My first time, I was so afraid.
I stood with legs shaking; the view before me made my heart pound.
It’s perfectly safe, I told myself. It will be over soon.
It was a Carteret Writers Member who pushed me over the edge, and then there I was, free-falling into the unknown.
You’ll never forget the first time you read your writing in front of a crowd – the fear, the thrill, the whole thing speeding by in a breath, the end rushing up to meet you before you’re ready.
Reading your work aloud is like skydiving for authors. Nowhere else do you get that jolt of adrenaline; nothing else seems to end so quickly. Three minutes, five minutes, and it’s on to the next writer. The minutes at the mic fly by.
My first reading, I went over the limit. I introduced the piece for too long, and the timer went off before I finished my story, even though I read it too fast. I had to be told to step away from the microphone. Embarrassing.
But with practice, we can get better at just about anything, and now I know how long it takes to read 500 words aloud; I focus on slowing down, enunciating, projecting. It gets easier, I promise.
If you’re interested in reading your writing to a crowd, opportunities abound.
On Leap Day, Carteret Writers VP Emily Carter (https://www.achicksview.com) hosted an Open Mic at the Green Room in Beaufort, where both musicians and writers entertained the bar crowd, creating a cocktail of creativity.
Next Chapter Books in New Bern has a poetry reading on March 10th, and The History Museum of Carteret County hosts a reading on March 15th – both poetry and stories.
Carteret Writers meetings often have a period for participants to share, ranging from 3-5 minutes, depending on group size. We’re a friendly bunch; we won’t bite. Check the website for meeting dates.
Maybe next time, with a push from a Carteret Writers member, you’ll be the one behind the mic: jumping, flying, having fun.
Someday I will
You already do! And well!
Having been raised by a mother who loved to read aloud and be read to, I learned early on how to enunciate clearly and understand the gist of the piece I was reading. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I’m a natural ham and have done some community theater acting. But just practice reading to your family, or your dog, or your mirror, and pretend the whole world loves you. I’d be happy to listen to you if you want to practice first. Good luck.