Here I am reading the opening prologue of Broken Madonna at my launch.
It's not easy reading such an emotive passage when you feel your place is on the page, rather than on stage. But I gave it my best shot and was really pleased with the audience reaction!
I know writers generally have mixed feelings about reading their own work to an audience. Last week I read a section from Our Precious Earth by Emma Cameron (a beautiful book about one woman's quest to save her beloved oak in the Sussex countryside) at her launch in Worthing. It was an honour to be asked and it felt alot less loaded reading her words! Watch here.
On the other hand, I have also had the experience of professional actors reading my work aloud and being blown away by what they add. As the writer, you soon hear what works and what doesn't, and kick yourself for what should have already been deleted or edited or the missing detail. It's something I always encourage emerging writers to do, in the comfort of their own private space, however cringe-inducing. What seems like a perfectly crafted passage can soon reveal itself in a totally different way and allow you to get deeper into the writing.
Writers - do you like reading your own work in public or prefer someone else to do it?
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