Seriously Laughing

I am so pleased and honored to have repeat rights holders for audiobook projects.  Without a doubt it is appreciated and taken seriously.  Knowing there is trust with the requests moves me to desire to perform to my best.

My radio comrades will be able to relate to this, I’m sure.  Those times when for some unknown reason a laugh comes up.  It happens at the least appropriate times.  It could be an important news update or during a live read of a commercial that is anything but funny.  It just happens.  Laughing that sounds completely out-of-place.  Live radio makes it impossible to ignore.

So, at least in the recording booth no one knows.  Just me.  And now you.  Laughing happens.

There I was working on a project that was inspirational and informational.  Definitely serious.  I read a line and read it well.  Actually I performed the line and performed it very well.  Then it happened.  I laughed.  Like it was live and I got stage freight.   The laugh grew and got to be silly.  Then I felt silly.  That made me laugh again.

There are times being in the booth can be a bit lonely.  Not this time.  I was glad no one could see me or hear me.  Laughing happens.  It felt good to let go.  Then it was back to business.

Lynn

Measured By Our Words?

I try, not always successfully, to read peoples ideas that I don’t agree with.  It can be enlightening.  Many times my opinion will be moved on any given subject.

News articles and social media posts will have lively comment sections.  Lively or is it deadly?  Debate is not the right word most of the time.  Arguing and “shouting” is what I read into a great deal of what is there.

Now, I don’t claim to have the best edumacation out there. However, it is clear that there are plenty of people that don’t have any idea about civil discussion on issues.  Opinions do and will be separated widely.

It frustrates me to be looking into any given topic and wonder what the comments might be.  Particularly if it a comment that may help me understand a differing point of view.  Frustrates me how?  Name calling and foul language are the go to mode for far too many people.  Do this individuals really want to be measured by this things they say?  Is this how they want to represent their ideas and concepts?  Maybe so!

Lynn

Your level of reaching for stars

While watching an old movie I stopped to think about more youthful days. Days when my head was definitely not competitive, but wanted to strive for doing a good job.

What ever it is we do we really need to set our own standard to reach for. I don’t neglect listening to other narrators of voice actors. Inspiration comes from listening. That does not mean I need to be like someone else or be better than another person or reach a level above that person.

As I work what is needed is a desire, a drive to do as good as I can. Appreciating those that are the best can’t hurt. Appreciating progress made by those working hard to do the best possible for them is also a good thing.

As a talent said many times “keep reaching for the stars.”

Lynn

THINK LIKE A WRITER (maybe)

While chatting with a writer I know the topic of a study group that covers techniques to convey mood or emotion.  That made me wonder if a narrator should take classes that writers take.

If I could see what is being done to bring about the mood of a story line from a technique perspective that may help me perform fuller.  Maybe.

If I, as a narrator, am looking at the way a mood or emotion is being brought out will that taint my thoughts as I read?  Maybe I simply need to feel and understand what the author is saying in the work.  Maybe the how it is done does not matter.

As I prepare for audiobook project I do want to feel the message and feel the mood, what ever it may be, to the proper extent intended in the work.  Do I need to know what the method is called or even be able to see a technique any more than one would in viewing a good or great image?  Well, I do appreciate spotting lighting that is having a major effect on a movie or still image!

This topic will continue to be pondered as I tackle my work.

Lynn

Narrating Documentaries

I was thinking, insert joke here, about how much I enjoyed wildlife documentaries a child. Hearing the stories of wild animals and survival kept my attention.

Later my attention was captured by historical narration. To see and hear things I didn’t pay attention to in school fascinated me. Ironic isn’t it.

Realization comes now that I have always wanted to do this type of work. To be the narrator of something like these productions would be a wonderful thing to do. Having the position of being the one you hear and the one that shares the information others are wanting to learn about would be about as great as anything could be.

At this point in my activities it is audiobook narrating and producing that is keeping me in the story telling mode. It’s great. I learn and also explore through the writing of others. I’ll be ready when the right group needs the right narrator for a documentary with the right purpose.

Lynn

How good is the best and is it the best?

How many times have you been told to just do the best you can?  As a kid it’s doubtful we understood this.  As an adult I feat too often in is understood to be competitive.

Being a person that is not very competitive the way I look at the statement about doing your best is simple.  Don’t hold back.  Don’t cut corners.  Don’t settle for good enough and don’t worry how you measure up to others.  There is no bar to reach other than to do the best you can.  It’s your bar.  No one else’s bar matters.

As a narrator I spend time listening to others.  Effort is made to learn from what I hear.  Lessons are taken to improve my skills.  This is important so I can continue moving forward on the road to improvement.

Comparing myself to other is going to happen.  Not for competitive reasons, but for improving purposes.  That is not always easy.

Yes, being the best I can be not the best there is makes for challenge enough.

Lynn

Slowing down for the better

As skills improve and you reach the place some say is sublime it’s time to take a look at what is happening.

Sublime as in subliminal means reaching a point where things become second nature.  The moves and thought process is not from the point of needing to think about each little thing.  This can be very good.  But not always.

Going through the recording of an audiobook I’m narrating the story is grabbing me.  What is coming next?  Why did the main person do that?  You know.  A real e-page turner.  This is great.  Then I listen and there are some things worth taking note of.

Not that there were big problems.  No.  Things are pretty much OK.  But, OK is not good enough.  There have been places in the editing that need more attention.  Sounds, pacing and the like.  Drop that, smooth this, lengthen here and now we have an audiobook that sound mu better.  

Slow down.  Pay attention.  Concentrate.  This is not just fun.  It is not just a craft.  This is an art and it is what I do.  I want the author and the listener to be caught up in the story and be eager to get on to the next audiobook.

Lynn

 

 

Now what do I do?

Years ago I was to introverted to speak to a group.  There was difficulty even saying something in a gathering.  

Someone I knew was going to take a class in radio broadcasting.  My thought was “If I could do THAT I could do anything!”  So, I went to the school. 

Painfully pursued and slowly progressed was my training.  After a while the ability to jump to the microphone with eagerness and a bit of skill came.  This was now a fun thing to do.  Later liver presentations and MCing events became more fun than I could have ever imagined.  Now I am very busy with audiobook narration.  It’s great. 

Back to the past and onto the future.  I said if I could do that I could do anything.  Now, what is it I will be called to do?  Now, what do I do?

Lynn

 

Getting Organized

From time to time it is important for me to go back to basics.  Basics in many areas, but what I’m looking at here is the work load.

There are several audiobooks on my table.  Some are in the time sensitive category.  Others are of the type that will be quicker to complete.  So,  make a plan.  Stick with the plan.  Well, I do at times change the priority of a book.  It happens.

There are plenty of theories about how to organize work flow.  They probably all have merit.  Just get to it and get with it.  Also, always enjoy it.

Now, with the honor of audible approved I need to be sure I keep on top of everything with diligence.

http://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A1E5DSYDYKR67Z

 

Lynn