Really interesting insights into the creation of the audio experience. I always wondered whether authors get a say in who voices their words. Do you think Ellen could be ideal to voice all of your varied writing? Or do different styles of your books lend themselves to different voices?
Love this article, Alison. "Poetry Voice" is weird...I've experienced it rising up and taking over me when I've tried to read my poetry...and recognise it in others too. It's something about 'performing' and wanting to take it to the next level, but trying too hard and it sounds affected. Actors battle with it all the time. It feels forced because somehow the voice isn't centred and natural. It's because some part of you originally learnt lines and can recite them, but letting go and just allowing / trusting them to flow is so hard to do, particularly if the character is far from your natural state / rhythm. Love the honesty in this and all your work, too. Plus, you spelt exactly 'excatly' when talking about the cat, which is a lovely neologism :) cheers DG
Thank you for this beautifully detailed picture of what collaboration looks like Alison! As a loner, I know it often takes me lots of thought and courage to share my work with others. This post is empowering, and I can't wait to listen to the audio of Dance Me to the End!
I heard Lucy Ellman read from her Ducks, Newburyport one evening on the CBC. After that, I couldn’t imagine anybody but Ms. Ellman reading it, all 45 hours of it. An actor read it for the audiobook. Nowhere near as well based on the sample I heard. It sounded like ‘actor’s voice’.
Really interesting insights into the creation of the audio experience. I always wondered whether authors get a say in who voices their words. Do you think Ellen could be ideal to voice all of your varied writing? Or do different styles of your books lend themselves to different voices?
Love this article, Alison. "Poetry Voice" is weird...I've experienced it rising up and taking over me when I've tried to read my poetry...and recognise it in others too. It's something about 'performing' and wanting to take it to the next level, but trying too hard and it sounds affected. Actors battle with it all the time. It feels forced because somehow the voice isn't centred and natural. It's because some part of you originally learnt lines and can recite them, but letting go and just allowing / trusting them to flow is so hard to do, particularly if the character is far from your natural state / rhythm. Love the honesty in this and all your work, too. Plus, you spelt exactly 'excatly' when talking about the cat, which is a lovely neologism :) cheers DG
Thank you for this beautifully detailed picture of what collaboration looks like Alison! As a loner, I know it often takes me lots of thought and courage to share my work with others. This post is empowering, and I can't wait to listen to the audio of Dance Me to the End!
I heard Lucy Ellman read from her Ducks, Newburyport one evening on the CBC. After that, I couldn’t imagine anybody but Ms. Ellman reading it, all 45 hours of it. An actor read it for the audiobook. Nowhere near as well based on the sample I heard. It sounded like ‘actor’s voice’.
Audiobook of Dance Me etc.: Brave.