By DeAnna Cameron //
One of the most effective ways to catch errors in your manuscript is to hear your written words spoken aloud. It’s also one of the easiest. By simply switching your focus to your ears and away from your eyes and fingertips, your brain will work differently, which will force you to examine your work differently.
Typos, missing words, and inadvertent repetitions will become more noticeable. Listening to your work can also help a writer determine where sentences should be more varied or have a better flow or indicate other structural problems.
By far, the easiest way to hear your work aloud is to read it yourself at some point during the revision process. But that’s not your only option, and there could be an added benefit to hearing your work read by someone else because it will allow you to be completely focused on what you’re hearing.
So, how can you hear your words read aloud by someone else without having to shell out a small fortune to hire a professional? Here are a few options, and they’re all free:
Microsoft Word
If you work in Microsoft Word, you can use the “Read Aloud” function.
Here’s how it works:
- Open a document
- Highlight the passage to be read
- Click “Read Aloud” from the “Review” option on the menu. (See Figure 1) (Note: I’m using Version 2006 and it might operate differently in older versions.)
- When you click “Read Aloud,” a small window will also appear on your page that allows you to pause and restart. If you click on the icon of a speaker with a gear, you can also change the reading speed and the voice.
Google Docs
If you work on Google Docs, there’s an extension for Chrome browsers called ChromeVox that will accomplish the text-to-speech function. (Here’s an article that explains how to install it.)
Online Options
If you don’t have access to either of the above options, you can also try one of the free websites that offer a text-to-speech function.
I use and like Natural Readers (www.naturalreaders.com/online). When you visit the site, you’ll see a large text box in the middle of the screen where you can paste in the passage you want to hear. If you want to upload a document, the site accepts .pdf, .txt, .doc(x), and some others.
At the top of the page, you’ll find menu options for controlling the reading speed and the speaking voice.
A similar site is TTSReader (www.ttsreader.com). It appears to have the same functionality, so give them both a try and see which suits you better.
Manage Your Expectations
None of these options will make your work sound like an audiobook. Although your words will sound a bit robotic, they will still give you a new perspective on your work that will make for a stronger final draft.
QUESTION: Do you have another read-aloud method? Feel free to share it or your experience with any of the above methods in the comments below.
DEANNA CAMERON is the founder and managing director of O.C. Writers. She’s also a hybrid author currently writing YA dark fantasy as D.D. Croix and an occasional copy editor who’s never met an Oxford comma she didn’t like. Learn more at www.DDCroix.com.