If you read your writing aloud to others, you’ll become a better writer much quicker. My writing students regularly tell me that reading their writing aloud is the hardest – but most rewarding – aspect of my writing courses.
“Their skill has doubled daily,” Eddie says, shaking his head in amazement.
I’m at the head of the table on The Vine Veranda. Seventeen faces are turned towards Daisy, who has tears running down her face.“
Maybe.” I look back at Eddie, who’s wiping his eyes. Daisy’s story about lugging a 300lb dead weight of a dummy on a stretcher through the jungle as part of her army training has us in stitches. Daisy is laughing so hard she’s struggling to reach the punchline. The other students, and their NPPs (non-participating partners) ache with the anticipation of what’s to come. Eddie is a NPP.
This is the last day of the one-week residential workshop and we have been studying how to write humour. Daisy has nailed it.
She finishes. We all clap wildly and noisily. That was terrific.
Read your writing aloud – for the love of feedback
It’s the last day of the residential writing retreat I’ve been teaching at the Watermill at Posara, Tuscany, Italy.
I’ve been coming her for ten years now, and, apart from a few missed years courtesy of expat postings or Covid, leading this course has become my annual must-do. The mill is impeccably run by Lois and Bill Breckon and their courses (usually mine) frequently get a mention in The Sunday Times. I’m proud to be invited to teach How to Write Your Life Stories with SPICE to ten or so writers who come to Posara from all over the world.
But this year has seen a slight change.
A tiny change, but, as Eddie has noticed, it’s benefited the writers. Hugely. What’s more it’s something I have never done before either.
This year, six NPPs come to listen to the writers late afternoon each day. They are wives, partners, husbands, friends, even a mother (my mother). A varied and discerning bunch.
Feedback on The Vine Veranda is a highlight of the course for me and for the writers. I know because they tell me in their feedback.
Just before it’s time to change for dinner and aperitivi we gather round a long wooden table beneath the vines that drip with pea-sized grapes.
In addition to the work they do in class I give the students homework too, which they complete at siesta time. Now they read aloud and I give instant feedback. The other students are encouraged to add their thoughts too.
This year I invited the NPPs to come and listen too.
Read your writing aloud – the three levels
Any serious writer knows the value of reading their work aloud. They know, because I prove it during class.
Level 1. Reading aloud to yourself highlights text that needs improvement. Maybe your tongue gets tangled on a multisyllabic string of words. Maybe you sense the rhythm is not quite right, or that you’ve repeated a word too often. Perhaps you realise you used too many words and cutting would be of benefit.
Level 2. As a writing teacher sharing and feedback have become my must-have. All my writing classes include sharing of work to the whole group. Yes, I know it’s daunting to read your work out to a bunch of other writers, particularly when you do not know them yet. It’s even more so when you’re expected to read something that you’ve only had 15 minutes to write. But soon you realise that this is where the magic happens. This is when you notice the positive reactions on the faces of your peers and this is when I get the opportunity to give praise and make suggestions for improvement. This is where writers grow in confidence. And quickly. I insist that the outcomes of any classes remain confidential. I encourage everyone to trust that this is a safe space in which to explore their writing and start to dare to express their emotions too.
In class, the writers may write for one, two, five, ten or fifteen minutes before sharing immediately, with no time to polish. On The Vine Veranda they may have had one hour, or maybe two, to write and polish a story on their laptops. Two hours is nothing. It takes me an hour to write this blog. They have to write fast with no time for procrastination or perfectionism.
Level 3. I’ve always believed in the power of reading your work aloud and recognise that doing so, to yourself, when no one else is listening takes your writing up a level. I know that reading your work to fellow writers, takes it up another. However, as I saw in action this year when the audience includes a mix of strangers and people who know you well (those NPPs) that’s another story. Relatives and loved ones can be the tricksiest of critics. While some are prone to say something vacuous and non-committal along the lines of “that’s’ lovely, dear,” others may harbour writing dreams of their own and not want to praise you too much. When you know you will have a critical audience for your work it’s bound to influence your writing – in a good way.
Exposing your work to people who are neither your fellow students nor family. Indeed who are ‘perfect strangers’ and may even be your ultimate ‘ideal reader’ is more daunting still. It encourages you to take that little bit more care.
This is why Eddie is blown away by how fast their writing is improving.
7 steps to become a better writer
As I reflect on this I’m struck by the reasons why this year’s course has been so effective and I see that is not just because of The Vine Veranda Experience. Take a look and see how many of them you could put into your writing life so you too could improve in skill at lightning speed too:
- Take writing classes
- Have a writing group you trust
- Set tight deadlines
- Know your work will have an audience
- Recognise that sharing and feedback helps grow confidence
- Know homework deadlines beat procrastination and perfectionism
- Love the sound of a round of applause!
If you would like to be part of this writing course then next year’s is June 17-24 and you can find out more at www.watermill.net.
If you’re writing a book and would like to journey alongside four other committed writers, I run regular Book Writing Circles throughout the year. Discover all my (free & paid-for) online writing courses here.
