Category Archives: Writing

Articles and news on writing

Audible Update: Easy Prey

Greetings,

As it turned out, I did not feel the last recording of the vampire entry in ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales’, measured up to the newer versions, and decided to rerecord the story rather than simply add the music effects.  I am still working just about every night on this project, despite adding more work to an already crowded schedule, but my determination remains strong to deliver the best work I can.  I have less then twenty pages of the story left to go, which will make the track a little over an hour and a quarter long, by my current estimate.  Most of the stories fall into this category, with a few longer exceptions, such as “Boo”, and “Roadkill”, which I have already completed.

Once I have completed ‘Easy Prey’, I will have replaced all my previous work I lost when my computer died, and will move onto the second half of the work.  I am looking forward to being able to announce the book’s completion soon, and will continue to post updates as I complete more of the stories contained within my second effort.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

Audible Update – Roadkill

Greetings!

I have finished recording “Roadkill“, the second story in “Strange Stories, Twisted Tales“, for Audible.  Again.  I say that with humor, because although I have done the story a total of three times, the quality of the recording has improved with each iteration.  This version is complete with title music and sound transitions, a process I began after recording several stories for the Audible version.  Thus, several of the later stories have already been finished, along with the sound effec5s, but the idea did not become firmly implanted until I was about a third of the way through re-recording the book after losing my hard drive.

I do enjoy the learning process involved in this work, and look forward to bringing the remaining stories to life.  I am doing my best to remain patient, despite my desire to finish and release the book, as I want to continually raise the bar in order to bring the best of my work to the public.  Only time will tell if I will be successful.  In the meantime, I will continue to work and learn.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

News and Audible Update 2-24

Greetings.

There have been quite a few things happening since my last post, so here is a quick update to catch up on what has become an exciting time.

On the news side of the coin, I have started a new day job, one which will allow me to use my after work hours for something more productive than rest.  Although slow to relieve the effects of my last job, I am starting to regain my energy, and have been devoting my time to both my Audible project, and the task of looking for a future new home and studio.

I have finished part one of ‘Roadkill’, one of about a dozen stories that comprise “Strange Stories, Twisted Tales”, complete with accompanying sound transitions and title music.  I am taking my time with the recording and producing of this work; one of my main flaws as a creative was I allowed my excitement at releasing new work to rush me, and the final result would suffer as a result.  Learning the skills associated with recording a book for Audible has had a beneficial effect in this regard, and allowed me to slow down in order to give the best performance and product of which I am capable.  Part of this tale begins tonight.  I have been more satisfied with the results than I expected and hope to have more news in the near future.  Several other announcements are on the way, so stay tuned!

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

Audible Update: Jan. 28, 2024

Greetings all,

Another update in less than a week you say? Inconceivable!  No, but considering how much I have on my plate at the moment, it comes as a surprise.  In the midst of a number of new events in my life, I do my best to retain something of a schedule in recording ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales‘ for Audible.  One of my least productive traits was that I have allowed my excitement at bringing a work to fruition that it became my own worst enemy.  In having to record my work multiple times, I have begun to learn some patience in regards to the recording process, and I think the result has been well worth the effort, so much so that at some point in the future, I will have to revise the narration of my first novel as well.

Learning new skills – narration, audio recording and mixing, has been an interesting experience so far, despite the learning curve.  I have always enjoyed learning new skills, and have seen some improvement in these areas since I first began.  It is my hope to eventually open myself to commissioned narration work in the future, and as long as I continue to learn and apply that knowledge, it does not seem to be an unreasonable goal.

There are three more stories I need to re-record for clarity and to add the sound transitions and title music before I can more on to the second half of the book.  I will continue to post updates on my progress, so stay tuned!

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

Audible Update Jan. 24, 2024

Greetings.

I finished recording another story for the Audible version of ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales‘ this evening.  The tracks have been improving significantly since my decision to add various sound effects and music.  This could just be the natural result of learning, or perhaps I have developed a higher standard for what I wish to present as a finished work.  Either way, I am hopeful the result will be a pleasing one.

It has been hectic since my last update.  I have moved on from my previous job, and start a new position in a little over eight hours.  It is the beginning of a new chapter, one I hope will lead to more positive changes in the future.  I have a great many projects on the horizon, things I want to announce, but will hold off until I have something concrete to show.  In the meantime, keep checking back for more updates.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

Audible Update & Other News

Greetings,

In the course of attempting to raise the standard for my recordings, it has become necessary to redo some of my previous work, both in order to add the accompanying title and transition effects, but for an overall consistent tone in terms of recording levels, which can vary depending on a number of factors.  This has not been a disappointment – I rarely see things that way any more – but as an opportunity to improve my craft, one which I have been embracing with enthusiasm.

Speaking of opportunities, it has been evident for some time that I need to make certain changes in my life in order to continue the healing process from the decade of abuse I suffered at the hands of the court system and my ex (a process which infuriates her kind to where they continue to attempt to wound regardless of success).  One of these opportunities has arisen, and it looks like certain aspects of my life will indeed improve.  Of course, this means I have to have some energy and drive to get through the transition, but it is nothing I haven’t done before.  I have given, and continue to give, considerable thought to this process, and have decided to keep my recording schedule as uninterrupted as possible.  This decision was made in no small part because I plan on publishing at least one book this year – two if I can help it.

I’ll give more details in coming updates.

Until next time,

~ Namaste

A New Year, A New Audible Update

Greetings,

It has been a whirlwind these last few weeks, and I do not see them slowing down any time soon,  In fact, I expect the pace to increase significantly over the coming months.  I am not sure how things will play out – it is a turbulent time as the world stands on the brink, and I have a feeling the coming year will reach critical mass.  I am fully aware of how little control I have over such matters, and can only control what I can do.  I have to press on, and do the best to improve myself, both as an author, and as a human being.  I have more upcoming projects than time, and it will take a great deal of fortitude to keep things on schedule.  I will write more about this in a future update.

Speaking of schedule, I have finished re-recording ‘Boo!’ as well as ‘Groovin’ to the Zombie Apocalypse’, complete with title and chapter audio transitions, and will divide my recording time between the remaining stories, and those I have previously recorded.

I have some book news as well, but that will have to wait until another entry.  So many projects, so little time.

Until next time,

~Namaste

New Year’s Nostalgia

Greetings,

I find myself with a few more free moments than usual, so I thought I’d write a few thoughts that have found their way into my head during this passage into the New Year.

I cannot help but think of all the people I have known and met over the years during this time of year, and with all the warm feelings brought by the memories of all those who have helped me over time, there also naturally comes the flip side of the coin, and the thoughts of those I will never see again.

In my last post, I mentioned how I had rediscovered my love of playing music, after being gifted a copy of Rocksmith 2014 by my daughters last year.  My uncle Ken had given me his bass, a 1987 Fender Precision Lyte, a year or two before he passed away.  My uncle was the youngest brother of my mother, and only fourteen years older than me.  I think of him whenever I play the game, which is more a training course on playing an instrument than an actual game, and I find myself each time wondering how he would react to the development of technology in relation to learning instruments, having taught himself to play seven of them, and my love of the instrument he gave me.

It was uncle that inspired me to draw and paint, and though I never made this a secret, I do not think he ever understood the impact he had upon my life, and that is something I will always regret.  Whenever I play the bass, I think of how things may have been if I had tried to connect harder with a man who was forced to live much as I do now, and went through many similar experiences.  Perhaps if I had, he would still be around today.

Not a comfortable thought.

The best I can do now, is honor his memory by trying to be the best I can, and to keep it alive through playing the wonderful instrument he bestowed upon me.

I miss you, man. I wish you were still here.  I’m sure we would have grown much closer with time, had we only been given the chance.

I don’t mean this to be a dark post.  We get all caught up in making resolutions, and looking forward to the coming year, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I think we should take some time to look over our past, and learn from it, as well as giving some time to remember those left behind.  You never know how you might improve your own or another’s future.

Just some random thoughts.

Until next time,

~Namaste

 

Audible Update: 12-28-23

Greetings,

Another year is drawing to a close, but my artistic efforts have no signs of slowing,  I work on one or more projects just about every day, barring my daughter’s visits (although I do sometimes find the occasional opportunity in the wee hours), and on those days, I follow pretty much the same routine.  After work, I eat dinner and perform any errands that need completing before spending about an hour or so with my newfound love: my 1987 Fender Precision Lyte Bass, given to me by my uncle before he passed away. This takes the form of playing Rocksmith 2014, which was a gift to me from my daughters, and an excellent way to learn to play an instrument.  Once I’m finished with my musical release therapy (kidding…maybe), I then sit down to a good 2-4 hours of recording time.

Currently, I am working on part 3 of BOO! from ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales‘, the longest novella in the volume, and likely my third favorite.  The story is a little over a hundred pages long, and translates to a bit over 3 1/2 hours.  I’ve been learning more as I go, and apply whatever I learn to the next project, such as adding sound effect transitions and title music to the tracks.  I felt this was a definite positive step, but I do wish I had decided upon that course of action before I had recorded half the book.  Once I am done with the current story, I will have to go back and add these effects to the previous stories.  Not a daunting task, but one which will take a bit of time.  I do feel the result will be worth the effort, however, and look forward to being able to release this book in the Audible format in the new year.

Until we meet again,

~Namaste

Audible Update 12-13-23

Greetings,

As promised, I am making an attempt to provide more updates on both my writing and art sites.  I have just finished my recording session for the night, in  my second attempt to bring my second work, ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales’, to Audible.  On most nights, I follow pretty much the same routine.  Once home from my day job, I take care of dinner and other tasks, perhaps enjoy a bit of bass practice, before spending two or three hours on front of a microphone, and using an audio editor to process the recording.  As I may have mentioned earlier, I am adding sound transitions (and perhaps some opening and closing theme music) to my second attempt,  The upside to this is that it has steepened the learning curve, allowing me to hopefully bring a more rich experience to the listener.  The downside, is the fact I had this idea halfway through the book, and will now have to go back and add them to at least two of the stories I have previously recorded, if not more.  I don’t mind this, actually, if the final product ends being one of which I can be proud to have created.

Well, that’s about all the time I have for tonight.  I must rest in order to attack another day of relentless labor with something approaching competence, if not enthusiasm.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste