Whenever I finish writing the first draft of a salesletter or an ebook, I always start my re-write by reading the piece out loud.

When I first began using this well worn writers trick, it was like a “Why-the-heck-didn’t-I-start-doing-this-sooner?” kind of moment.

But let me tell you the big problem I have with this tactic…

Before I go through my work I’ve gotta read like 10 bedtime stories. Then I gotta talk to my mom, so we can discuss her diet for an hour. Then my cousin calls and we swap what-we-did-today stories. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the telephone consultations I do with DBO readers.

By the time I’m ready to read my material out loud, I’m tired of talking!

Alas, there is a solution.

ReadPlease is a piece of Windows software that reads your computerized text out loud.

You can choose from Mary, Mike or Sam, and adjust the voice speed. That’s the free version.

The $60 version offers a few more bells and whistles like fast forwarding and rewind. Text highlights while your work is being read. And the ability to start anywhere within the document.

I think novice writers will find that hearing their work spoken out loud will help improve their work a lot faster.

Come to think of it, seasoned pro’s will discover the same.

Keep your mouth shut and grow rich,

Alexis Dawes

Filed under: Bullet Point

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