Dramatic Readings, and Everything Really Is Better with Bacon, Unless You're Three.

[taste_is_sweet]

fish_echo: I tried the Redshirt Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs. :) They were fun to make and delicious, even with lower-fat turkey bacon. Javier wasn't terribly thrilled with the bacon, however. ::sighs:: That's pretty much par for the course these days, though he still likes curry, oddly enough. I know this because I improvised a fantastic chickpea, parsnip and carrot curry tonight for dinner, and Javier actually ate most of his portion. \o/ If anyone would like the recipe, I would be more than happy to supply it.

The Dramatic Reading portion of this post is how the fanfiction story Aegis that I wrote with springwoof is now a Podfic! (A very long podfic.) As read by the awesome (and courageous) rhea314. This is quite an honour in the Stargate: Atlantis fandom. You know you've made it when someone wants to spend eight hours of their life reading something you wrote to their computer, eh? So when I found out that it was available I zapped on over and downloaded it immediately. I spent nearly an hour today listening to rhea314's voice (including while I was making the curry) and feeling kind of awed to hear my words out of someone else's mouth.

It's really interesting how different Rhea's reading is to what the narrative, and especially the dialogue, sound like in my head. Her take on how the characters would say what I wrote has been so far almost entirely different from mine, which I truly hadn't even thought about. I wasn't at all upset, just startled. It's fascinating that the meaning of a piece of writing can stay the same even if the audience perceives the details of it completely differently from the author. I wonder how surprised Rhea might be to hear me reading the story myself. Or springwoof, for that matter, since I'm sure how the story sounds in her head is also much different to mine.

I have no conclusions about that. I just wanted to share it. :)

Comments

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, I've been meaning to try that one sometime when I can convince the flatmates to be home for tea because it's too much effort for just one serving. I'm glad that it lives up to its reputation! And silly Jav, not liking the bacon! Even if it does probably say good things about his taste in food. But then this is the same boy that doesn't like apple peels. Hmmm.

I think you should share the curry recipe, it sounds quite tasty! (And if you find a way to make it Pegasusian you could always submit it to De Re Coquinaria Pegasi as an errata recipe.)

I've downloaded the Aegis podfic, but my current podfic-listening-time comes in ~20 minute chunks, which makes me absolutely batty if the story is longer than an hour or so. So I'm saving it for when I have a larger chunk of time free. *is happy in anticipation* Hmm, evidently that makes you the Leah-of-no-LJ. *feels silly for not perhaps have realising earlier*

As far as the dramatic reading portion goes, I find this sort of discussion fascinating, so blather on! I find that when I read a story in my head it sounds different then when I read aloud. This is true even when I'm reading it in my head in prep for reading it aloud (perhaps this is a sign that I do not have lots of experience reading aloud, especially not fiction, where there is more emotion than rhetoric readings.) This will sometimes even affect my interpretation of a character subtly. And, of course, other people interpret characters differently than myself-- which when I was young used to be a real problem with me seeing movies of books I had liked-- it was rare that I was pleased with the portrayal of my beloved characters on the screen. It was one of the things that made me initially hesitant about podfic, but I found out that longcarrides was recording Maya's Harry Potter fic at about the same time that I had lots of brain-numbing work, so I decided to give it a go. And I'm really glad I did! It's odd to me the first time I listen to a well-loved fic and here someone else's voice and someone else's interpretation. But if it is a story I haven't read yet, or one I've only read once or twice, I don't hardly notice it any more. One thing that amuses me is when I go back to read the fic of a well-listened podfic I will sometimes start hearing it in the reader's voice. (Usually it's the dialogue that this happens with initially and then it creeps into the description as well.) Or sometimes if the podfic is a WIP, when I read ahead I'll hear it in the reader's voice. To me when that happens it's a sign I really like the reading.

No conclusions either, just thoughts.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I like your thoughts. :)

I'll put the curry recipe in another entry, at some point. I appreciate your interest. :D

I also have a narrator in my head when I read! Though they so far haven't sounded like anyone recognizable. I do have different types of narrators in my head depending on what I'm reading, though. It's pretty funny, though I think it slows my reading time down, at least compared to people who don't hear the words like that.

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

I do have different types of narrators in my head depending on what I'm reading, though.

I hadn't thought about that too much, but I think I do too... (Certainly there's different styles of reading that I have in my head based on the content.) *contemplates one of the fiction narrators reading stodgy-work-related-things* *cracks up* Hmm, I might have to try that next time I can't get through my work reading out of boredom. But I'm not sure a dramatic reinterpretation of the blahity of blah as fanfic would be a good idea for my actual comprehension :)

It's pretty funny, though I think it slows my reading time down, at least compared to people who don't hear the words like that.
In order of decreasing speed I have: [visualise the story (and maybe hear it also)] then [don't visualise but do hear it] then [just read it]. But the comprehension goes in the opposite direction (which I guess makes sense-- the longer I spend on any given thought the more I'll understand on the first pass through). And I can switch between the modes intentionally, although sometimes different modes are easier than others, and some works seem more suited to one mode or another.

My default for fic reading for fun is to read it, with the words sounding in my head although probably not with full dramatic reading (this varies to some extent by the author-- some people's work just is more 'aloud' in my head than others) and visualising parts of it... Which is one of the reasons why I'm happy with someone who doesn't put much description in (I'll provide it on my own if left to myself) or who describes lots of things (hey, pre-described!), but if the author starts a scene (for example) without much physical description and then part-way through the location of the piano is of importance I'll be annoyed if I've put the piano elsewhere because then I have to break out of the story to rearange things. (This is also why certain characters in my mind always have, say, a different hair colour than in the actual story-- because we were told late enough that my mind had already decided on what fit with the character and it didn't feel like changing. Which is a quirk in how I read, I know.)

One of the interesting things about 'seeing' stories is that I still depend upon body language to interpret characters' emotional states. Which works just fine if the story that I'm reading has enough emotional state information that I can mentally make the characters move like they should (which a good story will have), but makes it slightly odd when an author explicitly writes in a gesture that means something different than that gesture/character combo means in my head (which only happens occasionally). The tricky part comes when I'm writing-- because the number density of gestures that are important to me is two-to-three times higher than makes for good writing. This is especially true of team-fic where I'm trying to show communication-without-words. So the proper amount and type of physical gestures to incorporate when I write is something I'm still working on.


*waits patiently for recipe* *nom nom nom* ps. my pie thoughts (mark two) will get posted this weekend if i have time

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I wrote fics this weekend, and I tried to put in body language just for you. ::g:: (They're in lavvyan's LJ, by the way. She kindly posted for me since she created the AU and I don't post fic here).

Your ability to turn off certain ways that you read is enviable. I can't do that (I'm even narrating this in my own voice while I'm typing it). I'm not sure that I describe things so completely in my head if the author doesn't, either (though I'll try to pay more attention the next time I read). You truly have an impressive mind.

Looking forward to the pie post. ;->

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

Your ability to turn off certain ways that you read is enviable.
I don't have complete control, but the 80%-ish control (wild guesstimate) is pretty cool.

You truly have an impressive mind.
I'd say 'odd', but since I like it in here, I'm not complaining :)

I wrote fics this weekend, and I tried to put in body language just for you. ::g::

Yay! Wow, I feel all special now :)

I shall have to delay reading it though because I have the evil lurgy and have about the mental capacity of a mush-melon.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Blech! I hope you're feeling better!

They're on john_farr, by the way. I would click on the 'master list' tag to get them all in order. The comm is about a very fun AU. I don't know how long interest will last, but the members are really enjoying it right now.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

It's even more fun to listen to podfic read by non-native speakers. ;)

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I'm sure! The accents must be lovely.

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

They are, though the rhythm and pronounciation can be odd at times.

And I'm a little over two hours into Aegis now and bouncing with glee and looking forward to my favourite parts.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Wow. :D I need to listen to more of that, but it's hard to find the time!

[kylielee1000.livejournal.com]

I've had two of my fics podfic'd, and to be honest, I haven't listened to either of them. I am too afraid! But they got good feedback.

I read one of my own stories myself, to test the technology, and it is a lot of work! I read my very shortest story, and it still took for freakin' ever.

Congrats! For having been podfic'd; and for being brave enough to listen to it.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you on both counts, though it wasn't really a question of bravery--I was a tiny bit worried it would sound awful, but mostly I was optimistic and curious. :) I've listened to about an hour and a half of it so far, and except for a few instances of words not being properly audible--at least via these speakers--I think the reader did a great job. I should tell her, actually.

What amazed me is that yeah, it takes forever to read something aloud versus reading it silently! Why is that, do you think? And I am amazed that someone would put forth that kind of effort.

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

hey, cool! I didn't know the podfic was done. ::goes to download::

Also: yes, please, share your recipe! I love parsnips.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I'm terribly sorry--I thought you'd gotten the e-mail as well, or I would have forwarded it immediately.

I'll make a post for the recipe. I love parsnips too! And they're sweet enough when cooked that my boy doesn't mind them, either. :D

Yay!

[anna-bird.livejournal.com]

I have no idea how it has escaped me that you cowrote Aegis. *goes to re-read*

Re: Yay!

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Heh. Thank you! It might be confusing because I was using my other (real) name of Leah, for which I don't have a LJ, and since the LJ I share with springwoof to post the fics (like Aegis which we wrote together) is leahwoof, I can see how that might seem like a different user entirely.

But yes, that was me. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Have you read the sequel Enthrall?

Re: Yay!

[anna-bird.livejournal.com]

I have NOT. Is that at leahwoof, too? I'll be sure to check it out.

Re: Yay!

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

It is indeed. :D There should be a link at the bottom of the last "Aegis" post on the leahwoof LJ. :)

I hope you enjoy that too.