Hello RWB NaNoWriMo authors. We’re super excited to hear you read your magic this coming Thursday!
To make sure we’re all on the same page, we are re-posting the guidelines you received earlier.
Here you go:
We are delighted you are joining us for the Fourth Annual Reading of the novel at Village Books. JUICY FRUIT DON’T GROW ON TREES may be our best novel yet, perhaps because it took place in a bookstore and all writers love to read.
On Thursday December 3rd we will have a reading in our very own bookstore, Village Books http://www.villagebooks.com/event/red-wheelbarrow-nanowrimo-12/3/15. We will start on time at six o’clock. Please arrive 15 minutes early, by 5:45, and sit as close to the front as possible with the other readers to allow for easy, fast access to the podium when it’s your turn.
Amigos, the alloted time is short because we have a lot of readers, and also because as you all well know, no one can sit in those folding metal chairs for two hours without serious lumbago setting in. This means that each of you will have a 4.5-minute read, including a brief introduction, if you choose. No matter how brilliant your prose, your take on the novel, your backgrounds to the characters, 4.5 minutes is all the time you will have. If you go over that, a loud drum will sound with a dirge-beat, or perhaps a shrieking whistle will rend the air, and a couple of rodeo clowns will come and escort you off. Don’t find out. Please observe the time limit. Also, please rehearse your reading and make sure that it’s four and a half mintues and no more. Choose about 400 words of your chapter to read. No more.
Here are some thoughts and suggestions for keeping it fast-paced and lively:
Firstly, don’t try to make sense. The novel doesn’t make sense. It isn’t supposed to, and that’s the fun of it. Anyone who wants the larger picture can go online and read it for free.
Don’t recap what came before. (When we last saw our heroine, she was……..) No. Keep it in the present that you created.
Your intro might read something simple like:
“Hi, I’m ____________ [your name] and I took these characters [name the characters you dealt with; if they are new characters you created for your chapter then briefly identify: “I made up a new character, XXX who sells hats.” Keep it simple. If you made up new characters, and they don’t show up in your reading, don’t refer to them.
For the read itself select no more than 400 words (depending on the length of your intro) that best exemplifies your narrative voice. Your audience wants to hear your voice, both speaking and on the page. If you’ve got witty dialogue, use the dialogue. If you’ve created a great spooky scene, then use 400 words of that. If you have written something uproariously funny, use that. Decide what really sounds like you, the author. Feel free to skip about and edit from your chapter. Trust us, no one will know the difference.
Remember to read clearly and with expression so that your audience stays awake. And, lastly, do your edits and time yourself for the whole read. Don’t guess at it. Rehearse with a timer. Make your adjustments accordingly.
We have requested a lot of chairs because of course all writers have their entourages, and you should all bring yours. We will also ask to have a table with some water glasses there as well.
We look forward to Thursday the 3rd to seeing you, your entourages, and all the Red Wheelbarrow Writers, to hearing your inimitable voices read successive portions of deathless prose. November is a great month for writers!
If you have questions, please feel free to zap a note us.
See you on the 3rd!
Laura, Susan and Victoria
