LibriVox

LibriVox

I am making an attempt at making myself do ever more work at the audio site Librivox, where I have texts appear to me in an orderly fashion, where I have signed up for them and been approved in what is known as "The Magic Window." When what I read is "proof-read" it is said to be "PL'd" or "proof-listened" actually. There are people who solely "PL" and many persons where more than one hat. I am keeping myself fairly parochial now by just doing readings, but I am also a newbie. Those more advanced persons often become "BC's" or Book Coordinators, setting up the reading of a public domain book or play or other written materials in entirety. Then, there are those who take on solo projects; reading an entire piece themselves. Generally chapters of books are farmed out as is the case with the two books I have been working on and have to finish by deadline this month (we have two months to finish, many people find this generous, I know I did at first, but it is actually quite taxing doing the work of "re-recording" after one's "sound file" or "reading" has been "PL'd" and directions for correcting things come down the pike. Then, for me, I keep being referred to "A Newbie's Guide To Recording" and they mean business man! One must keep down on "plosives" (popping p's or over sibillant squirty s's). I tend to pop my p's when I begin reading then, I get into a groove and it stops occurring, however, it is not permitted at all. In truth, it just doesn't sound good. Then there are annoying small things, mistakes (which I've been caught making, reading one word where it actually had a different similar meaning word in its place, a mistake of automatism, and gestalting), and sounds like the creaking of the desk, the click-clack of my mouse as I scroll downwards on my reading document, which would be WORSE (far worse) printed and "rustling!" I have to equalize sound, do damage control on noise by doing "reduction," re-read messy areas or areas of mistakes, and oh so much more. It makes the process a bit less "fun" than one would expect from what basically amounts to an acting gig of sorts, after all. Some of the things we do to make the PL persons and the BC satisfied for a "listening public" include drudgery, if one is honest and tells the truth. Of course, I am told that the drudgery becomes second nature after a bit of work at Librivox, and then, one hits a comfortable stride which I am a bit away from in my learning irons as of late.

Also, I am trying to begin writing some things again (mainly fiction, I am a bit daunted by the idea of writing poetry as I feel very harsh on myself-- aware that much of what I wrote in the past which I felt was poetry at the time, doesn't feel like it really stood the test of time, I am a very harsh critic, in effect)!
In preparation and advent for a short story, a longer prose poem (perhaps) and work on playwriting or my Sorjuanista novel of olde I am trying to get some of my own pleasure and priming reading in. I am in the midst of reading "Alias Grace" by Margaret Atwood. It is a period "woman in prison/sanitorium" piece of lit. with a male Doctor who I feel will become in some way or other, something of a romantic interest. It's very interesting and alluring. It reminds me a little however of the book "Affinity" by Sarah Waters who I think wrote her novel first. The funny thing is, while I find the authors to be similar, Sarah Waters has been taken very much to task by none other than Jeanette Winterson who finds her in some way insufferable (as she writes, mainly, lesbian literature, which I suppose, Jeanette feels is her forte, and of course, both Jeanette and Sarah write historically, but with far different bents and intents!) while she adores Atwood! To me, there's not a major difference between Sarah Waters and Margaret Atwood, per se. I am sure Jeanette Winterson would bridle at that comparison, but it is how I call it, and say "a Spade is a Spade, and a historical fiction of a woman in fiction is just that, a Spade, as well." Anyway, I cannot wait to finish the book but I postpone completion, as I do with my audio readings, as I want to prolong the pleasure of a good read as well! :)

Then, I have a ton of other things staring me in the face. But that is quite enough for now. I went on a binge with my Iphone and "phoneography." I downloaded a lot of free apps. For some I paid an extra buck or two to have more equipped full-version apps. They were just so intriguing, did so many things to a photograph, took a photo so interestingly, and were all around such a load of fun! Then, my Mother went and got bent out of shape that I was making "Commie Pinko Posters" using "ravishing" (uhh, NOT) photos of myself, and adorable photos (yay) of my babydogs. I put a great deal of simple-simon easy-peasy (to quote "in the Loop" a brill movie) FX into play. I made myself into "Whistler's Mother a la Babushka" and a few other stock old fashioned characters by putting my face into an existing mold. It was quite interesting and with NO learning curve, which is beguiling with all the tech. savvy stuff I am constantly being deluged with. It was just seductive silliness I permitted myself to get carried away with. Ever the narcissist or the exhibitionist as they say. Though my dogs in the end, rule the roost and the day :)

I may post some new photos soon, I will do at Facebook. Maybe I will wait to see the response, from Dad and James-- favourable. James liked the "vending machine/photo booth" shots with the dogs. Dad actually liked my Commie-Pinko posters-- which is something I picked up by hearing him yell about "Commie Pinkos" all my years growing up! I sort of have a soft-spot for Commie Pinkos after hearing them denounced all those years (sigh) ;) Mom... well, I actually have to wait to find out what she wants to tell me. Apparently she has a message to deliver (maybe it is that Commies are Godless? Who knows?!) I feel sorry being so silly as to enjoy taking the piss out of my Mom, who is a good old Mom, when you get down to it.

Well, enough of this "statusing." I am pretty sure a "Status" (like I am used to doing from Facebook now, though I am still longwinded) does not a Blogosphere entry make! On that note....exactly!