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These are the mistakes you make when reading your own stories

Have you ever felt that your own creation seems strange when you reread it? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself frantically correcting every line without reaching the end? You’re not alone. The task of reviewing our own stories can be a challenge full of subtle traps that many comic and visual narrative creators face. In this article, we’ll unravel the most common mistakes we make when reading our own stories and provide you with the tools to overcome them.

From the temptation to make immediate corrections to the lack of objective perspective, we’ll explore how these habits can affect our ability to improve our narratives. But don’t worry, we’ll also offer practical strategies to avoid these traps and get the most out of your creative process. Are you ready to discover how you can become the best reader of your own stories? Keep reading and prepare to transform your approach!

The right attitude: The art of reading your own creations

Before diving into specific mistakes, it’s crucial to understand the proper mindset for approaching the reading of your own stories. Revision is a delicate act that requires balance between constructive criticism and appreciation of your work. It’s not simply about ruthless “cleaning” or blind celebration of every written word.

The key is to adopt a curious observer stance. Imagine you’re exploring a new world: the one you’ve created. Your goal is not to judge immediately, but to discover. What works well? What could be improved? How does the narrative flow? This exploratory attitude will allow you to see your work with fresh eyes, identifying both its strengths and areas for improvement.

Remember, the revision process is not a judgment on your worth as a creator, but an opportunity for growth. Each reading is a step towards perfecting your art. With this mindset, you’ll be better prepared to avoid the common mistakes we’ll explore next and to take your narrative skills to the next level, click here and discover how.

Mistake #1: Stopping reading to make immediate modifications

One of the most frequent and tempting mistakes is the urge to correct on the fly. You’re immersed in your story when suddenly you notice that a dialogue sounds forced or that a scene could be better structured. The temptation to stop and make immediate changes is almost irresistible. However, giving in to this impulse can be counterproductive for several reasons:

  • It interrupts the reading flow: By constantly stopping, you lose the overall perspective of the narrative.
  • It encourages micromanagement: You could become obsessed with minor details at the expense of more significant problems in structure or character development.
  • It limits your creativity: By focusing on “fixing” things, you might miss valuable ideas that arise from a fluid and complete reading.

Instead of giving in to the temptation to edit immediately, adopt the discipline of a patient reader. Read your story from beginning to end as if it were someone else’s work. This will allow you to gain a clearer and more objective view of your work.

Illustrator reading their own comic

To maintain this discipline, you can follow these steps:

  1. Set a time dedicated exclusively to reading, without interruptions.
  2. Use a method to mark passages you want to review later, such as sticky notes or digital bookmarks, without stopping to make changes.
  3. After the first complete reading, take a break before reading again. This will give you a new perspective on each revision.

Remember, the goal is to get an overview of your story. Details can wait. This practice will help you identify larger problems of structure, pacing, and coherence that might go unnoticed if you focus on minute corrections from the start.

Want to improve your ability to visualize the complete story? Explore specialized resources here that will help you develop a more holistic vision of your narratives.

Mistake #2: Not taking notes during reading

Relying solely on your memory while reading your own story is like trying to catch water with your hands: inevitably, some ideas will slip away. Note-taking is not just a useful tool; it’s an essential practice for any serious creator of comics and visual narratives. Here’s why it’s crucial and how to do it effectively:

The importance of documenting your thoughts

  • Captures fleeting ideas: Often, the best ideas arise spontaneously during reading and can be lost if not immediately recorded.
  • Facilitates later revision: Notes provide you with a map of your initial thoughts and impressions, invaluable for when you return to your work after some time.
  • Helps identify patterns: By consistently taking notes, you’ll be able to recognize trends in your writing, both strengths and areas for improvement.

How to take effective notes

  1. Use a system that feels comfortable to you: It can be a physical notebook, digital notes, or even voice recordings.
  2. Be specific: Note the page number or scene along with your comments for easy future reference.
  3. Use codes or symbols: Develop a personal system of abbreviations for different types of observations (e.g., “P” for pacing issues, “C” for character development).
  4. Include both positive and negative: Don’t just note areas for improvement, also record what works well.
  5. Be honest and detailed: Treat your notes as a private conversation with yourself, where you can be completely frank.

Illustrator taking notes while reading their comic

Remember, your notes are a personal tool. They don’t need to be perfect or understandable to others. The important thing is that they capture your thoughts and feelings at the moment of reading. These notes will be your guide when it comes time to revise and edit your work.

To perfect the art of self-evaluation and critical analysis, click here and discover advanced techniques that will help you elevate the quality of your stories.

Mistake #3: Imagining you’re always the same person when reading yourself

One of the most subtle but significant challenges when reading your own work is the tendency to always do so from the same perspective. As a creator, you’re intimately familiar with every detail of your story, which can limit your ability to see it with fresh eyes. This lack of diversity in your approach can lead to blind spots in your narrative and limit the potential of your work.

The importance of multiple perspectives

Adopting different perspectives when reading your work not only enriches your understanding of the story but also helps you anticipate how diverse readers might interpret and react to your narrative. Here are some strategies to diversify your approach:

  1. The enthusiastic reader: Read your story as if you were your number one fan. What excites you? What moments make you smile or move you?
  2. The constructive critic: Adopt the mindset of a professional editor. Look for areas of improvement in structure, pacing, and character development.
  3. The casual reader: Imagine you’re someone who stumbled upon your comic by chance. Is it easy to follow? What keeps you interested?
  4. The skeptic: Put yourself in the shoes of someone who doesn’t usually read this type of story. What might they not understand or appreciate?
  5. The genre analyst: Evaluate how your story fits or challenges the conventions of the genre it’s framed in.

Techniques for changing perspective

  • Reading in different moods: Read your story when you’re happy, tired, anxious. Observe how your perception changes.
  • Format change: If you wrote digitally, print your story. If you wrote it by hand, digitize it. The change in medium can offer a new perspective.
  • Reading aloud: This can reveal dialogue or pacing issues you might not notice in a silent reading.
  • Seek external feedback: While not the same as reading it yourself, others’ opinions can give you ideas on how to approach your next reading.

Remember, the goal is not to please every possible reader, but to understand how your story can be perceived from different angles. This will allow you to make informed decisions about what aspects to reinforce or modify to make your narrative more solid and appealing to your target audience.

Looking to expand your repertoire of narrative techniques? Click here to explore resources that will help you diversify your creative approach.

Additional strategies for effective reading of your own stories

In addition to avoiding the mentioned mistakes, there are proactive strategies you can implement to maximize the effectiveness of your revision process. These techniques will help you gain a clearer and more objective perspective of your work:

1. Establish a “cooling-off” period

After finishing your first draft, let some time pass before reviewing it. This distancing period will allow you to approach your story with a fresher and more objective look. Depending on the length of your work, this period can vary from a few weeks to a few months.

2. Create a personalized checklist

Develop a list of specific elements you want to evaluate in your story. This could include aspects such as:

  • Consistency in character development
  • Narrative pacing
  • Effectiveness of dialogues
  • Clarity in plot progression
  • Visual impact of key scenes

3. Use technological tools

Take advantage of software and applications designed for writers and comic creators. These tools can help you organize your notes, visualize your story structure, and track changes over time.

4. Read in different formats

If you normally read on your computer, try printing your story or reading it on a mobile device. Changing the format can help you notice details you might overlook in your usual medium.

5. Conduct thematic readings

Instead of reading the whole story at once, do focused readings on specific aspects. For example, a reading centered only on the development of a particular character, or another focused exclusively on the progression of a subplot.

6. Create a visual map of your story

Develop a diagram or simplified storyboard of your narrative. This visual representation can help you identify structure or pacing problems that are not evident in the text.

Want to take your visual storytelling skills to the next level? Discover advanced resources here to perfect your art.

Conclusion: Master the art of reading your own stories

Reading your own stories is an art in itself, as crucial as writing and drawing in the process of creating comics and visual narratives. By avoiding the common mistakes we’ve discussed and applying the proposed strategies, you’ll be on the right track to becoming a more effective reader of your own work.

Remember:

  • Resist the temptation to edit while reading for the first time.
  • Take detailed and specific notes during your reading.
  • Adopt multiple perspectives to enrich your understanding of the story.
  • Use varied tools and techniques to gain a more complete view of your work.

With practice and patience, you’ll develop the ability to see your work with fresh and critical eyes, allowing you to identify both its strengths and areas for improvement. This capability will not only elevate the quality of your stories but also help you grow as a visual storyteller.

Remember that each reading is an opportunity to learn and improve. Don’t get discouraged if you find aspects that need work; each revision brings you one step closer to the definitive version of your story. Keep your passion for storytelling alive and continue perfecting your art.

Ready to take the next step in your creative journey? Click here to access resources that will boost your development as a visual storyteller.

Now it’s your turn! Take that script you’ve been keeping, prepare yourself a cup of tea, and immerse yourself in your story with a new perspective. Each reading is one more step towards creating a masterpiece. Good luck on your creative journey!

Join us

These are the mistakes you make when reading your own stories

Have you ever felt that your own creation seems strange when you reread it? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself frantically correcting every line without reaching the end? You’re not alone. The task of reviewing our own stories can be a challenge full of subtle traps that many comic and visual narrative creators face. In this article, we’ll unravel the most common mistakes we make when reading our own stories and provide you with the tools to overcome them.

From the temptation to make immediate corrections to the lack of objective perspective, we’ll explore how these habits can affect our ability to improve our narratives. But don’t worry, we’ll also offer practical strategies to avoid these traps and get the most out of your creative process. Are you ready to discover how you can become the best reader of your own stories? Keep reading and prepare to transform your approach!

The right attitude: The art of reading your own creations

Before diving into specific mistakes, it’s crucial to understand the proper mindset for approaching the reading of your own stories. Revision is a delicate act that requires balance between constructive criticism and appreciation of your work. It’s not simply about ruthless “cleaning” or blind celebration of every written word.

The key is to adopt a curious observer stance. Imagine you’re exploring a new world: the one you’ve created. Your goal is not to judge immediately, but to discover. What works well? What could be improved? How does the narrative flow? This exploratory attitude will allow you to see your work with fresh eyes, identifying both its strengths and areas for improvement.

Remember, the revision process is not a judgment on your worth as a creator, but an opportunity for growth. Each reading is a step towards perfecting your art. With this mindset, you’ll be better prepared to avoid the common mistakes we’ll explore next and to take your narrative skills to the next level, click here and discover how.

Mistake #1: Stopping reading to make immediate modifications

One of the most frequent and tempting mistakes is the urge to correct on the fly. You’re immersed in your story when suddenly you notice that a dialogue sounds forced or that a scene could be better structured. The temptation to stop and make immediate changes is almost irresistible. However, giving in to this impulse can be counterproductive for several reasons:

  • It interrupts the reading flow: By constantly stopping, you lose the overall perspective of the narrative.
  • It encourages micromanagement: You could become obsessed with minor details at the expense of more significant problems in structure or character development.
  • It limits your creativity: By focusing on “fixing” things, you might miss valuable ideas that arise from a fluid and complete reading.

Instead of giving in to the temptation to edit immediately, adopt the discipline of a patient reader. Read your story from beginning to end as if it were someone else’s work. This will allow you to gain a clearer and more objective view of your work.

Illustrator reading their own comic

To maintain this discipline, you can follow these steps:

  1. Set a time dedicated exclusively to reading, without interruptions.
  2. Use a method to mark passages you want to review later, such as sticky notes or digital bookmarks, without stopping to make changes.
  3. After the first complete reading, take a break before reading again. This will give you a new perspective on each revision.

Remember, the goal is to get an overview of your story. Details can wait. This practice will help you identify larger problems of structure, pacing, and coherence that might go unnoticed if you focus on minute corrections from the start.

Want to improve your ability to visualize the complete story? Explore specialized resources here that will help you develop a more holistic vision of your narratives.

Mistake #2: Not taking notes during reading

Relying solely on your memory while reading your own story is like trying to catch water with your hands: inevitably, some ideas will slip away. Note-taking is not just a useful tool; it’s an essential practice for any serious creator of comics and visual narratives. Here’s why it’s crucial and how to do it effectively:

The importance of documenting your thoughts

  • Captures fleeting ideas: Often, the best ideas arise spontaneously during reading and can be lost if not immediately recorded.
  • Facilitates later revision: Notes provide you with a map of your initial thoughts and impressions, invaluable for when you return to your work after some time.
  • Helps identify patterns: By consistently taking notes, you’ll be able to recognize trends in your writing, both strengths and areas for improvement.

How to take effective notes

  1. Use a system that feels comfortable to you: It can be a physical notebook, digital notes, or even voice recordings.
  2. Be specific: Note the page number or scene along with your comments for easy future reference.
  3. Use codes or symbols: Develop a personal system of abbreviations for different types of observations (e.g., “P” for pacing issues, “C” for character development).
  4. Include both positive and negative: Don’t just note areas for improvement, also record what works well.
  5. Be honest and detailed: Treat your notes as a private conversation with yourself, where you can be completely frank.

Illustrator taking notes while reading their comic

Remember, your notes are a personal tool. They don’t need to be perfect or understandable to others. The important thing is that they capture your thoughts and feelings at the moment of reading. These notes will be your guide when it comes time to revise and edit your work.

To perfect the art of self-evaluation and critical analysis, click here and discover advanced techniques that will help you elevate the quality of your stories.

Mistake #3: Imagining you’re always the same person when reading yourself

One of the most subtle but significant challenges when reading your own work is the tendency to always do so from the same perspective. As a creator, you’re intimately familiar with every detail of your story, which can limit your ability to see it with fresh eyes. This lack of diversity in your approach can lead to blind spots in your narrative and limit the potential of your work.

The importance of multiple perspectives

Adopting different perspectives when reading your work not only enriches your understanding of the story but also helps you anticipate how diverse readers might interpret and react to your narrative. Here are some strategies to diversify your approach:

  1. The enthusiastic reader: Read your story as if you were your number one fan. What excites you? What moments make you smile or move you?
  2. The constructive critic: Adopt the mindset of a professional editor. Look for areas of improvement in structure, pacing, and character development.
  3. The casual reader: Imagine you’re someone who stumbled upon your comic by chance. Is it easy to follow? What keeps you interested?
  4. The skeptic: Put yourself in the shoes of someone who doesn’t usually read this type of story. What might they not understand or appreciate?
  5. The genre analyst: Evaluate how your story fits or challenges the conventions of the genre it’s framed in.

Techniques for changing perspective

  • Reading in different moods: Read your story when you’re happy, tired, anxious. Observe how your perception changes.
  • Format change: If you wrote digitally, print your story. If you wrote it by hand, digitize it. The change in medium can offer a new perspective.
  • Reading aloud: This can reveal dialogue or pacing issues you might not notice in a silent reading.
  • Seek external feedback: While not the same as reading it yourself, others’ opinions can give you ideas on how to approach your next reading.

Remember, the goal is not to please every possible reader, but to understand how your story can be perceived from different angles. This will allow you to make informed decisions about what aspects to reinforce or modify to make your narrative more solid and appealing to your target audience.

Looking to expand your repertoire of narrative techniques? Click here to explore resources that will help you diversify your creative approach.

Additional strategies for effective reading of your own stories

In addition to avoiding the mentioned mistakes, there are proactive strategies you can implement to maximize the effectiveness of your revision process. These techniques will help you gain a clearer and more objective perspective of your work:

1. Establish a “cooling-off” period

After finishing your first draft, let some time pass before reviewing it. This distancing period will allow you to approach your story with a fresher and more objective look. Depending on the length of your work, this period can vary from a few weeks to a few months.

2. Create a personalized checklist

Develop a list of specific elements you want to evaluate in your story. This could include aspects such as:

  • Consistency in character development
  • Narrative pacing
  • Effectiveness of dialogues
  • Clarity in plot progression
  • Visual impact of key scenes

3. Use technological tools

Take advantage of software and applications designed for writers and comic creators. These tools can help you organize your notes, visualize your story structure, and track changes over time.

4. Read in different formats

If you normally read on your computer, try printing your story or reading it on a mobile device. Changing the format can help you notice details you might overlook in your usual medium.

5. Conduct thematic readings

Instead of reading the whole story at once, do focused readings on specific aspects. For example, a reading centered only on the development of a particular character, or another focused exclusively on the progression of a subplot.

6. Create a visual map of your story

Develop a diagram or simplified storyboard of your narrative. This visual representation can help you identify structure or pacing problems that are not evident in the text.

Want to take your visual storytelling skills to the next level? Discover advanced resources here to perfect your art.

Conclusion: Master the art of reading your own stories

Reading your own stories is an art in itself, as crucial as writing and drawing in the process of creating comics and visual narratives. By avoiding the common mistakes we’ve discussed and applying the proposed strategies, you’ll be on the right track to becoming a more effective reader of your own work.

Remember:

  • Resist the temptation to edit while reading for the first time.
  • Take detailed and specific notes during your reading.
  • Adopt multiple perspectives to enrich your understanding of the story.
  • Use varied tools and techniques to gain a more complete view of your work.

With practice and patience, you’ll develop the ability to see your work with fresh and critical eyes, allowing you to identify both its strengths and areas for improvement. This capability will not only elevate the quality of your stories but also help you grow as a visual storyteller.

Remember that each reading is an opportunity to learn and improve. Don’t get discouraged if you find aspects that need work; each revision brings you one step closer to the definitive version of your story. Keep your passion for storytelling alive and continue perfecting your art.

Ready to take the next step in your creative journey? Click here to access resources that will boost your development as a visual storyteller.

Now it’s your turn! Take that script you’ve been keeping, prepare yourself a cup of tea, and immerse yourself in your story with a new perspective. Each reading is one more step towards creating a masterpiece. Good luck on your creative journey!

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