One of the most important things to do as a writer is to read your work out loud. No! not in your bedroom (although not a bad practice) but to a live audience. Whether this is at a Poetry Reading, a self-organised or invited reading through your State’s Network of Libraries/ Bookstores, reading in a workshop to your fellow writers or to a small writing group. As many new authors must do now, it seems that the current consensus is to be involved personally in promoting and selling your book(s) on video. I can manage blogs and various social media platforms, but producing a good video of me reading one of my poetry books or a future novel is daunting and rather out of my league. This begs the question: do you go to the expense of bringing in the professionals? Well, that’s okay if you can afford it.
I have over the years had plenty of practice reading, but this was mainly “poetry”. I think reading parts of a novel when I have a book launch will be challenging. I have one little trick, I record certain chapters on my mobile phone and listen to them while on my walk. It’s a great way to practise and also pick up any stumbling blocks in the text. And often I get new words if I listen to them incorrectly! It’s really weird when that happens.
I started my readings at university.
A university friend has just sent me a link to a reading of mine that I did back in 2009 at Edith Cowan University on YouTube. I thank her most sincerely as she has gone to a lot of trouble in editing her recording and I’m also very grateful. Grateful because I talk about commencing my novel The Ozone Cafe, so it has been 10 years in the making and still ongoing. Thanks, Frances!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqNqKMYnE0c Here is the link to me reading poetry and talking about starting the novel from a poem titled The Ozone Cafe. Nothing gets wasted, folks!
Check it out here!