When Authors Drive the Author's Chair

In the Author’s Chair, the author is the authority. 
    She sits in the chair,
    She directs the response.
    And the audience responds accordingly. 
 
An Author may sit in the chair and say,
    “Today I seek suggestions.”
    He reads his piece aloud,
    And the audience provides thoughts about revision.
    The author ponders the suggestions and revises.
 
An Author may sit in the chair and say,
    “Ask me questions.”
    She reads her piece aloud,
    And afterwards, the audience asks questions they want answers to.
    These questions often tell an author what parts are missing,
         And she uses those questions to fill in gaps during revision.
 
An Author may sit in the chair and say,
     “Please recall a memorable line.”
     He reads his piece aloud,
     And the audience remembers a line from the piece that stood out.
     This tells the author he picked the perfect word or crafted a vivid phrase.
           And he needs to continue thoughtfully playing with his words.
 
An Author may sit in the chair and say,
      “Help!  I need ideas!”
      She reads her piece aloud,
      And the audience, acting as co-authors, gives her ideas.
      Sometimes writers just need other perspectives, a jolt of ideas.
           And the chair can be a powerful place to gather them.
 
An Author may sit in the chair and say,
       “Find connections between my piece and yours.”
       He reads his piece aloud,
       And the audience considers how their pieces are connected to his--
            How their lives connect to his life.
      Because writing is a communicative act.
              And it is meant to bind us together.
 
An Author may sit in the chair and say,
     “Offer me some compliments.” 
     She reads her piece aloud,
     And the audience lavishes praise on the author.
     Because sometimes that’s what authors need to hear,
     To keep them going, to keep them hungry, to keep them pursuing--
          down the long, harrowing road towards publication.