Bedtime Story

As you write you become fully engrossed in your scenes, whether you write solo or with a collaborator. You know why you chose the words you did, and why you left certain things unsaid. You have an innate understanding of the work because you created it. When you are working with a writing partner, it can be a challenge to fully absorb what your other half has composed, to gain that same level of understanding. But for a novel to feel like a cohesive whole, and not merely the sum of its parts, both you and your co-author must find a way to gain that intimate knowledge.

One of our nightly rituals is to read aloud the new pages that were written that day. It really helps to bond us both to the work, and we both get it imprinted in our brains. After the reading, we discuss. We talk about what we liked in each other’s piece, and what we think needs work. We share why we handled things in a particular way, and talk about whether it was the best way. This is a great time to iron out little inconsistencies, too. It can be tricky to make everything line up seamlessly when we’re working simultaneously on scenes that lead one into the other. Some changes get made immediately, others get a note that will be addressed during the first editing pass.

Even if you work by yourself, you should routinely read your stuff out loud. It’s a very useful method for spotting awkward construction, and repeated or dropped words. Read to your sweetie or your pet if you feel silly reading aloud to an empty room. Or marry your writing partner and spend your life crafting your own favorite bedtime stories.