The Voice Pass

The Voice Pass

Read your entire essay out loud. Not in your head—actually speak the words.

Your mouth reveals what your brain hides:

• Sentences too long to say in one breath (divide them up)
• Awkward phrasing that makes you stumble (rewrite)
• Unintentional repetition (you'll hear the same word echoing)
• Rhythm problems (monotonous sentences putting you to sleep)

If you can't say it smoothly, your reader can't read it smoothly either.

Ernest Hemingway finished a manuscript and read it aloud to his grandchildren. Not because they were his target audience, but because reading aloud to an actual person forces you to hear every weak spot. You can't skim past problems when someone's listening.

Mark Twain did the same with his family. He'd gather them in the living room and read chapters aloud, watching their faces. When they looked confused, he'd mark the page. When they laughed at something meant to be serious, he'd mark that too. He wanted to make sure that his writing delivered what he intended.

You don't need grandchildren or a family reading circle. Just read it aloud to yourself. Record it on your phone if that helps. Then listen back.