My Monday critique group reads each other's work aloud, and I always catch things I'd otherwise miss, especially Repeated Word Syndrome and dauntingly long and complex sentences.
Mal: Well, look at this! Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us? Zoe: Big damn heroes, sir.
'Safe'
The Great Write Way, Chapter Two: Twice upon a time...
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
Susan W. - Mar 11, 2008 5:26:10 pm PDT #9877 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
erikaj - Mar 11, 2008 5:30:39 pm PDT #9878 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!
Sorry, Gar, didn't mean to sound dismissive. Just trying to be terse. In journalism school, I was laconic. Thanks, Laura. I know it's a little crude.
Beverly - Mar 11, 2008 9:51:38 pm PDT #9879 of 10001
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.
When I was writing longer stuff, I'd read it walking. I know it sounds weird, but I'd pace up and down the deck and read aloud. It highlighted some awkward phrasing, pointed out things that a cold reader would find unclear, and helped me with pace, either building suspense or excitement, unfolding clues or sharing intimate secrets. The reading while walking sort of shook things into place--and pointed out where they were out of place.
Laga - Mar 11, 2008 10:09:04 pm PDT #9880 of 10001
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.
I am loving the writing tips. Keep 'em coming.
Anne W. - Mar 12, 2008 2:17:08 am PDT #9881 of 10001
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
The reading out loud is a good way for me to find some of my more common mistakes (awkward phrasings, infelicitous repetitions, etc.)
The best thing for me, though, is to let things sit for about a week and then go back and read through. That tends to give me enough distance to notice places where what I wanted to say didn't come through clearly, but not so much that I wonder "what the hell was I trying to say/imply/hint at" here?
Miracleman - Mar 12, 2008 7:42:52 am PDT #9882 of 10001
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020
Neat little exercise in coming up with a plot:
Though the link to the sf cliches is dead. Google works, though.
Typo Boy - Mar 12, 2008 12:44:55 pm PDT #9883 of 10001
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
Its not ethical to ask for a blurb from someone who has not read the book is it? Even if someone they trust has read it, liked it and is willing to say so? No, I thought not. Sigh.
Miracleman - Mar 12, 2008 2:13:32 pm PDT #9884 of 10001
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020
Its not ethical to ask for a blurb from someone who has not read the book is it? Even if someone they trust has read it, liked it and is willing to say so? No, I thought not. Sigh.
Depends on what the blurb says. I would think
"I heard it was pretty good from a guy...what was his name?...we were both on that panel about...what was that about? Fuck. I gotta stop hangin' in the hotel bars at cons, man, you know? Just way too much trouble. But then I get bored all alone up in my room and spend way too much on hotel pay-per-view porn...
...anyway. Yeah, somebody said it was okay. So, uh...read it."
...would be perfectly acceptable.
...
In some respects.
Miracleman - Mar 13, 2008 4:35:33 am PDT #9885 of 10001
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020
Readers:
Insent.
Deena - Mar 14, 2008 1:46:58 pm PDT #9886 of 10001
How are you me? You need to stop that. Only I can be me. ~Kara
Gar, can you send them a copy of the manuscript in email?