AUTHORS: Do your wives/husbands/partners read your stories?

[Sci]

I'm not a novelist, but I do write a weekly column for my college newspaper. I almost always find myself compelled to read my column once, just to see what it looks like in print. I invariably find things I don't like about it--turns of phrase that I would change if I could, a new way to structure my argument, etc. I can usually never bring myself to read the thing again. But I always feel compelled to read it in print once.

(Of course, a 500 to 800 word column is very different from a short story or novel.)

 

[Trent Roman]

^ I always read my short stories when I get my contributor's copies, because I still find there's something unique about the experience of holding one's writing in book form instead of blinking onscreen--a permanence, if you will. And yeah, I often catch things I wished I corrected earlier, the downside to that permenance. But of course, there's a great time gap between reading a short story and a novel, and I don't publish anywhere near the frequency of our professional writers here.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Lonemagpie]

My wife likes to read mine, but prefers to wait until she has the finished book/comic in her hands.

I *hate* reading my own stuff, because I'm too familiar with it, so don't bother when I get contributor's copies - though comics and audios are exceptions to this, as I do get suprises and pleasure out of what the artist (on comics) or cast and crew (scripts) have done, as that element is new to me. In general I'll only read my own books for continuity purposes

 

[Amy Sisson]

With one exception, I make my husband wait until a story of mine is published before I let him read it. The reason is that while I can take story criticism from anyone else, I can't take it from him -- we're too tied together emotionally, and his opinion is too important to me.

The exception was "'Twould Ring the Bells of Heaven", because I needed him to vet the science for me.

Other than that, he waits. Then he reads it as soon as it comes out. (Of course, I've only written short fiction, so it's not as if it's a long novel he has to get through.)

 

[Stevil2001]

My fiance told me that The Tears of Eridanus was the best Star Trek novel she'd ever read.

 

[Andy Mangels]

My partner, Don, has never read any of my books or comics, other than perhaps a few pages. Unfortunately, few people close-in in my life have any interest in most of what I write. I do have some friends who read my work, but most of my interaction and response comes from editors, online, and at conventions.

Which means most of the time, I feel like I'm just casting out on the water, until somebody pays attention. But I'm doing what I want and getting paid for it, so...

 

[Man of Steel]

Do they read there own stories once it's out in book form and then go "What If"

I don't really say "What if?" in relation to my stories, but given the opportunity I'd take another crack at "Performance Appraisal."

The only story of mine I find difficult to revisit is "Make-Believe." I wouldn't do the story differently, but writing it left emotional scars.

I remember that one. It was a touching and beautiful written story.