Star Hazard Reads: The Diary of Diddy Discord, Entry One (Please, give me your opinions, Diddy lovers) · 12:42am Feb 24th, 2015
Okay, so I did it. I put out (a very bad reading) of Diddy Discord, Entry One. Please leave helpful comments and suggestions... and, you know, help me out a bit. Every video I've ever posted to YouTube I've deleted in a mad panic because I'm such a nervous wreck when it comes to being watched (I enjoy doing it, I just don't enjoy my self-esteem driving me to insanity).
Basically, I decided to do this because I keep being told (repeatedly actually) that when you become an author you have to spend a lot more time in the public eye than I originally intended (I was actually hoping to be a mystery writer like in that one episode of Arthur). I hope, and my friend who's agreed to do this with me hopes, that this will help our confidence in the public a bit.
Hopefully when my friend is better (still in hospital, and very bored apparently) we will be sitting down to doing some fanfiction reviews, so if you want something specific reviewing tell me. I'm also considering reviewing the characters in the actual show (namely at the minute Starswhirl, because he confuses me), so if you have any specific characters you want reviewing tell me in the comments.
Thank you, and Celestia speed, DreamWings (really, I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight).
Yeah, going around and doing signings and appearances and promotions are vital for writers. Just a part of the life.
Alrighty, well I listened to it. Personally, I enjoyed it. A few things...
At the beginning there's something running in the background that is super noticeable. If you know what that is and can either make sure it's off or turn it off beforehand or whatnot, be a good idea. You were still clear and understandable, so it's not terrible.
Overall, you were clear and understandable, though had that nervous bit of speed more often than not. Made you trip over your words on the occasion. I do the same thing, apparently, or so they told me when I was trying to record for the PC and Pals Podcast. It's somewhat unconscious. That's basically only going to go away with practice and time, as you get more comfortable.
You might put a little more of a pause between the talky bits and the actual reading, just to give a stronger feel of separation.
The change in stills was nice. A very good touch.
Overall, it was good. Just slow down a tick, watch those background noises, and remember the most important lesson of all: You're awesome, lass. Good luck with future recordings!
2825176 Yeah, I tend to go faster when I'm nervous. I also tend to suck at accents when I'm nervous to... Believe it or not I have been told I'm good at them. It was really a first try and I just quickly did the audio on my phone. The noise in the background at the beginning, I think, is my laptop warming up (it does it occasionally, I just have to move my phone a bit further away and it should be fine).
I know it's a part of the author's life, and I do it all the time in workshops and seminars, it's just on cameras and recorders that I go a bit dippy. That's kind of why I asked my friend to do reviews with me. I don't know about her, but I feel a lot more confident doing recordings with people than without them (you remember the disastrous Skype calls where I got tongue-tied and couldn't speak, right?). And it's now half-two in the morning and I can't sleep because of this thing. I just have to keep telling myself that if I cave in to my feelings and delete it (as usually happens with everything I do/write) then I'm not really getting anyway. But... it's really hard.
What's PC and Pals? Did you actually set up that broadcast you were talking about a few months back?
2825342
That was just on your phone? That sounded really clear--I didn't think a phone could take a recording like that. Impressive.
Heh, yes, I recall. Good times, those, with your lovely random singing adding a nice tune to our ridiculousness. But yeah, I feel ya. Stuff like that, when it's not your bag... It's good to have some help.
It's important to fight that feeling. Like you say, it's really hard. But nothing worth it is ever easy, lass. I hope you keep it up, and also reach that point where you can be comfortable leaving it up. I like it, and if you keep doing them might well listen to it again. So I'd be sad if it vanished, eh?
PC and Pals was/is the name for the podcast I wanted to do. We had two really good sessions. I mean, really good. No real downtime, I feel like we talked about some interesting things... The problem, of course, has been on the recording side. The first time, while the call sounded good, the recording showed a heck of a lot of background noise. And, after about a half hour, my own audio started clipping before it became completely inaudible. The second session, everyone else's audio was great...and it didn't record mine at all.
Well, you know me, when stuff like that happens it's really disheartening. I still want to get back to it, but it's harder, now, to find the drive. I wish I didn't suck with technology and knew the best way to handle the recording side. 'Cause that's literally the only thing standing in the way. I dunno. It's hard, when you're financially limited and don't really have the know how or connections who do. Living in the boonies doesn't help, either.
2826353 Yes, that was just the recorder that came with my phone. Somehow it's even clearer than my tablet's ever was.
I don't want to take it down and I do at the same time. It's the panic tied in with letting people down that I don't like. And, it's amazing, but I'd completely forgot that I used to sing on the calls. I still do that when I'm nervous sometimes.
It's a shame your technologies letting you down. I mean I made this with my phone recorder and Paint-- both of which were software that came with stuff for free. Maybe, one day, if you figure out your software me and whichever friend wants to do it (two of my friends have now agreed to do it with me) could join you. It sounds fun.
And, no, I'm not giving up. If I make a deal with myself or others I always carry it on. That's the reason I make all my own bread and write at least 1000 words a day. Fun times.
2826573
You always were the impressive one, lass. I know you can do whatever you want to put your mind to.
I think, if it was just me recording myself? There'd be no issues. But I want to record me and the others, vis a vis Skype calls--since I know of really no other way to do this with people I'm not physically with. And I'm fairly certain I can't be entertaining on my own. So it's dealing with all that, various different tech levels, various connection speeds... It might just be an effort in futility. Or maybe I just need to try and do it with one or two others.
And yeah, that's why it was/is the PC and Pals Podcast. I figured it'd be best if it was me and then kind of a rotating list of others, based upon topics, who's available, who's interested... So I'd love to have you and your friends on, if I ever get it working. I mean, the door is open to more or less anyone who's interested and able. But I have to figure out how to get it to work first, o' course.
But I also want to do some Let's Plays, readings of fics, reviews and stuff like that... I dunno. I just want to try all that stuff, and don't fully know how to go about doing so. I hate being an old man, sometimes.
2827133 Well, I haven't tested it yet, but I've downloaded a free app on my phone that (supposedly) records Skype calls. I feel like I need it-- especially since one of the friends I'm doing this with is still in Yorkshire-- and I'm in Wales for part of the year (good six hours journey). I'll test it and tell you if it works.