Writing About Talking About Writing

Writing about talking about writing

A few months back, Matt, the publisher of Engen books sent me an email asking if I was interested in having VIRAL done up as an audio book.

The idea immediately fascinated me. None of my previous books have been issued as spoken word but I’ve been a fan of audiobooks for some time. Back when I was working as a large animal veterinarian, I often travelled with a collection of cassettes. Much of what I listened to was continuing education for vets. The long drives involved in my work gave me the opportunity to catch up on the latest in medical and surgical advances.

Occasionally I would get the chance to listen to more literary efforts. A compelling mystery or some non-fiction about the makeup of the universe would make the miles fly by.

I write because I like to tell stories and what could have more connection with the ageless art of storytelling than sharing something you have written out loud? In some ways there is a more intimate connection with the listener/reader when they can actually hear someone talking to them.

Matt suggested that the company could hire a “voice” to do the actual recording of the book.

I’m always keen for new adventures and immediately suggested that I could do the reading myself.

I had little experience with vocal work, but I had spent some time learning about and doing audio recording. Music has always been a big part of my life and I’ve put together a small recording studio over the years.

With all the microphones and recording programs anyone would ever want, recording a book should be simple.

When I started to think seriously about the project, I realized that there was more to it than I had anticipated. I can normally get through a book like VIRAL in just a few days, but this time I had to read it out loud. If it wasn’t intimidating enough to read some 70,000 words into a microphone, I realized it would also have to be done perfectly. There is no room for stumbles, missed words or coughs in a project of this type.

Here’s a secret about producing an audiobook. Much of the credit is due to the technology of digital recording programs. I use a complex multitrack digital audio program called Reaper. With music, virtually unlimited numbers of tracks of instruments and singing can be recorded and mixed. Each track of audio can be edited in almost limitless fashion.

When recording a single track of audio, it is possible to splice together short pieces and make it sound like a single effort. The program allows you to read a brief section, perhaps a paragraph long and then move it so it seamlessly fits with the parts before and after.

Even with all of this technological help, producing an audiobook is a huge effort. The finished product is over seven hours long. I learned that the sound of the wind on stormy days will ruin your recordings and how lucky I am to live in a small village without much traffic.

I have always read my work out loud in the editing process, but reading and recording is a different experience. Knowing that the effort is preserved made me more aware of the meaning and flow of the words. From here on, I’ll be recording my writing as an editing tool.

There is something special about hearing a book in the author’s own voice. The writer knows exactly what is intended by every word and can add nuance that may help with understanding the book.

The audiobook version of VIRAL is available now on Kindle at https://www.audible.com/pd/B08SBM3M84/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-231371&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_231371_rh_us

Or

https://www.amazon.ca/Viral/dp/B08SCHZS4D/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1611842359&sr=8-1

Enjoy!