Audible update: Progress!

I had a successful weekend of writing and recording. I got my recording settings and volume levels sorted out, and I managed to record the first chapter of Emergence collective. I will re-record it because it’s kinda crap. The narration is a little clunky, and my editing skills are still below the knee of the learning curve, but progress is progress. There is a phenomenon with artists, no matter what the art is that one chooses, be it music, visual arts, dance, or whatever, that when you look back on previous works, you cringe at the level you once were. I noticed this same thing about my writing. I have definitely improved. I think narrating my story will also help improve my future writing skills. As far as my narration is concerned, there is a lot to be worked on, and as I get more practice reading aloud, I think I will find my “voice,” as it were. I also got a crash course in editing. I was editing on the fly, as in fixing flubs as they happen and other intrusive things, like my cat wanting to purr near the microphone.

So if you are interested in listening to Chapter one of Emergence collective on Spotify click the link below.

Thanks for reading!

Audible update. Fate loves irony

So as life goes, irony seems to pop up when least expected. I did manage to get my microphone. I had planned on using Saturday morning to play around and get the microphone set up. Give her a test drive and practice some reading. However, we had unexpected company, so my Saturday morning, the time I usually dedicate to writing, because everyone in the house is usually still sleeping. I tend to get up before everyone because I am used to getting up at 3:30 am, so when I sleep in, it’s usually till about 6 in the morning. Sunday also is a quiet time, but as I said, fate loves irony; this morning, I woke to my phone ringing, and I got the news that a close family friend had passed away overnight. We had recently had a windstorm, and She (at the age of 88) slipped on storm debris and broke her hip. Surgery was scheduled for some time today; however, during the night, there were some complications, and she did not make it.  

One day this project will happen. Anyway, I did get a few minutes to play with the recording. Getting sound levels set up and read most of the first chapter until my son decided to play call of duty zombies and volume. Such as life, right?

Audible update: The sound of silence.

So the inevitable conversation happened. the short of it was despite not having a deadline, I do indeed want progress, and if this is not the right timing to dedicate and commit to it, I don’t want to be kept hanging on to the next empty promise of recordings to come. I do have projects in the future that he (the voice actor) can do, especially once I work out the kinks and figure out how to actually do this Audible thing. I can pass on the knowledge to him, and he can benefit from my experiences, making him better before he even starts. ( I am an eternal optimist btw).

So now its up to me. Im going to have to get used to hearing my recorded voice, but I got to take one for the team, right? I do have a short story collection I am working on in the sidelines and I think that will be much more digestible for him to take on in the future anyway. The speed that I write, he will have plenty of time to narrate the stories as I write them. 😉

What’s next? Well, I will pick up the recording equipment when I see him on Friday (D&D night), and hoping that won’t be awkward at all. then I will set up and give it a go Saturday or Sunday morning. As soon as I do get the chapter recorded, I shall post it here for you all to scrutinize and critique my performance! Thanks for reading!

Audible update: the saga

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, creeps in its petty pace from day to day…. Ok, So I’m not Shakespeare, but Macbeth had it right. In my case, it’s “Monday, Monday, Monday.” If you’ve been following along, I have been waiting on my narrator to (actually) narrate “Emergence Collective” for Audible. This project started about 2 months ago (or earlier, but I was waiting for the recording equipment to arrive.) Despite the enthusiasm of the voice actor, getting his break into the industry, I literally have zero seconds recorded. And me, well, I guess I am just a softy. I haven’t had the heart to fire him yet, He has had some life issues that popped up, illness in the family, and we just got some rain (Thank your chosen deity) that has quelled the forest-fire smoke (which is a pretty legitimate reason).

Monday hath come and gone. Monday is/was his chosen “Day to record.” I say was because now it’s Friday, or so is his promise to get “a Full knuckle down recording session.” I sincerely do hope that it is. I am torn between impatience and empathy since this project isn’t really important in the scheme of things. The world isn’t going to change one way or another if this gets recorded or not. I didn’t say so much in words that this is his last chance at it. but I hope he got the message from my frustration.

Emergence collective will get recorded one way or another. I can’t wait to share some audio with you all. Thanks for stopping by!

In-Audible an update-ish

Here we are. Same place as last time. It seems that this project has weak legs. Today is (presumably) Recording “Emergence collective” day yet again. The narrator still assures me that there will be ” a few chapters recorded,” but as of yet, despite the good intentions and enthusiasm, I am still waiting for said promised chapters. I feel that I am pretty mellow with my expectations; this is a vanity project, after all, and there is no real deadline, but I would love to actually begin the project. Today is my end-of-the-rope day. Sadly, I wanted to give the guy his break into the world of voice acting and narration, but honestly, I have to accept the reality that he simply doesn’t have the time to do it.

I personally hate the sound of my own voice, but sometimes one must take complete control if you want something done. If today results in no audio recorded I am going to have to start recording on my own. There is advantage to that. I know my characters, I know the story, so I am really the best one for the job as far as that goes.

I did get some good writing on the Sequel to Emergence collective, “Emergence Ascended”. There are some big scenes that I have planned for the story, and I wrote one that I have been wanting to get to for a while now. Hopefully, I pulled it off in the way that I wanted. Thanks for reading! feel free to leave a comment, ask a question or just say hi!

Stumbling off the starting line

(An audible update)

Audible news… is no new news. As things seemed to go with my projects, there was yet another snag in the recording process. I am trying not to be cynical but to err is human. So last week’s promise of getting anything recorded got railroaded by life. As I mentioned that “Mondays” are for recording as the narrator has the time to do it (theoretically). Anyway, we will see if there is any progress after today. I suspect that the delays have a lot to do with nerves and stage fright. Of that, I completely understand. But I am starting to consider getting my equipment and do it myself, even though I hate the sound of my own voice.

On another topic, I did get some writing done on Emergence Ascended, and I am feeling good about it. I spent some time re-evaluating what I have so far, rewrote some things added a dash here and a pinch there of breadcrumbs. I like to sneak in clues to the story that the reader can participate in, trying to figure out some of the underlying storylines. I love the feeling of figuring out part of the mystery before the reveal. it makes me feel smart, and I feel like I am more a part of the story than just a bystander. Probably stems from the old choose your own adventure stories. I am happy with what I have got now and am getting to a scene that I have been looking forward to writing.

I love to hear your thoughts and answer questions, so feel free to leave a comment or just a like! Thanks for reading!

Audible update Friday edition

We are getting past the bumps in the road! Last week our area was inundated with forest fire smoke. The combination of unhealthy air to breathe and unhealthy air that damages vocal cords were just another hurdle to jump over. But the wind shifted, and Monday will be a recording day. Barring any more unfortunate events, I have high hopes of sharing the first chapter here for you lucky people! who knows, I might just continue to publish the chapters here for the entire book. I look forward to hearing feedback and opinions. Thanks for visiting!

Audible Update

Here is another Audible update. If you have been keeping score, they are averaging every 2 weeks or so (but don’t put any money on that bet because of the human factor. (me, I’m the human and I am not super consistent) it is every 2 weeks or so because every other friday is D&D session and the DM is the voice actor) I leave him alone and not really discuss the progress much between sessions mostly because If I don’t regulate my excitement I will drive him crazy asking if he has any progress.

So, no progress. Life has a way of mocking me. He is enthusiastic and talented but like most of us has a day job and a private life that takes priority over vanity projects. However as mocking as life is, it is also cruel and indiscriminate in its curve balls that it throws you. This one is that a close friend of his recently passed away, and some health issues are still hanging about. I guess I will keep waiting. But as soon as I got something I will definitely post it! Thanks for visiting!

Audible project update

I as a kid I remember reading Aesop’s fables book. Aesop was a slave storyteller in ancient Greece, and he bestowed stories that taught moral ideas and virtues. I took many of those stories to heart and tried to live those lessons in my daily life (I try). Patience was one of those lessons. One of the hardest to adhere to, but life is about practicing the hard stuff until it’s easy, so I will still try.  There is more that is bundled into it as well. Flexibility, understanding, and selflessness must be satisfied to be patient in my situation at least.

The Audible project is having some speed bumps that we are working out. Some usual Life crap that takes precedence over vanity projects and some technical issues that must be dealt with.  There were some medical things Zack and his family (The narrator) had to get past, but those things are smoothing out, and the technical issues are being brainstormed. The biggest technical hurdle is noise pollution.   I am a stickler for producing the highest quality I can achieve in anything I do. The Audible format has very strict guidelines about the audio quality for the recording as that represents their brand. Of course, they want the highest fidelity.

I bought the best recording equipment I could afford, and ironically enough, that equipment quickly pointed out how noisy his apartment is. The audio samples I heard, although decent, picked up every sound that our human ears has learned to drown out. The motor on the refrigerator, the fan in another room, and cars driving by outside, were accentuated by the microphone. Sadly, the audio is useless for Audible ACX guidelines.

Back to the drawing board, or to my amazon, actually. The solution is to get acoustic panels to soundproof the environment (which for now is more than likely his bathroom. I plan on making some modular panels (portable partitions) that can be set up and removed easily when it’s time to record. So, when you are listening to my book in the bathroom, getting ready for work, just realize that it was also recorded in one! Funny how life can come full circle huh?

More patience, waiting for my Amazon delivery, building the partitions, and then getting the recordings is in my future. Thank you Aesop for your philosophical teachings that I can now put into practice.

Where ever you go, there you are…

I am back from another camping trip. Did ya miss me? I’ve actually been back for awhile. However getting back into technology takes a bit of motivation. Dont get me wrong I am not one of those burn your TV kind of people. I think that whatever you choose to entertain yourself is the right thing to do. To me the concept of wasting time scrolling through Instagram or playing video games, or, watching tv is not a waste of time. And there does not always need to be “value added” or gain some positive benefit from that time “wasted”. After all, isn’t that why we work so hard, provide for family, get all the adulting stuff out of the way, so that we can have some downtime and relax or play. Anyway I’m rambling. My point is, I am not against technology at all, but my brain has a difficulty switching tasks from being in a natural environment to a technological one.

I can find Zen in technology. Stacking the virtual stones to make something beautiful from the chaos of the digital world, but it takes a little intention. Breathe in, breathe out… type some words. Ok.

Tomorrow I should have an update on the Audible project. The narrator is still getting familiar with the process and equipment so I have left him alone (My urge to request constant updates on his progress is an exercise in patience). I hope to have a snippet of Audio to add the blog but we shall see. once I do start to get audio chapters I look forward to sharing!