As a writer, it’s easy to get so caught up in writing that you forget to read—whether it’s your own work-in-progress or other novels. But we write to share stories with readers, and that means reading should be part of the process too.
I’ll save the discussion on reading other authors’ work for another time. For now, let’s focus on why reading your own writing matters.
I Finished My Novel. Now What?
Now, you read it. You’ve officially entered the revision and editing phase: a stage that can be both tedious and exciting, depending on your personality. Some writers thrive on fine-tuning every sentence, while others just want to push through and be done with it. Personally, I teeter on the edge of obsessive excitement, constantly reminding myself not to overdo it.
Reading your novel from start to finish for the first time is a necessary and revealing step. It’s your chance to see the story as a whole, rather than in scattered drafts and revisions. You’ll spot inconsistencies, pacing issues, and areas that need strengthening. More importantly, you’ll experience your work the way a reader would—seeing what flows, what drags, and what truly stands out.
This is where your novel starts to take its final shape.
Reading Methods
There’s more than one way to read through a freshly finished novel, and the best approach depends on what works for you. Personally, I use Voice Aloud Reader (in a calming British male voice, might I add) alongside a printed copy of my draft. I primarily listen to the app while skimming the text, which helps me catch awkward phrasing, missing words, and spelling errors.
I listen back to my draft about a week after finishing, which helps me catch any immediate issues. After that, I set it aside for a few months before getting into major edits. Some writers prefer to take a longer break right away, while others jump into revisions immediately. There’s no right or wrong timeline, but what matters is finding a method that helps you see your work with fresh eyes.
Now that AI-driven tools are everywhere, it can be tempting to rely on them—especially when influencers like MrBeast are out here promoting them in ads that start off with the smarmy statement, “I hate to read” (yikes). But while flashy new AI voices promise hyper-realistic narration, many of these models have been trained without the consent of the original speakers.
Sure, the old-school text-to-speech programs can sound robotic, but there’s something charming about them. They get the job done without stealing from real people or burning through absurd amounts of resources. At the end of the day, the goal isn’t a perfect audiobook, it’s a fresh perspective on your writing.
Some other options to consider would be:
Reading your novel aloud to a friend or family member
Using the Read Aloud app on Word while you read through the digital document
Read your printed draft
Read your digital draft
Whatever method you choose, the goal remains the same: to gain a fresh perspective on your work. Whether you’re listening or reading aloud, make sure it works for you.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
That being said, reading your work aloud—or having it read to you—has been proven time and time again to be a powerful editing tool. When you read silently, your brain tends to autocorrect mistakes, gloss over awkward phrasing, and fill in missing words without you even noticing. Listening forces you to slow down and catch errors you might otherwise miss.
If reading aloud feels uncomfortable or you’re hesitant to use a text-to-speech tool, push past that hesitation! You might be surprised by how much it helps. And let’s be honest—if you plan to publish, you’ll have to get used to talking about your work anyway. Consider this an early step in owning your voice as an author.
What Do I Look For?
Think of your first read-through as a reflex read. During this read, you want to take in the story and detach aspects of your editing brain, while retaining the bare minimum. So what do you want to retain?
Spelling and grammar: This is a great opportunity to catch mistakes. You are bound to have errors in your first draft that make you go 😬 — Now’s your chance to get rid of them.
Plot holes: Listening to/reading your draft as a reader rather than a writer will help you pick out plot holes more easily.
Things you just hate: I wrote my draft for A Time When Demons during NaNoWriMo so it was a speed draft. Looking back, there were lines I just loathed. Those got crossed out at this phase.
As you go along, don’t stop your reading to make lengthy notes. Take simple actions such as crossing lines/words out, highlighting spelling and grammar errors, and circling larger portions that are unnecessary or problematic.
Final Thoughts
Reading your novel for the first time after finishing the draft is one of the most rewarding moments in the writing process. You’re still riding the high of completion, finally able to experience your story as a reader rather than a writer. Enjoy that feeling—but also recognize that this first read is a crucial step in shaping your revisions.
This is the time to make broad decisions about structure, pacing, and overall story direction. Taking the time to step back and assess the bigger picture will set you up for a smoother editing process. With a solid roadmap in place, you’ll be ready to refine, polish, and bring your story to its full potential.
Comments