I recently made an appearance at an event during which I was asked to read something of my work. I did a few pieces from older books and than decided to read something new. Folks enjoy hearing unpublished books. I enjoy getting a reaction, taking it out for a test run, so to speak. When I do that, I usually read the first chapter since it’s often too complicated to explain a mid-stream section. That is what I did, reading something I had worked on for a year.
Folks—young and old—were attentive and engaged, giving every indication they were enjoying the reading. But as I read, I sensed something wasn’t right. My reading done, I tried to decide what the problem was but was whisked off to sign some books. Rule number one when signing: be attentive to the good folks that come along.
But the minute I was free I went back to thinking about that section. I listened anew, as it were, to my reading. The moment I got back to my hotel room I brought the text up on my laptop, and read it again, listening. And figured out the problem. I edited and rewrote the section. The text became much better. How I wished I could have shared it with an audience.
It all reminded me of something the poet Robert Frost once said: “The ear is the best reader.”
8 thoughts on “Listening”
I love this, Avi! And I think you’ll appreciate a like-minded post I shared last week on this same subject of experiencing our work with all of our senses: http://emmaddryden.blogspot.com/2013/03/hearing-and-tasting-our-work.html
Avi: This is so true with poetry. What appears on a page is so much stronger, more meaningful when read aloud. Song lyrics, for example, sit on a page. When sung new worlds open to words. Such good advice.
So glad someone like YOU shared this, Avi! When a pro like you makes a discovery about reading aloud, it resonates. As a teacher of elementary children, I found out many years ago that if you ask a child to read you his/her piece be it a poem or a story aloud and they add their voice to the work making it sound as it does inside their head, the work takes on an entirely different spirit and flow, compared to how it looks on the page (ie their ability with correct window-dressing ie punctuation, spelling, grammar etc.) Moving from there.…when the kids work in a small writing group and read their work aloud they will often change the words they are saying and stop and say, “oh I meant to put XYZ” and then jot it down.….I think we forget the value of reading aloud. And I love how you reiterated Frost’s advice. That’s why a speech I write never gets close enough to the way I talk when I don’t use notes. I like the off the cuff, from the heart type of speech, but then if I get off topic and can’t remember if I said something or not.…well.…then a script seems a safer choice, but a good speech takes tons of revision. Thank you!
Interesting, Avi. And do you think that having people in the room, “ear witnesses,” if you will, helped you listen more carefully? Because in a sense you were listening through them?
I do, absolutely.
Lee, you and I need to do a joint reading–without laughing.
I think reading aloud is one of the most powerful experiences in a classroom, by kids and teachers.
Avi: You’re in trouble! Private email to follow.