Reading Aloud

I used to be in a large writers' group about 20 years ago, and because of its size, the policy was you signed up to read your work about once every other month or so, maybe once every three months. Reading aloud, besides terrifying me in front of such a large group, entailed being able to muster more than a monotone, in order that your work seemed to have some energy in terms of dialogue.

My next writers' group, as well as my current one, was small enough that we provided pages. Prior to the Internet being so widespread, we brought enough copies for everyone to read that night, and then provided comments. Now we email pages in the the 24 hours prior to meeting. I prefer this because the editor in me can spot word choices or grammar errors, or re-read certain sections. I provide much better critiques this way. I feel I receive better ones than the read-aloud way, too. It's also closer to what the manuscript will undergo in its submission process--real readers.

But I am slowly coming to the conclusion that all writers should read their entire work aloud at some point in the process.

In my life, odd as it may sound, I have never dated a reader. In fact, I seemed to have a propensity for attracting men who don't like to read, or in the case of my Significant Other, probably have significant learning disabilities (I am pretty sure he is dyslexic). But whether now, or in the past, I basically seemed to find people who hated to read. I considered that, for a long time, a blessing--I had MY life and all my writer friends. They had THEIRS. Now, not so much, since I really DO think it would be nice to discuss books once in a while. But that's neither here nor there. If, in the last 25 years, say, I wanted to share what I was working on with the men I dated or was involved with, it meant READING ALOUD.

So last night, I read two chapters aloud of my work-in-progress. He was impressed. I was less so. In the process of reading aloud, word repetitions jumped out at me and smacked me in the face. And considering the book has a more poetic cadence, is more literary, I heard the spots that needed more work. Considering too, that the book emphasizes hearing (sound is probably the most important sense in it and everything makes noise, the crunch of leaves, the ching of a chain on a biker, and the two-piston pop of a Harley), I heard when I missed, when the sound wasn't what I wanted it to be.

I read Spanish Disco aloud in galleys. I read Diary of a Blues Goddess aloud in galleys. It was because there was no way the man I was with would ever know what they were about unless I did so. And that was the LAST time I read any of my work aloud. Until last night. And now I'm thinking even if it's to myself, it's time to revive the tactic.

Anyone else read aloud? At what point in the process? And to yourself? Or someone else? Or the dog? I am contemplating reading to my dogs. I think they might like a nice story. There's also always the fish. But no way am I reading to Lydia. She's my son's python. I'm still afraid she might eat me.

Thoughts?