Voiced stories

[Dreyannah]

I am a voice performer and was wondering about how to go about doing voiced readings for the literotica stories. I'm really just trying to promote myself and have some demos of commercials I've done (I'm a radio student) for any authors who are interested.
Please email me at serynakelly@hotmail.com if you are needing your story read by a sweet/sexy voice

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Could you record it for me by tomorrow?

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Brings up an interesting question: are all stories as good when read aloud?

I know that I couldn't understand Jack Kerouac's writing until I heard a record of him reading it, and then it was all like music. I don't know if I'd be comfortable having my stuff read aloud. I've never written with that in mind. I don't think.


---dr.M.

 

[Un-registered]

Brings up an interesting question: are all stories as good when read aloud?

I can't answer that question, because I haven't tried it, but a number of readers of my novels use Microsoft Reader to do just that. It does require some strict punctuation rules which are not what I was taught as correct English; so I get my own back by using weird names and lots of technical terms which will, I trust, give it headaches.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I downloaded this program called ReadThis or something, where you could have 6 different people read your story. The program works so that it has a lot of words pre-recorded, and it recognizes them in your story, and play them back. Now, if you have chosen a word that isn't very common, or an un-common name, the program will pronounce it syllable by syllable. Like, instead of the name "Hermione", you'll hear "Her My One".

Total waste of disk space. I deleted it.

 

[Quasimodem]

The program to which Svenskaflicka refers is 'ReadPlease2002'. (Perhaps there is an update by now.)

It works only as an editing aid, by mispronouncing mangled words that an ordinary proofing program missed. Also, it allows one to clearly hear poorly worded, as well as poorly punctuated, sentences.

Svenskaflicka's assessment is basically correct. As a 'performance grade' program, it is a waste of space. I use it to verbalize dirty limericks. Besides, I got nothing BUT space!

Which reminds me! When providing a potential 'Voice Performer' such as Dreyannah, with a copy of your script, it might be a good idea to provided them with a special RTF file, using a very legible font, which breaks the sentences out into easily read phrases.

Which reminds me!

When providing a potential 'Voice Performer'

such as Dreyannah,

with a copy of your script,

it might be a good idea

to provided them with a special R.T.F. file,

using a VERY LEGIBLE font,

which breaks the sentences out

into easily read phrases.

To be fair, writers should only use such a technique to ensure that the reader can read and understand what the writer means. Not so much that the writer is dictating the performer's interpretation.

The writer should also learn in advance, what word processors / formats the reader is equiped to handle.

 

[Singularity]

Reading Stories Aloud

Linking back to the Doctor's question about whether all stories are as good when they are read aloud, I would say, no, many are not.

It may be a quirk of mine, but I do try to write with the intention of the prose being read aloud. Maybe it is because I hear my own voice so clearly in my head (I hope I keep the volume down at work).

When I write, I see the characters as actors on the stage or on the screen. Some of the constructive feedback I have received since I started putting my stories up for others to read is that I write screenplays more than I do stories. I think that is partly a result of the "read aloud" focus.

And I do read the stories aloud. The real woman behind the Michelle character in my stories gets a several times a week dose of the latest episode for her listening (and other) pleasure.

Now, to the question as to whether stories SHOULD be written so they can be read aloud, there I am decidedly on the fence. It works for some and not for others.


Happy New Year

Singularity