Reading Aloud to Grow as a Writer

Reading your draft novel, or portions of it, aloud to yourself can reveal developmental (big-picture) issues you may otherwise miss. If you prepare for it with intention, you will gain greater insights and identify opportunities to strengthen your work and grow as a writer. The point of this exercise is not to identify spelling and grammar mistakes, but to listen to how your work in progress sounds, get a feel for its pacing, and identify any plot holes or things that are missing. But reading aloud can also help you identify what’s working well. It’s just as important to celebrate what you love about your writing!