Public readings

NicoleMD · Oct 18, 2007

My writers group is hosting an open mic night, and I'm reading a chapter from my WIP, but I'm not sure which one I should choose. I could go with the first chapter, which would be easier for the audience to pick up on things, or go for my favorite chapter, which would be more entertaining, though perhaps a bit harder to keep up with.

What have you done with your novels, or seen done at other's readings? And which do you prefer?

Thanks in advance!

Nicole

PeeDee · Oct 18, 2007

Follows is a quote from the Book of Gaiman. Chapter 9-1-2004. Bow thine heads.

St. Neil the Gaiman said:
Start with something funny, and don't outstay your welcome.

Have fun with it (that way, at least one person will be enjoying it). And make sure they can hear you.

Bad readings tend to be a) dull b) inaudible and c) interminable. If you can avoid these crimes against the audience, you're most of the way there. Don't gabble. Breathe. Answer questions if people have any. And stop while they're still enjoying themselves.

Amen.

qdsb · Oct 18, 2007

I vote--Go with what's most entertaining.

Good luck!

willietheshakes · Oct 18, 2007

I tend to make people cry with my readings (from the emotional power of the scenes in question, NOT the quality of the reading).

When I asked my publicist for advice before I went on the road, she suggested "Try to be funny."

I looked at her for a beat, then asked, "With this book?"

She saw the limitations of her advice...

maestrowork · Oct 18, 2007

NicoleMD said:
My writers group is hosting an open mic night, and I'm reading a chapter from my WIP, but I'm not sure which one I should choose. I could go with the first chapter, which would be easier for the audience to pick up on things, or go for my favorite chapter, which would be more entertaining, though perhaps a bit harder to keep up with.

What have you done with your novels, or seen done at other's readings? And which do you prefer?

Thanks in advance!

Nicole

Pick the best part: it's a reading, not a query.

"Entertain" is the key here.

Also, don't do a whole chapter! I've found that 3 printed page (about 800 words) is a good length -- it's about 10 minutes of reading. So if you're alloted 20 minutes, pick the best 3 pages and allow time for question and answer.

I tend to make people cry with my readings (from the emotional power of the scenes in question, NOT the quality of the reading).

I find it difficult to induce tears for reading only 3 pages, or even a chapter. People need more (characters, plot, background, etc.) to feel that emotion impact. In my experience, if you pick a "tear-jerking" scene to read, people will feel manipulated.

Myself, I'd go with something fun, sexy, exciting, entertaining. I have done a few readings and picked a few different passages, and I found that the "sexy bar scene" evoked the most reactions.

Will Lavender · Oct 18, 2007

Saw an article where the thriller writer Harlan Coben recommended that fiction writers never read out loud because it bores the piss out of people.

I wouldn't go that far -- but I see the spirit of his comment.

I don't like fiction readings. At all. And I've sat through many of them. A few have been decent, a couple were startingly good (guy read a story in my MFA program about a man who shows up at a gag birthday party for one of his friends at a skating rink and travels back in time to the 1980s; I was rapt the entire time), but for the most part I found myself counting down the seconds until I could flee the room.

I'm with Gaiman. Make it short and make 'em laugh.

blacbird · Oct 18, 2007

Pray that your audience isn't a bunch of people expecting a poetry-slam style presentation.

caw

Will Lavender · Oct 18, 2007

blacbird said:
Pray that your audience isn't a bunch of people expecting a poetry-slam style presentation.

caw

I like neither poetry slams nor fiction readings.

Unless we can get the entire narrative (as I was able to in the skating rink example above), then to me it's a wasted exercise. Like excerpts of novels in literary magazines -- I have never read one, and will never read one. I want the entire story, not just a piece.

JMO, as always.

PeeDee · Oct 18, 2007

Will Lavender said:
Saw an article where the thriller writer Harlan Coben recommended that fiction writers never read out loud because it bores the piss out of people.

I'm with Gaiman. Make it short and make 'em laugh.

*cough* If I were Harlan Coben, I would perhaps see the value of that...

Neil Gaiman, when he reads out loud, is hilarious and a delight. Stephen King is just absolutely terrific. I go for the fun and the blast of working a crowd. I would prefer that to someone like Poul Anderson who read for a few minutes a random scene -- which was exposition and made no sense -- and then quit mid-sentence and decided he'd just answer questions instead.

Susan Flemming · Oct 18, 2007

NicoleMD said:
What have you done with your novels, or seen done at other's readings? And which do you prefer?

The best reading I've ever been to was a book launch for Diane Thomas's novel "The Year the Music Changed." Diane had bookmarked three or four short passages to read. Before beginning each, she explained a bit about the passage and how it related to the overall story. The passages she chose were some of the most poignant scenes in the book.

The moment I got home I started reading the book because I wanted to find out what led up to those scenes and what happened after.

NicoleMD · Oct 18, 2007

Good suggestions everyone. The scene I had in mind is about 6 pages long. Or maybe I should just go with the sexy bar scene...

The flyer we've been passing around specifically says prose, but I'm sure we'll have a couple poets sneak in.

Nicole

maestrowork · Oct 18, 2007

6 pages (ms page or printed page?) would be about 20 minutes... that's a bit long, I think.

CaroGirl · Oct 18, 2007

When I did a reading from a short story, I started at the beginning because I thought I'd be too nervous to first give a short recap and then start midway. I was right. I also wasn't sure where to end it. I might have gone on too long, but thankfully, no one pointed that out to me.

Good luck, and try to have fun with it!

PeeDee · Oct 18, 2007

maestrowork said:
6 pages (ms page or printed page?) would be about 20 minutes... that's a bit long, I think.

If it's entertaining, twenty minutes wouldn't bother me any.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 18, 2007

I went to a reading once while in college. That was... 1986.

Have never been back.

So my advice would be, pick something interesting and entertaining. Don't try to impress with how "literary" or "poetic" you are.

maestrowork · Oct 18, 2007

SouthernWriter1978 said:
Not if they have only four speakers and give each 15-20 minutes each.

In my experience, it's good to leave at least a few minutes for Q&A or chat or whatever. Also, it's good to guage audience's reaction. If people start yawning and you still have 10 minutes to go, probably it's a good time to wrap up.

maestrowork · Oct 18, 2007

PeeDee said:
If it's entertaining, twenty minutes wouldn't bother me any.

IF. Otherwise it could be torture. I once listened to David Sedaris read for two solid hours. He just stood there and read. That's all. Never a dull moment. He was that good.

On the other hand, I've heard authors read and it was more painful than getting drilled by the dentist. Many writers just aren't good readers.

Oh, Nicole, it's probably a good idea to record yourself doing a practice run of your reading. Invaluable, actually.

NicoleMD · Oct 18, 2007

It's MS pages, about 1600 words, and it's pretty fast-paced - a scene in an outdoors market with cutthroat vendors. I have about 15 minutes.

Nicole

willietheshakes · Oct 18, 2007

maestrowork said:
I find it difficult to induce tears for reading only 3 pages, or even a chapter. People need more (characters, plot, background, etc.) to feel that emotion impact. In my experience, if you pick a "tear-jerking" scene to read, people will feel manipulated.

Our experiences differ, clearly.

I've developed a solid twenty minute reading that spans the first section of Before I Wake, finishing up with a killer 5 minutes that leaves the room breathless. Seriously, I've done the reading a couple of dozen times and each and every time I hit a point -- I've actually got it marked on the page -- where the room goes completely still. Not a sound. Not a breath. Not a movement. And when I finish, there's a long moment of that continued silence, save for the sound of sobbing from some members of the audience.

Sure, it's manipulative -- fiction is, by nature. But the audience doesn't feel manipulatied -- they feel like buying books.

ORION · Oct 18, 2007

When I read (if I choose something in the middle) I give a one or two sentence lead in to ground the audience DO NOT GO INTO MASS DETAIL.
speak a bit SLOWER than normal.
Use emotion.
For most of my readings my audience has already read my book and that's why I include Q & A- for open mics there is usually never any Q & A

CaroGirl · Oct 18, 2007

Cool.

willietheshakes said:
Our experiences differ, clearly.

I've developed a solid twenty minute reading that spans the first section of Before I Wake, finishing up with a killer 5 minutes that leaves the room breathless. Seriously, I've done the reading a couple of dozen times and each and every time I hit a point -- I've actually got it marked on the page -- where the room goes completely still. Not a sound. Not a breath. Not a movement. And when I finish, there's a long moment of that continued silence, save for the sound of sobbing from some members of the audience.

Sure, it's manipulative -- fiction is, by nature. But the audience doesn't feel manipulatied -- they feel like buying books.

ORION · Oct 18, 2007

And Willie? I agree with you (it's kind of like "name that tune")
I can make that audience cry in THREE paragraphs.
RAY RAY RAY!!!! think of lottery just after gram dies - I can make a TRUCKDRIVER tear up!

willietheshakes · Oct 18, 2007

Well, after that chat with my publicist I figured "If I can't make them laugh, I can at least try to make them feel something." And, for some reason, making people cry is intrinsically rewarding.

ORION · Oct 18, 2007

We think alike...
Were you a bully on the playground too? LOL

willietheshakes · Oct 18, 2007

No, bullied.

Writing is the best revenge.

Public readings

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