I now think I need to keep the energy but slow down. I may have confused energy with pacing. I can still sound enthused (because I am) and slow it down a tad so I don’t “machine gun” through my narration.

And the over-annunciation thing may be me slipping into reading voice or it’s me trying to get through some wording that is tripping me up, a clue that I whould re-write.

Good to hear from you.

Best,
Rob

i felt the latest podcast on “tracking” was yet another example of how invaluable i find the saltcast. i learn something about storytelling each episode…and your show (and your tone) never feels didactic.

a great tip you shared, i thought, was that sounding conversational on the radio starts with writing conversational script.

yep.

…one of the battles with tracking a piece, obviously, is the need (compulsion?) to get it just right, exactly perfect. but i can saw without a single reservation that your narration is right up there at the top. you sound as if you are talking not reading, and your voice sounds relaxed and conversational. if you want my tiny two cents worth of constructive criticism…i would say that once or twice a show i can hear you making an attempt to annuniciate. thing is, you ARE a naturally clear speaker…youre not a mumbler like me. so just let the words come out as they please…and trust they will be understood. now if only I could take this advice…maybe MY own tracking coudl improve!

Narrating is tough. I think one of the biggest difficulties is communicating without non-verbals such as facial expressions. Everything your face expresses — compassion, anger, surprise, boredom — all has to come through the voice instead.

I wonder if you would have the same reaction to the student’s narration if you *saw* that student reading her narration?

(For those wondering which piece Carmen is referring to, it’s here: /?p=197)

When exactly do you hear her sneering? I don’t think I hear it. And, what tips do you have to help avoid the sneer you feel is common among young people?

Thanks for listening and commenting!

Best,
Rob