Writing for the Ear

I think many writers must use this tip: When I've worked especially hard on writing something, and I want to make sure that it sounds good, I close the door to my office and read the copy aloud. The ear is a great editor. It catches clunky, awkward constructions and sentences that are too long. It reminds you to vary sentence structure and length to hold your reader's interest. Reading aloud lets you hear the cadence of what you've written so you know if you're achieving the desired effect; it lets you know when your writing is smooth and when it "sings."