Reading fiction out loud is an art form - but only if you want it to be. You could read the printed word without nuance and without intonation. Yawn. Or you could bring your story to life by embracing the 'actor' within, by proactively taking centre stage. Because reading your book out loud is actually an audition of sorts - an audition to generate credulity and confidence in your story, in the characters and in the details and descriptions of the various settings. Reading out loud triggers the auditory senses, which triggers brain function and hopefully, triggers a sequence of images in the internal playground that is within your mind - images that I call 'word movies.' The writer/speaker is in charge of setting the mood and instilling uniqueness to each character, all by using tone of voice, hand gestures, facial expressions. It's acting out your own novel and generating a word movie.
How exciting is that?
Yeah, it seems that way until you're challenged to read your novel to a group of teenagers. In a classroom.
That's where I'm headed in the next couple of weeks - to 'read' my second novel, The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends, to a group of Grade 8 students. My throat gets dry, my knees knock and I tremble at the thought of 'acting' out my book. Basically, I'm performing my audition of every character and every scene in Darkness Descends. But... I believe in my book. I believe the story. I believe and love/hate the characters. And I believe that a truly good book will draw the reader into the playground-mind of the writer so that they both 'see' the same word movie. If I can keep a group of teenagers engaged, then I'll know my audition was successful.
I hope everyone who's read The Twisted Climb series enjoyed the word movies. I did. I'm proud of the fact they both were voted Best Young Adult Book (The Twisted Climb in 2016 and Darkness Descends in 2018).
Speaking of auditory senses, kudos to authors Jude Pittman and John Widsomkeeper for delivering the first audio-book for BWL Publishing, entitled "Street Justice." You can find the audio book via this link: http://www.bookswelove.net/authors/pittman-jude-mystery-romance/
TWO Book Signing Events
Come see me on Saturday, March 30 at the Chapters store in Newmarket, Ontario from 1 till 5.Two weeks later, I'm heading to the Chapters store in Barrie, Ontario (Saturday, April 13). Drop by!
J.C. Kavanagh
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends
(Book 2)
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2018,
Critters Readers Poll
AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016,
P&E Readers Poll
Novels for teens, young adults and
adults young at heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/J.C.Kavanagh
www.amazon.com/author/jckavanagh
Twitter @JCKavanagh1 (Author J.C.
Kavanagh)
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My critique group has a member who was an actress and listening to her read is like being in a theater. Good luck with your ventures
ReplyDeleteThank you Janet!
ReplyDeleteWord movies is an excellent term for reading a book outloud. Hope your reading goes well with the 8th graders!! Have fun.
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose