The Importance of the Read-Through

Few experiences are more intellectually painful than reading your own novel. It's almost impossible not to self-edit every decision you've made. Now, this is occasionally balanced by a deft turn of phrase or a particularly brilliant insight, but not as often as we'd like.

In fact, one of the biggest hurdles keeping your novel from the rest of the world is often you. I've heard the experience likened to sending your kids to college. Deep down you know they're ready to be judged on their own merits, and yet you can't help but think, "If I just had one more year, I KNOW they'd be ready."

Novels are much the same. We pour so much time, energy and emotion into novels that it can be very difficult to let the rest of the world have a peak. Especially since we know that strangers will pick our work apart and discuss the various merits and failures we've worked for years to polish or expunge.

This is why the read-through becomes so important. For one thing, it's essential to know the content of your own book. The first time I tried to write a novel, I wrote over 500 pages before I realized that I had no idea what happened in most of them. I knew where I'd started, and where I'd ended up. I knew that the middle bit made sense and it all connected, but I couldn't have written out the plot from beginning to end without studying my notes.

Reading your own book allows you to view the material not only as the writer, but also as a reader. It allows for all the little bits of plot that you worked so hard to conjure to be laid out in a linear pattern in your mind. Because let's face it, when you're having to keep that kind of volume of information in your mind, things can get a little turned around.

Read-throughs, and better repeated read-throughs make you the master of your own content. They allow you to view your novel in a different light, to spot the inevitable inconsistencies and identify the most powerful moments. The first time you realize that you've been swept along with your own characters and plot lines can be a heady experience.

Reading your own work also makes you more aware of your own personal style. I find that I can fall into habits I've had since childhood if I'm not careful. I also discover elements of my writing that I really enjoy. Reading it over and over again allows me to concentrate on strengthening the elements I love, while minimizing those I find irritating.

But best of all, the first time you read your own novel and realize it's good, you become your biggest supporter. And in this industry, that level of confidence is essential to survival and success.

Below is a great song for those slower, dreamier sequences and scenes. I've been using it a lot recently for the "Make-up/after a fight" moments.

Emma Bunton: "All I Need to Know"


 
Topics: Writing , Author , Novel , Self-Editing , Emma Bunton , All I Need to Know