal themselves as mannered once they hit the air; rhythm, pace, alliteration – and any attendant flaw or pothole – are revealed. Even though the final experience is silent – words on a page (paper or virtual) read by a reader – it’s invaluable to get those words alive and pulsing into the open air.

And of course you can read them out loud again, once it’s all finished and done, and when I’m invited to do that I happily do. I used to be very nervous about doing readings, until I realized that giving the work in this way was both a new conduit for interest and pleasure (I hope!) in the text, and a chance to experience it as a live thing together with live people, which can be a lot, lot, lot of fun. This book in particular should be a blast to read, because it’s so inherently theatrical. So look for me next year on a stage near you.