barbex:

referenceforwriters:

I stumbled upon an editor’s blog, and this was the most persistent advice they gave to several people. 

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it appears that most people don’t think about it. It does not only help you see if the rhythm and pace is working like you want it to, but it helps you reconsider your word choice. 

Don’t do it while you’re writing, though. While you’re writing, just let everything out.

Do it during the revision/edition/proofreading/however you call it, or after you finish one or two paragraphs. 

So, I’m reading aloud my piece, but what the hell do I have to look for? 

Well, for starters:

• Does it sound awkward? Is it confusing?
• Does the word choice work?
• Does the punctuation work? 
• Is a line running on like a coursing river to the point you need a second breath to finish it? On the other hand, are there a bunch of short, repetitive sentences that make you stop every second?
• Is it full of long words that take you a while to pronounce correctly?

Of course, sometimes you need sucessive short sentences. Sometimes you need long sentences. That’s what this is all about, to confirm your story is working the way you want it to. 

You can also read other people’s work aloud. This is what I do sometimes. When I’m reading and I think I haven’t fully understood a sentence or there’s something that just bugs me, I read it aloud. 

This is particularly helpful when writing scenes that just need to evoke a certain mood on the reader.

For example, you’re writing a sex scene (or smut, for my fellow fanfic/roleplay writers). This scene has to make the reader feel all hot and bothered and, you know it, not awkward. 

Read it aloud. Does it make you laugh? Unless the point is to make the reader laugh over the characters’ awkwardness, it shouldn’t make you laugh.

So, really, change the word “penis”. You will only get to make me laugh like an immature 12 year old.

-Alex

Yeah… not changing the word penis. It makes you giggle like a 12 year old? Your problem.

Honestly people, an arm is an arm, a leg is a leg, a penis is a penis and a vagina is a vagina. Don’t make such big deal out of it. It’s just anatomy and we all use our anatomy to have sex.

Hot penis in vagina action? Yes please.