I've been unconsciously procrastinating for a while as, after an extended break, I couldn't face re-reading the opening chapters to get back into the story. The words were so familiar that I was utterly unable to tell if it worked or not.

Then I had a brain wave... I read the first couple of chapters out loud, recording them as audio files on my phone.

It was very reassuring as most of the opening section read smoothly (although I need to work on my acting) and when I found a bit that didn't work, it was not only glaringly obvious but glaringly obvious why not.

Brilliant.

Recommended.

Back to work now...

Hmmm, interesting… I always feel a bit stupid reading stuff out-loud but it really does help. Never tried recording my own voice though (apart from when I was 16 and practicing for my German GCSE oral exam – thank god that tape is long gone)

Hubby gave me a dictaphone for my birthday, thinking I could use it in place of a notebook, (unfortunately I can't think and talk at the same time ) but I could use it for this. I may give it a go.

I read everything aloud at least once, and will often read a sentence/s aloud if I can't get it to behave. You can do a novel in a day, and as you've found, Gaius, you realise all sorts of things you never realised before.

I'm remembering that on the various threads we've had recently on how to re-discover the freshness in a piece when you've revised it to death, I never said that this is one of the best.

I have a friend who records everything as MP3 files, then plays it to herself over an over on her iPod. Must admit I don't do that, but I do the major read-aloud sessions from hard copy, making notes on the page.

I do have to know that no one's listening though.

Emma