Writing Exercises: Work Your Jaws
We’re writers and that means we spend a lot of time alone tapping on a keyboard. Maybe there’s a little music playing in the background or the occasional sound of an airplane flying overhead, or a dog barking off in the distance, but for the most part, I bet most of us spend our days in relative quiet.
Many writers have commented that computers brought ease, speed, and flexibility to the writing process but good penmanship has been lost. Another thing we’ve lost, which hardly anybody mentions, are our oratory skills.
Work Your Jaws
Before the advent of readily available paper and writing instruments, stories, poems, and history weren’t written down at all. They were passed along through the oral tradition. Today, the ability to read a piece aloud either from memory, from notes, or from a full text, is rare. Yet there are still many venues and mediums in which this skill proves to be quite useful:
- Reading aloud to children either at home, in a classroom, or at a library.
- Recording the audio version of a book, article, short story, or poem (did you know most authors retain audio rights when their works are published?).
- Performing a script for stage, TV, film, or internet video delivery.
- Poetry readings and slam competitions.
- Podcasts!
Even if you’re not going to be the one performing or recording a piece you’ve written, it’s helpful to be able to practice reading it aloud privately so that you can write and revise it accordingly. Read just a few paragraphs of anything you’ve written for print and you’ll quickly realize that preparing text to be recited out loud is completely different.
Writing Exercises in Reading Aloud
Writing exercises don’t always have to involve writing. Sometimes we go over something we’ve already written. For this week’s writing exercise, let’s work our jaws by practicing reading aloud. In fact, let’s do more than read aloud. Try to actually perform a piece of writing! You can choose something you’ve written or a work by someone else. Pick a short story, a poem, or a script (monologues are perfect for this!).
Some tips:
- Choose a piece you like enough to read over and over.
- Select something short, about a page or less. If you have any shorter writing exercises that you’ve completed, use one of those.
- If you can, record your readings and play them back, making notes about what you can improve next time.
- Pick something in your area of specialty — if you’re into fiction, choose an excerpt with dialog. Poet? Choose something with emotional flair.
- Go big with intonations, flourishing your voice, shifting between loud and quiet, and make it your goal to evoke the emotion of the piece.
I’ve heard many professional writers and freelancers say that they hate talking to clients on the phone. Some of us are just better at communicating in writing (I’m one of those people!). Writing exercises like this may not involve actually writing, but they will help you build speaking confidence and improve your writing by readying it for performance or recording.
Also, lots of people squirm when they hear their own voice. If you record yourself and play it back enough times, this discomfort will pass and soon you’ll be able to listen to yourself with ease.
One last tip: if you’re really serious about improving your speaking skills or if you’re interested in getting better at public speaking, check out Toastmasters. They’re sure to have a chapter in your area.
Have a great weekend! And keep on writing!
If you have any writing exercises to share, feel free to post them in the comments or send them in as a guest post.
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[...] Work Your Jaws by Melissa Donovan, at Writing Forward – Melissa talks about how not only has our handwriting suffered since our obsessions with being at the computer typing, but because of our isolation, most of us freelancers aren’t talkative or social anymore. Something to think about for sure! [...]
My mother and I still go on vacations together, and for years now, we’ve brought along a “trip book.” This is in addition to whatever reading material we want for ourselves, and is a book that we take turns reading aloud to each other, when one is driving, instead of watching television, or just when sitting in the parked car, enjoying a lovely view.
There’s something so wonderful about the spoken word–especially when they’re well-considered, thoughtful spoken words, rather than the “I told her I didn’t want to, you know, and well, whatever” kind of variety. And there’s the extra touch of bringing back memories of being read to when I was little–telling or being told a story is a distinctly human thing, and just LISTENING is a highly under-rated skill these days.
–Debs last blog post..Mozy Rant
@Deb, That’s one of the reasons I enjoy listening to podcasts. A few years ago I tried listening to audio books but it didn’t take. Then, I discovered podcasts and for some reason it clicked. I think that your trip book tradition is wonderful, something I too would enjoy
Melissa,
I love to read out loud. I get lots of practice having kids and grandkids all over the place. It also forces me to slow down, which is a whole different type of reading for me. Its harder though as I don’t track well and so it takes a lot more concentration to read and speak at the same time.
But…you are right, it is a very important skill!
Great post and great advice! I have met many writers who are missing out on opportunities to promote their work using other mediums. There is a world of opportunity open to us if we’re willing to stretch ourselves. I like public speaking (I know weird!) but I am still overcoming the shyness of sharing my own writing. Talking easy, writing in my own voice and letting others read – still tough! Can we anticipate a little slam from you? I would love to hear it!
Karen Swims last blog post..Stick It! 5 Lessons Learned From Olympic Gymnasts
I’m terrified of public speaking. I joined Toastmasters years ago and during the time I attended meetings I noticed a huge improvement in my confidence. I highly recommend it.
Davinas last blog post..I Dreamt I Died
It’s funny, I hate to hear my own voice and when I was in mlm, I had to record my client calls to improve my skills. Don’t think it worked though.
I feel a lot more secure on a public stage in front of hundreds of people than talking to a handful of strangers. I guess the extrovert in me loves the attention on stage while the crab in me retreats back into a shell in unfamiliar territory.
I often talk to my birds since they are the only ones at home. At least it keeps my voice oiled.
There’s a Toastmasters Club at work. They meet every week.
They send out notices, and I’ve seen their schedule. They have a sergeant-at-arms to announce the opening of a meeting, a speaker, a stop watch keeper, and an “Ah” Counter. Everything is timed and scheduled to within the MINUTE.
OMG..are ALL Toastmasters like this? Doesn’t seem like too much fun to me.
‘
I spend a big chunk of my job sitting in rooms, listening to people speak during meetings. Doing the same on my own free time doesn’t seem to be appealing.
But maybe I should check it out. At least once.
Friars last blog post..Why I Think Northern Pike Are Awesome
@Wendi, I’m not very practiced at reading out loud either but I better get to it because I’m going to be an aunt soon! It is a lot harder to read and speak at the same time, but I think it helps if you read the piece first, then read it out loud. That’s not really reasonable if it’s a whole book though!
@Karen, I took public speaking in high school and it was my favorite class! Then, in college, I hated it. I do not NOT NOT like speaking in front of a group, even a small group of my closest friends.
A slam from me? Heheh. Maybe someday.
@Davina, There was a Toastmasters chapter on site at a place I used to work and I always wish I’d joined. I was doing great at that job, and my only hindrance was not giving our speaking out at meetings. Being shy sucks!
@Monika, If I didn’t talk to my dogs and cat all day, my voice would get all squeaky, so that’s how I keep mine oiled too! That’s funny you like to speak to a big live audience rather than a small group. Seems like it would be the other way around, but I can relate.
@Friar, I think that’s great, the Toastmasters regimen. Back when I had a cube job, I remember most meetings would run way over time. Some employees would have to leave early for other appointments and I always thought it was just rude for the meeting coordinator to let it go on and on and on. I remember one was supposed to be an hour and it was like four hours long. Ridiculous!
@Melissa
I saw a meeting go like that once. Four hours, from 9:30 to 1:30. Right through lunch.
The manager was such an A-hole, he didn’t even offer to let people to grab a sandwich, or (God Forbid), just get a cup of coffee.
He soldiered on and on…going non stop, and everyone else was too intimidated to speak up.
And people like that are supposed to be “Leaders”. Huh.
Could have used a Sergeant at Arms, there!
Friars last blog post..Why I Think Northern Pike Are Awesome
@Friar, Those meetings are the worst, especially when the person conducting the meeting says things like “I know you’re all hungry but let’s just get through this last section,” and another hour goes by… I always wondered – isn’t the guy leading the meeting hungry or thirsty? Very strange.
re the loss of oratory skills:
The fear of public speaking is pretty severe for probably the majority of people. We don’t want to get up and speak at all. And then when we hear a recording played back, shoot, I even have sympathy for Bush sometimes after hearing myself on a recording.
I was just reading out loud to my roommate last night from 2 different writing advice books. I realized by reading out loud what it was that I didn’t like about one of the books: the author rambled on and on nonsensically without making a point. This became evident hearing it out loud; the writing style didn’t work when read out loud.
@Jaden, Yep, public speaking is scary for a lot of people. I think that’s why lots of writing advice books recommend reading work aloud during the revision process — you catch a lot of errors and sections that don’t sound right when you do that.
@Melissa
I had my a good baptism by fire, with public speaking.
The first paper I presented at a conference, ever. My boss let me give the presentation. I was in front of over 200 scientists/engineers in Seattle. I was this up and coming researcher, fresh blood.
I was so terrified, I actually had an out-of-body experience. (No kidding, I literally felt this way!).
It was like I was floating outside my body, watching some other person mouth the words and point to the slides. While I could only sit back, helpless, and observe.
Funny thing, though, I did very well (Don’t ask me HOW!) Once it was all said and done, my boss gave me a big “thumbs up” and I got a spontaneous applause.
Ever since then, public speaking, while still scary, was never quite that terrifying again.
Friars last blog post..Why I Think Northern Pike Are Awesome
Melissa,
Yeah, that’s me. I HATE talking on the phone. Just don’t like it.
This is very good advice, though. The written word is always meant to be spoken. I think your oral history example is very fitting. We have come from a long history of people who memorized vast tracts of knowledge, the Druids for example. And they never wrote anything down.
It also is very good to recite anything you have written to see if it flows. You can often pick up errors that way.
The funny thing is, although I don’t like talking on the phone, I do like performing. Strange.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Don’t Cut the Horizon in Two
This summer, despide heavy protest, I participated in a monologue workshop given by my theatre group. I dislike doing monologues outside of an actual play, but agreed to take one on. The experience was good for me. I learned to slow down on my own because I can be a turbo tongue’d talker now and then and that just doesn’t work on stage. You know what kills me, and what I don’t understand is that last week when I tried to read to my nephew, I felt clumsy and slow because I was having trouble. I can be on stage for 2 hours acting out a play but was having issues reading to a 3 year old. I think I need more practice!
Great post, makes you think!
Jennys last blog post..Say What You Need To
@Friar, I had that kind of out of body experience when I used to have to read poems and stories aloud in class during college. It’s like I wasn’t even there!
@Ellen, I try to read most of my written work aloud at least once during the revision process. You’re right, it is really helpful for making sure it flows well.
@Jenny, Isn’t it funny how we feel so differently about two very similar situations? I don’t like speaking to even a small group of my close friends, but I’ll get up and dance on a stage stone cold sober. Weird!
Add me to the list of people who don’t like their voices. Blech. I am also a very bad performer. I turn bright red and blotchy. It’s just not cool.
Monika — I talk to my rabbits. I don’t have any birds. Do your birds talk back? My aunt has a bird that sings a little song once in a while.
Amys last blog post..Freelance Writing Success: Your Way or Mine?
@Amy, I think it’s pretty weird listening to my own voice too. I got used to it awhile back when I did some voice recordings for work, but it’s just strange and uncomfortable to hear. I probably turn red too; I know that I start stumbling over my words and I get tongue-tied when I’m nervous. Ugh.
@ Melissa: yeah, I know it is strange but I swear its true. I suppose I do love the attention on stage. It gives me a real kick to make the audience laugh at something I said. It lightens the atmosphere and as a speaker you win them hands down. Works every single time.
@ Amy: They have their sounds. They don’t talk in the physical sense of saying words, but they do have a tone of voice that tells me exactly what they want at any given time.
Monika Mundells last blog post..Blog Communications
I’m lucky. I love to write children’s stories, and I have a nursery school full of children with whom I can practice. Also, I have an adoring wife who will listen to anything I write (including my daily posts) each night before bedtime. You are right, reading our work out loud is like sending it to the gym. Great site, great post, I just subscribed. I found you through Monika. Thanks.
Writer Dads last blog post..But Daddy
@Monika, Yeah, isn’t it funny how we like the attention in one setting but not in another? Making people laugh is no easy task! I have a great admiration for people who can do that at will.
@Writer Dad, You are lucky! It sounds like you have lots of helpers and plenty of support. Thanks for subscribing! Hope you stop by and comment often!
I am one of those that dislikes hearing his own voice. I always have a hard time watching myself on screen. And I have a great friend who managed to capture both on youtube with me singing and reciting poetry.
I will admit, after watching it, it does help me to learn from it, how I can perform better next time. Now it’s just reading my own words I don’t like, unless I’m super comfortable and really like what was written. I find that I like storytelling a lot, very similar to my idol Bill Cosby. And I like writing things out better, and I try to aim for another idol, Dave Barry. I manage to combine both in small intimate groups when telling stories, but when I’m actually performing something I practice, it takes a while for me to get used to the crowd. It’s weird but I need to get over it.
Thanks for the advice though. As painful as it’ll be to watch and hear myself, it’ll be for the better.
t.sterlings last blog post..12 pages and counting
@ Melissa: It’s easy when you play goofball.
Other than that I wouldn’t know either.
Monika Mundells last blog post..Blog Communications
@t. sterling, Ugh, I do not like to get captured on video. Actually, I prefer to be behind the camera. But I’d like to overcome that. The only exception (as usual) is when I’m dancing. Then, it’s not so bad. It’s great that you are recording your performances and using the recordings to improve your delivery. What kind of performances are these?
@Monika, Ah, the goofball
yep, that is a good way to get lots of laughs.
I’ve been recorded in a short spoken word play, which I still have yet to see. My first poetry show I had was recorded by a friend of mine. The only thing I saw was me reading one of my poems and singing A Change is Gonna Come… which I’ve since improved after watching and cringing.
I also have trouble watching the short films I’ve made. But I think that’s because I watched them over and over again editing it. That’s a different thing entirely.
I think I could tolerate watching myself dance, if I did dance. Acting isn’t so bad either. I think it’s just when I’m being myself… I don’t know, it’s weird. I’m not camera shy which makes it a little weirder.
t.sterlings last blog post..cops and eggs
@t. sterling, Wow, you’ve done a lot. I love that song “A Change is Gonna Come.” When are you going to post that video on you blog?
Melissa, this is so true! I’m such a hermit. I detest talking on the phone and I don’t get out much. So, I completely relate! I really enjoyed this post (so much that I linked to it on my latest post!).
*smiles*
Michele
Micheles last blog post..Freelance Writing: Writers on the Cyber Highway
Hi Melissa – This is great advice. I certainly need to practise reading out loud more. It really helps you to see if your work does actually flow.
I understand what you mean about computers. When you’re writing with a pen, it’s far slower, so it’s easier to choose the write words. Computers are great but you do tend to hammer everything out and lose that rhythm.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Online Networking: Do I Hide From People Like You?
@Michele, I think a lot of writers are hermits. I’m not sure if reading aloud will combat shyness but it might help. Thanks for the link love!
@Cath, Whenever I write short pieces for clients (blog posts, articles, etc.) I try to read them out loud to see how they sound. It really adds a different dimension to the way the piece flows and it’s definitely a great way to catch the rhythm