August 2021 Newsletter · 5:06am Aug 1st, 2021
Happy August!
Just like June, a lot of stuff I worked on in July is still in the works, but progress is being made. The audiobook projects I've chosen are time-consuming things, and that is the way of it.
Revelation Into Mercury
As a reminder, in case you're unfamiliar or forgot, Revelation Into Mercury is the name of the arc I've given to The Master Mev, Chapters 12-20 that I plan on making into a new set of audiobook chapters.
Last newsletter, I was nearly done with Chapter 12 and preparing to start recording Chapter 13. For all these chapters so far, I am recording my narration and the character voices, but the character voices will be later replaced by other actors. That is why none of this arc is published yet. During July, I recorded the character voices as I went instead of going back in to replace them later. That plan helped.
Chapters 13 and 14 are done. I have even started Chapter 15 though my time has become much more limited on when I can work on this project. If you're not keeping track, this is coming to roughly 2-3 weeks per chapter.
Worth noting and adding though that these are among the shorter chapters of the arc. Chapters 19 and 20 are both over 3000 words with Chapter 20 being close to 4000 and the second longest chapter in the story. With edits, Chapter 20 could end up reclaiming its title as the longest chapter. That isn't planned; I'm just acknowledging it could happen. One helpful contrast is that Chapter 16 is still pending and that is the shortest chapter. Chapter 18 is almost 2700 so still on the long side even if not quite up to 3000.
I am still expecting to make a casting call between October and January.
I actually do have the CCC project drafted for its description and the roles whose lines I've already finished in my recordings. I'm that hyped even though this preparation is going to take months. Nonetheless, let me at least share this snippet of the Spitfire role:
Oh, now I have to share my word count table. This spreadsheet is a work progress, so that's why everyone has zeroes from Chapter 15 onward. Due to the minor text changes, even in dialogue, I would rather tally up the counts once I've finished a recording.
That helps show some of the progress going on here.
Edit-For clarity's sake, let me note that the above spreadsheet has some zeroes and some blanks. My wording is misleading. The zeroes are actually true throughout, however the blanks are calculated as zeroes too. The blanks are actually what will be filled in later by characters who have lines for those chapters.
Utaan 42
I broke up this chapter into 36 segments based on its existing chapter breaks. A lot of the past month was spent on part 6 (besides the project above). Still solo for now, still pending permission whenever I figure out how/when to ask the author.
Project Dashcord
I made a note to myself I didn't want to forget this project but alas, aside from trying to figure out how to storyboard stuff here and there in my head, I haven't had time to work on it. Nothing has been put to paper, and I haven't opened SFM or Blender for awhile. This is the project for an eventual monster transformation of Rainbow Dash into a vicious draconequus that looks like Discord.
Writing
I have made extremely little progress since last newsletter. I had maybe one or two productive days in all of July to just write out ideas and mostly reject them. I'm still glad I took the time to work on them. The Master Mev, text version, is still on hiatus for future chapters at this time.
I have edited the text of The Master Mev Chapters 12 and 13, noted earlier this month in a blog post at Fimficton.net. As of posting this newsletter, Chapter 14 text has been edited as well.
Extra
Please get vaccinated for COVID-19, if you have access and no medical condition or similar circumstances preventing you.
Simone Biles is a phenomenal gymnast, truly one of the most amazing and awesome athletes ever. That was true before the 2021 Olympics. It will be true after. She had to withdraw from performing at the Team Final and eventually All-Around final as well at the Olympics due to her mind not being in a place where she could safely perform. I support her decision 100%. I respect that she needed and still needs to take care of herself at this time.
Closing
It still doesn't look like much in terms of output, but what can I say? Audiobooks are hard to produce, but I like to produce them. I'm really looking forward to sharing the final product(s) whenever they are ready.
