Words from a Reader

The “Writing Life Stories” e-mails I receive are such treasures. As soon as I see there is one in my inbox, I read it immediately. I look forward to them and never know how they will touch me. They can be interesting, informative, humorous, and/or touching.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Amateurs or Professionals?

The advice given in the article below should be printed and placed on the walls of all of us who ever get up before an audience to read our work. Even our best writers and poets often bore us because they act like amateurs when they stand up to present their work. At a recent poetry reading I noticed how some people read and captivated the group before them and how others stood, read with little emotion, and received very little applause as they sat down.

Have you ever noticed how some people read a poem and you wait and listen but can’t tell when the poem has ended? The voice inflection should let the audience know when the last word of poetry has been read. Don’t leave your last sentence hanging out there in mid-air.  Read the article from Huffington Post and see if you are among the amateurs or do you read like a professional?


4 comments:

  1. Thanks for this post. I haven't had the opportunity to read my work to others yet, by I'll begin practicing now and following these suggestions.

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  2. Lise, I am glad I brought you some advice you can use. I look forward to hearing you read one day.

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  3. Thanks Glenda! I always appreciate advice about reading. I'd gotten out of the habit of reading my work after leaving NC but am finally reading my poetry again. Yea! This advice will help.

    I recently read an article on P&W's website with advice on how to give a better reading, so I'll pass it on here: http://www.pw.org/content/jamaal_may_on_giving_a_not_terrible_reading

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  4. Barbara, That is a great article by Jamaal May on not giving a terrible reading. He is so, so right.
    Last night, however, at the folk school in Brasstown, I heard two great readers.
    Mary Mike Keller read the best essay and she did it so well.
    Lucy Cole Gratton gave us a good reading of her poetry. You could tell she felt each poem very deeply.

    No wonder May gets asked to do so many readings! We all need to practice, just as he says.

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