Writerly Confessions

[EmilyMiller]

I always extol the importance of doing a Read Aloud as the final check before submitting. I do it with my professional editing proofreading. I couldn't imagine not doing it.

But I hate it. I hate it with a passion. Even if I catch half a dozen typos and find awkward sentences or repeated words, I resent the time and effort it takes.

It feels like a negative part of the writing process, instead of something positive.

I do this in the car. It’s a good use of “dead time.”

 

[lovecraft68]

I always extol the importance of doing a Read Aloud as the final check before submitting. I do it with my professional editing proofreading. I couldn't imagine not doing it.

But I hate it. I hate it with a passion. Even if I catch half a dozen typos and find awkward sentences or repeated words, I resent the time and effort it takes.

It feels like a negative part of the writing process, instead of something positive.

I read everything to my wife. I catch things as I read, she'll tell me if something sounded confusing.

Extra bonus points when I read a line and she rolls her eyes and says "Seriously?"

 

[StillStunned]

I read everything to my wife. I catch things as I read, she'll tell me if something sounded confusing.

Extra bonus points when I read a line and she rolls her eyes and says "Seriously?"

Mine usually goes, "Ew, you're disgusting! No, don't stop."

 

[AG31]

I do this in the car. It’s a good use of “dead time.”

While you're driving?

 

[EmilyMiller]

While you're driving?

Yes. I obviously don’t edit while I’m driving. I listen. I have an excellent memory and can recall most things I catch while en route.

Emily

 

[bestkeptsecret678]

The big one-procrastination.

Yup. I have at least a dozen outlines sitting in queue waiting desperately for my attention. The good news is that I actually submitted something this morning! First in about a year. So, there's hope for all of us.

 

[SimonDoom]

Once I failed to make the subject and verb agree, and the fight that broke out between them has wracked me with guilt ever since.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Once I failed to make the subject and verb agree, and the fight that broke out between them has wracked me with guilt ever since.

Don't be to hard on yourself. It can happened.

 

[AG31]

Yes. I obviously don’t edit while I’m driving. I listen. I have an excellent memory and can recall most things I catch while en route.

Emily

OK, so if you're listening, who's reading?

 

[EmilyMiller]

OK, so if you're listening, who's reading?

Safari on my ‘phone.

You load the story preview. Drag two fingers from the top of the screen and Safari reads the page to you. It’s kinda funny having this quite straight laced woman reading my filth.

My ‘phone talks to my car, so it’s quite clear on the speakers. And I can use the audio controls on the steering wheel if I want to repeat a paragraph.

Emily

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Safari on my ‘phone.

You load the story preview. Drag two fingers from the top of the screen and Safari reads the page to you. It’s kinda funny having this quite straight laced woman reading my filth.

My ‘phone talks to my car, so it’s quite clear on the speakers. And I can use the audio controls on the steering wheel if I want to repeat a paragraph.

Emily

That is clever(no surprise coming from you). I didn't know Safari would do that. Thanks.

Instructions.

 

[AG31]

Safari on my ‘phone.

You load the story preview. Drag two fingers from the top of the screen and Safari reads the page to you. It’s kinda funny having this quite straight laced woman reading my filth.

My ‘phone talks to my car, so it’s quite clear on the speakers. And I can use the audio controls on the steering wheel if I want to repeat a paragraph.

Emily

Who'd a thunk...

 

[EmilyMiller]

Safari on my ‘phone.

You load the story preview. Drag two fingers from the top of the screen and Safari reads the page to you. It’s kinda funny having this quite straight laced woman reading my filth.

My ‘phone talks to my car, so it’s quite clear on the speakers. And I can use the audio controls on the steering wheel if I want to repeat a paragraph.

Emily

Oh. A pro tip. Don’t use this method to try to read @MediocreAuthor’s Eldritch Pact. Your car will explode.

Emily

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Safari on my ‘phone.

You load the story preview. Drag two fingers from the top of the screen and Safari reads the page to you. It’s kinda funny having this quite straight laced woman reading my filth.

My ‘phone talks to my car, so it’s quite clear on the speakers. And I can use the audio controls on the steering wheel if I want to repeat a paragraph.

Emily

You can choose the voice. I have a lovely Aussie lass named Matilda reading to me right now. Thanks again. This is cool.

 

[EmilyMiller]

You can choose the voice. I have a lovely Aussie lass named Matilda reading to me right now. Thanks again. This is cool.

I just use the default. She sounds like a midwestern soccer mom to me

 

[samhasstories]

I just use the default. She sounds like a midwestern soccer mom to me

I had no plans to try this, but you've convinced me.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I had no plans to try this, but you've convinced me.

She reads questions really strangely. The inflection is all wrong.

I must explore if they have a Minnesota nice option in honor of Fargo.

Emily

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Oh. A pro tip. Don’t use this method to try to read @MediocreAuthor’s Eldritch Pact. Your car will explode.

Emily

Yes, I use text-to-speech to proofread, and for Eldritch Pact, you kinda just have to ignore L'ventia's dialogue for a few lines. It's like the reader reads out just the letters while skipping some. At least that's what mine does

 

[EmilyMiller]

Yes, I use text-to-speech to proofread, and for Eldritch Pact, you kinda just have to ignore L'ventia's dialogue for a few lines. It's like the reader reads out just the letters while skipping some. At least that's what mine does


View attachment 2311443

Mine starts speaking Hungarian.

 

[vagrantx]

It's like the reader reads out just the letters while skipping some. At least that's what mine does

Those darn Zalgo text prompts always add a bunch of umlauts and stuff to letters. ÅÄÖ. Annoyingly enough, those are used in swedish, so to me your Demoness has a swedish accent.

Börk börk börk would you like some bönking?

 

[jhealy55]

The ratio of erotica that I've written vs. what I've actually read by anyone else is probably something like 10:1.

I have no idea how this supposed to work. I'm literally just making it all up as I go.

 

[onehitwanda]

I am aroused by fleurons and asterisms.

 

[StillStunned]

I am aroused by fleurons and asterisms.

I'm aroused by coffee.

Not sexually aroused, mind. Just aroused.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I am aroused by fleurons and asterisms.

I always wondered what fleurons were called. Thanks for making me look it up.