Even though they no longer seem to be being listened to by my beta group, my voice recordings are still giving me a better perspective for editing than reading alone would.
Simply reading the chapters out loud to myself strangely doesn’t seem to cut it. There is something about the accountability of recording them and sending them to the group – still, usually, 2 chapters per day – that keeps me going with it and helps in the editing process.
Even just imagining them reading – because they might be, even though they’re not giving feedback – has the effect of making me hear it as if through ears other than my own. And, of course, my verbal stumblings still highlight any problems with syntax and flow.
I think I will record the first version for Audible myself, to coincide with the Kindle launch. I can see how it needs to be done. Soundproof booth: we can build that from Kingspan insulation sheets*. Continual editing software: we already have a copy of that. It will be a lot easier, to be able to erase and rewind as I go, in segments. Professional microphone: I have open offers of loans from at least three souces, for this. Marking up the chapters like scripts, with the different characters’ voices colour coded.
And practice. My accents are still terrible. Cockney sounds like mangled Australian. Poor old Rajesh’s accent is meant to be transatlantic (whatever that means), but in my current recordings, it moves state – and country – several times per chapter. Sometimes, several times per sentence.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to fix that. But I have to try, because I can’t afford to pay an actor.
Anyway. I’m editing a LOT as I’m reading, much to the probable annoyance of my [apparently non-]listeners.
Hmm. Maybe that’s why they’ve stopped listening.
If they have.
* Edit: we didn’t have to do this at all! They just sell them on Amazon, for about £30 😂