Do you read your poetry in public? You should. Here are three reasons why:
- It will improve your own ear for verse
- You can market your chapbooks and books of poetry
- It’s a great way to network with other poets
Mistakes Poets Make When The Read Their Poems Aloud
When I go to poetry readings, I notice that most poets who read make one of these mistakes:
- They don’t annunciate their words clearly
- They speak too softly
- Read too fast
- Stand with an incongruent body posture
How Verbal Readings Help You
Your poetry reading will make a big difference in how effective you are at the top three items in the first bulleted list of this post. Many people will not buy your chapbooks if you do not read well. They will think you do not know how to present your own poems. They may even think your poetry is not good even though you know full well you have crafted real beauties. A good verbal presentation of your poetry will enhance the private reading of your poetry by your fans.
Learn To Present Your Poetry Effectively
It will behoove you to learn how to present your poetry to an audience when you read. Take some time before you read and several times throughout the week prior to your reading to practice, preferably in front of a mirror and with a tape recorder. Listen to yourself. Do you annunciate? Do you read too fast? Tweak your reading style before you get in front of that audience. When you give a good reading, you will know it. You will feel it in your bones.
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