Narrating vs Reading A Story

Quandary, quandary, quandary and I need some input. I listen to a lot of books on Audible. It’s become increasingly clear that a narrator can make or break an audio book (to me). I’m listening to a book now by a well-known author (one of my favorites), whom I will not mention, and I find the narration boring. I heard something the other day that stuck. 

You don’t have to have perfect enunciation to be a narrator.

I have to say I agree. This current narrator is so precise with her words I see visions of Snow White sweetly talking to the animals in the forest. Too perfect.

And…it sounds as if she is reading the book. Maybe that’s what narrators do, but I want someone to be the POV, take on the personality traits, be able to switch tone levels for different characters.

In my mind I envision a good narrator approaching the microphone with the intent of being a good storyteller instead of merely reading the words on the page. 

Am I asking too much?

One thing I did learn after having Saving Gracie, my first book, put on Audible. As a newbie to this end of the industry, I had a narrow vision of what I sought in a narrator. Turned out she did a great job, except for the fact I’m from the south and she’s from the north. This may not sound like much of an issue, but not only did the timing turn out different in her delivery, but the tone of the POV came across way sharper than what I intended.

 Lesson learned...

Thoughts please...

This is April’s blog post for Insecure Writer’s Support Group created by Alex Cavanaugh. To join or learn more, click here.

 Till next month, over and out, and be safe, it's a jungle out there...

One last mention-my favorite narrator is Simon Vance who narrates The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. Now he's a story-teller.

Intent

Welcome to February’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group, created by Alex Cavenaugh.

Intent. The online dictionary says the following on the subject.

Purpose; design; the state of a person's mind that directs his or her actions toward a specific object; meaning or significance. 

I started writing later in life…mid-fifties. My intent at that time was to hold a book in my hand…my words, my name on the cover. That intent became a reality when Saving Gracie was published in 2012, the year I turned 60.

After my third book, Time Trials, was released the end of November 2015, I realized my intent had changed. From just having a published book, I now wanted to be recognized for my writing. Three quick signing parties at the worst time of the year, the sales died off a bit, and the calm of the New Year rolled in. Two years had passed since the release of Partly Sunny, my second novel, so I had to rethink my strategy as to how to promote Time Trials.

Some head-scratching took place before the ding-ding-ding sounded in my head. Oh yeah, I needed to submit for editorial reviews, enter contests...that sort of thing. After submitting Time Trials to Readers’ Favorite, I became ecstatic at the five (1-2-3-4-5…I counted) stars I received plus the glowing review. What a high…

Then I started googling items like “how to get a review from the New York Times” (answer: forget it) and then Publisher’s Weekly, a significantly high-profile reviewer. They’d even established a special section for self-published authors. That seemed doable. Still on the magic carpet ride high from my 5-star Readers’ Favorite review, I sent off Time Trials.

Before going to sleep Monday night I checked my emails. Big mistake. Huge. This is what I found in the subject line from Publishers’ Weekly/Booklife…

Your project has been declined for review…

Then some nonsense about hoping I wouldn’t be discouraged and please consider submitting any future projects. Really? Declined to even read the book? Not a way to drift off into la-la-land (which in my case is an oxymoron…my sleeping habits have never been la-la-land).

Tuesday morning. New day. Thank goodness. I started to think and remembered my intent of wanting to be recognized for my writing. But I took it a step further. What does that look like? Does it mean I want to see my books showcased in the window of Barnes & Noble? Do I need to reach the best-sellers NYT list? No, but let’s face it…it would be nice. Do I want to make a million dollars? Okay, stop laughing, JK Rowling did...

I’ll be 64 years old this month (seriously, is that right?). I realized my life is full, and I write because I enjoy the process. Developing characters, personality traits, and their own voice is one of my greatest pleasures of writing. I treasure people telling me how much they enjoy my characters. Just this past Monday I received this message: “Wanted you to know I’m having trouble wanting to finish Time Trials because I am not ready to let go of those people’s lives yet.” Another note: “I just love your books!”

 

Now, that makes me smile. That is what my intent looks like. That makes me happy.

I’m sure I’ll re-evaluate my intent in a couple of years.

So….intent. Yours?

   

 

Birth of a Book…24 month gestation (ouch)

November is here and time for another post to the Insecure Writers Support Group, created by Alex Cavanaugh. To stay on track, our topics need to be about struggles, insecurities, challenges, or encouragement. Today I choose challenges...

 On September 30, at 12:38 PM, I completed book #3, announcing the arrival of my new born, Time Trials. Still steps to take before the final product is up for publication, but the characters finally allowed me to say DONE (my delivery date).

I speak only for myself as my writing career didn’t begin until my late 50’s, but writing a book is like having a baby…somewhat. There’s the initial stage where not much is showing. A lot of excitement, identified my characters, created the story board and off I go.

A bit into the story I began to feel rumblings of unease. Something didn’t feel right, although the belly of the book was beginning to show. Then, the ding, ding, ding goes off. What I’ve spent 8-12 months writing, turns out to be more the middle of the book. Rats.

 This sometimes happens when I give free-range to my characters.

Thank goodness the human female gestation periods don’t work this way. Can you imagine a woman having to “re-do” the first trimester? (I hear screams)

After some hormonal temper tantrums, I began the journey of creating the first part of the book. I rationalize, hey…by the time I catch up to my original beginning, I’ll be two-thirds done.

Wrong.

 Time Trials covers three different time periods (1972, 1992, 2012). And each required its own research, which required more time. And then more time.

Wading through the maze of publishing and marketing my first two books, Saving Gracie & Partly Sunny, I found less and less writing time geared toward Time Trials. Where did the hours, weeks, months go? Literally, days raced by in a blur. 

I have two pets who can tell time. They sat at my feet day after day. At five o’clock each afternoon they'd move in closer, if that is possible, and stare at me like “uh…duh, have you not looked at the clock lately?”

Seriously? Didn’t I just feed you guys? You mean another day has already slipped away? They nodded and proceeded with their meal.

Having a baby is a labor of love. Writing a book is a labor of love. My initial thoughts about the story line for Time Trials turned into much, much more “labor” than I anticipated. Tons of research later, which I found I actually enjoyed, year #1 rolled into year #2. Some days I’d sit at the computer and pat myself on the back after rolling out 1,000-2,000 words. Then I’d see a post on Facebook like:

“Had a creative idea when I woke up this morning. Have already cranked out 3,000 words and still going.”

Really? Where’s my light saber? I feel like zapping something...

Other days the typing went so slow one would think both hands had been tied behind me with a pencil wedged in my mouth pecking out each word.

Frustrating? Yes

Rewarding? Yes

Completing a novel? Ecstatic

According to my calculations, my trimesters on Time Trials lasted 8 months, which means my book/baby gestation period surpassed an African elephant’s pregnancy by 2.5 months…ouch

I

Challenging...

Paying Attention

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh started this group to give anxious writers everywhere an outlet to connect with others as well as a place to vent fears and frustrations as a writer. If you're an insecure writer or just looking for a little support, click here to join.

Paying Attention

In Saving Gracie, my first novel, I often refer to Grace’s “other self.” She's first referred to as Grace #2 and then simply #2. As long as Grace lived her life as a whiny Henny Penny, #2 used her whit and most often sarcasm to whip Grace in shape.

As Grace matured, #2 became an ally.

Do you have a #2? I know I do. Actually, I think everyone does. Sometimes the voice is hard to hear, and sometimes we’re just not paying attention. 

It’s the voice that whispers information that often causes a response such as:

I knew that was going to happen…

I knew I should have…

I knew I was going to regret…

Something just told me I needed to…

For the last week or so I’ve felt…something. I don’t feel right, something is out of kilter, my chest hurts, my insides feel jittery. What is it?

Yesterday I literally asked “what is it?” And I got the answer. You see, like Grace in Saving Gracie, my mom also died on Easter Sunday. It’s been many years now (since 1987). I was 35 and could not imagine a world without my mother in it. 

The trauma of her death and the Easter Season (the beautiful flowers, Easter baskets, decorated eggs, bunnies...the whole shebang) has lodged itself somewhere in my DNA. Where it was a jackhammer many years ago, now it’s a little tap-tap-tap reminding me…tis the season. I love you Mom.

Peace to all…

Out Of The Closet And Into The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Hello, my name is Terry Lee and very glad to become a member of the Insecure Writer's Support Group thanks to S. L. Hennessey. At the age of 60 (2012) I had my first novel published, Saving Gracie, followed the next year by book #2, Partly Sunny. Marketing, of which I have no experience, is such a big part of having a book out there. My insecurities come roaring over the top of my computer when I spend so much time marketing instead of writing or joining author’s groups only to find they are worlds ahead of me in my endeavors (or at least that’s what my critical self says).

My goal is to devote 15 hours per week to writing, write a blog post twice a month and keep my head to the grindstone. Also, am having issues with getting my blog out there, so…..I believe I’m in the right place. Glad to be here!