One of my favorite books on writing is “Wild Mind: Living The Writers Life,” by Nathalie Goldberg .
Here’s an excerpt that rings very true for me.
“It is important to read aloud what you write. In writing groups, I ask people to write and then immediately afterward ask them to read to either the large group, a smaller group, or to a person sitting next to them. It is part of the writing process, like bending down to touch your toes and then standing up again. Write, read, write, read. You become less attached to whether it is good or bad”
She goes on to say that unless you read it aloud, the writing tends to fester like an infected wound in your notebook. The simple act of reading allows you to let go of it.
One of the things I have enjoyed most in writing classes, has been the opportunity to read out my writing, and to hear others read theirs. Whatever the story, it seems to take a new life when read out loud. It’s also good to read aloud whatever you’ve written, even when you are alone. It let’s you hear what flows and doesn’t flow. It also helps for when you are proofreading, as it makes you stop and read each word.
Nathalie Goldberg’s “Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life” is one of those books I keep going back to year after year. It’s got lots of down to earth wisdom about writing, and I recommend it to anybody who loves to write.
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