Inkheart is required reading for all podcasters, podnovelists, and out-loud readers of any stripe. The movie will probably suck because it has Brendan Frasier in it and they’ve already delayed it twice, but the book is excellent and provides clear, concise instructions for reading aloud. If you can listen to Lynn Redgrave read it, so much the better. She embodies every character so completely that it seems like a full cast recording.
So, to review for those of you yet to read it: taste every word before you spit it out, feel every character rise in your chest before you allow them to speak, and for the love of god, Scott Sigler, stop impersonating Miss Piggy every time you read a woman.
Podcasting is the next step for me–and after your admonitions maybe I should consider hiring an actor to read my work. I see what you mean, though, some people just don’t have the right voices or right skills to read their work–I do have some background in performing and quite a lot of experience with live readings that I’ll bring to bear. Good post…
By: Cliff Burns on January 22, 2008
at 11:19 pm
Don’t not do it! All I’m saying is practice. Listen to yourself. Get a cheap ass microphone and try it out. There are lots of free audio programs out there. Try it with a short story. See how long it takes you. But most importantly, listen to yourself. If you can’t be objective, make a friend listen to you. Tell them it was someone else so they’ll give you an honest opinion. Hell, I’ll listen to you and tell you what I really think. Podcasting is in its infancy, and its so easy that everyone is doing it without thinking about whether or not they should be. All I’m saying is use a critical ear, in the same way you would edit a story before you let it out the door.
By: Pixiedyke on January 23, 2008
at 11:52 pm