Authors who record their own podfic

[dodificus]

I'd be really interested in hearing people's opinions on author's who read their own work. Ever since the days when rageprufrock recorded some of her stories I've been a huge fan of hearing stories I love from the lips of the people who wrote them.

Listeners: Does this impact on your listening experience at all? Are you more forgiving of author's who have technical difficulties/verbal stumbles than other readers?

Authors who are also podfic readers: I know some of you prefer/like to have your stories recorded by other people, why is that? Are there some of you who prefer things the *other* way round, do you love recording your own stuff?

Authors: Do you listen to the podfic of your work or can you not bear to hear your words read out loud?

I'd just be really interested on any of your thoughts on this topic, it's not something I've seen discussed very much.

Comments

[pensnest]

I enjoy recording my own stories, but there's a problem, in that I can *write* American, with suitable help from fine beta readers, but I can't speak it, at least, not in a way that I can believe wouldn't make actual Americans crack up. So I'm restricted to reading only those of my own (popslash) stories which are AUs and can work in my perfectly RP English accent.

In fact, nobody has yet recorded one of my canon-based stories, though someone is going to, so I can't compare the effect on me. It'll be interesting, I think, to hear somebody else interpreting my writing.

[dodificus]

I'm not one to let the lack of a US accent stop me from recording stories I love and most of my favourite authors are 'foreign'. So I honestly don't think it would be a problem for you to record stories with your posh english accent even if it wasn't the 'proper' accent for the fandom:)

Of your own stories that you *have* recorded, have you noticed anything about the way you write that you weren't aware of before? A lot of the time things can take on a different rhythm when verbalised, or you can notice that you really like using a particular word or phrase:)

[pensnest]

Oddly, I haven't noticed any particular things about my writing; perhaps that's because I'm concentrating on conveying how they sound in my head, rather than thinking about what's there. I suspect I'd be more likely to notice my tics through listening, and I don't tend to listen to my own stories.

I'm encouraged, now! I may have to have a go at recording an American fic and see how it comes across.

[zvi]

As a listener, I myself am fine with hearing stories from U.S. sources read with non-US accents. Most of the podfic I listen to is either SGA or CWRPF, and most of my favorite readers are Australian, French, British, or something not U.S. (I actually do prefer that Harry Potter and Merlin fic is read by people with accents that I perceive as English (so Cultivated Australian English or some varieties of Indian or African English pass my uncosmopolitan ears.)

So, do you yourself not like to hear stories from U.S. sources with non-US accents, or are you concerned about other people not liking it? I mean, if it's your personal preference you're accomodating, then, you know, you like what you like. But if it's because you think listeners won't accept it, I think you are quite mistaken on that point.

[pensnest]

When I read stories, I try to 'hear' them in the right accent, so I think I probably have my own preference for 'authentic American' to contend with. I think on the whole I'd prefer to listen to stories in the right kind of accent. So I think that's the biggest problem for me.

But I might just have a go at recording something that 'ought' to be in an American accent, and see what happens. :-)

[zvi]

I don't know that I care one way or another about an author recording their own material. If the author is a good reader (as Pru is or Fay is) then it's a pleasure, but if they're not very good at it, they're ... not very good, and I'm unlikely to listen again.

[cathexys]

Yes, that exactly. I don't think it's weird to record one's stories, but I'm not sure I think that authors have that special relation that translates into better reading. A story is well read or not. That's all :)

[dodificus]

but I'm not sure I think that authors have that special relation that translates into better reading. A story is well read or not.

*nods*

I don't think it's a 'better' reading so much as an interesting insight into how they would, well, verbally interpret their own work (if that doesn't sound too pretentious).

[sansets]

Personally, I treat readers as readers, regardless of if they also wrote the story. However, I do think that when the authors are good readers, it is really cool to hear how they think that the story ought to sound. skoosiepants is one who comes to mind as being a good example of a reader whose take on her own stories makes me very happy.

[dodificus]

Hmmm, skoosiepants doesn't bring any podfic to mind, although I probably *have* listened to it and just not remembered. I'm going to have to investigate:)

[bronze_ribbons]

My fic has been recorded by other people. I've very much enjoyed listening to the results, both because I've been blessed with excellent readers and because it's fascinating to me to hear inflections/interpretations different than the ones in my head.

I've listened to several of busaikko's audiofics, both recorded by herself and by other people (and recorded one myself). Again, she's been blessed with good readers for everything, and is herself pleasant to listen to.

I'm not picky about accents -- I can't manage them myself, and as with text versions of fanfic, I'm far more lenient toward glitches and stumbles in a labor of love than I would be toward something someone got paid union rates to produce. That includes the voiceposts and mp3s I've myself posted to date -- there are things I'd love to fix or improve or reconsider in them all, but at some point one has to cut the losses, meet the deadline, and move on. (Which is true of the things I write as well as speak, but my limitations as a reader/recorder are way more pronounced. *sigh*)

Of your own stories that you *have* recorded, have you noticed anything about the way you write that you weren't aware of before? A lot of the time things can take on a different rhythm when verbalised, or you can notice that you really like using a particular word or phrase:)

I read "D'accord, d'accord" at a con a couple years ago, and ended up abridging and revising it to work better aloud (the story was longer than the 1 hour timeslot for the reading). I've been encouraged to record it, and I mean to get around to it someday; when I do, I will likely either use the version I prepared for Terminus or create another "script" version that includes some of the scenes I had to cut for the one-sitting reading but also retains some of the changes I made to make the narrative tighter and more follow-along-able.

And, even though I wrote the words in the first place, I found myself rehearsing different ways to "act" some of the dialogue. I suppose that's why I'm not fussed over whether someone else might read my words a right or wrong way - I'm very much a believer in "the more versions the merrier" when it comes to audiofic, theatrical productions, translations and the like.

[dodificus]

And, even though I wrote the words in the first place, I found myself rehearsing different ways to "act" some of the dialogue.

That's hilarious to me because I suppose I've always had this idea of authors knowing exactly how everything sounds in their head.

I'm far more lenient toward glitches and stumbles in a labor of love than I would be toward something someone got paid union rates to produce.

<3

And I'm glad that as an author you've enjoyed listening to recordings of your work.

[monanotlisa]

Very cool (but psst, "authors").

[dodificus]

*facepalm*

[brimtoast]

If I have just found a new reader I like, I will listen to stories they've recorded by other authors before I listen to stories of their own they've recorded. Usually podfic is part rec, and I can trust that if someone wanted to put a lot of time and work into reading it, it's a really strong story. But a person cannot really be as objective about reccing their own stories; when a reader is reading their own work, I don't have as much trust that the story was chosen for being outstanding.

But there are definitely some really good podfics I've heard where the reader is also the author. I'm just generally a bit more cautious of those.

[brimtoast]

p.s. that is not the icon I meant to use. I was going for this one.

[dodificus]

when a reader is reading their own work, I don't have as much trust that the story was chosen for being outstanding.

This is actually a *really* good point and one I hadn't considered. I completely agree with you that recording a story is part rec and you lose that aspect of it when it's an author who has recorded it. If you're not familiar with the story then you're definitely taking more of a risk that maybe you wont like it.

[fleurrochard]

I think so far I've only listened to FayJay being both reader and author and I loved those podfics - but then I've loved pretty much every podfic by her, so well.

I have to agree with brimtoast's point though: if the author reads their own story the podfic loses its rec-part. FayJay hasn't lead me wrong there but since I didn't know her stories before I didn't know that before I listened to them. So if I don't know the reader's stories I'd be a bit more wary about them.

I'm not sure I'd be more forgiving about technical difficultes/verbal stumbles if it's the author reading - I am pretty forgiving about them anyway (it's not as if I pay for podfics), but if I don't like a reading I won't listen to it again, no matter who has read it.

[dodificus]

but if I don't like a reading I won't listen to it again, no matter who has read it.

This is true for me too, I suppose I've just been lucky enough to have only experienced pretty awesome readings by authors.

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

I read my own stories for several reasons.

One reason is that when I started doing podficcing, I wanted to practice on my own stuff while I figured out what I was doing.

Another reason is that podficcing my work adds another dimension to the creative process, particularly because I do like adding music to it.

I understand, though, that self promotion dumps the rec aspect on its ass. Oh, well. The satisfaction of doing the creative aspect outweighs that for me.

Laurie

[dodificus]

I understand, though, that self promotion dumps the rec aspect on its ass.

But people who like your podfic/stories are going to listen anyway. I mean if people know and trust you, you have that relationship with them anyway, ya know?

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

I have that 'know and trust' relationship with some folks on my flist, but for the most part I don't have a clue what happens when I post a podfic.Even hit counters don't really tell you much beside that your post was read.

Laurie