July 2024 #2

I said in an earlier Blog that i was working on something that was quite exciting and I'd let you know more about it in the future. Remember? If not, go back a Blog post or two and find it...

Back?

OK.

So, the thing to which I was referring was a new project with Keith. A while ago he used a (very) short story of mine to create something a bit different. Like an audio book with music and effects, he worked on 'NoMor & I' and turned it into something very different and I loved his Narration.

Well, we were chatting about my entries for the Hammond House 'Fate' Literary Prize 2023 and my short story entry 'Timing'. I said I was happy with it even though it didn't connect with a Judge and he asked me to send him a pdf of it so he could read it. Which I did.

He then asked me if I'd mind him putting a 'treatment' to it to make it into a longer form piece like 'NoMor & I' and I was amazed (but very pleased as you might imagine) that he'd want to do so. 

So I left him to it until he'd split the piece into 12 equal parts and began putting a music track under his narration. He really has a good voice for such things and the way he worked one element of it was amazing and I loved it.

We realised that him reading out the story was good, but we realised that it was quite limited as the way you write for an 'inner' voice (the narrator of the mind) is different and perhaps reduced when compared to an actual voice telling the same story.

I therefore went back to the original and altered it quite a bit for what I consider to be an entirely new work. It's turning into a multi-media piece with some great sounds and narration and I'm pleased with the adjustments made to make it a lot more 'narrator friendly'.

In an idle moment, Keith had created something that he thought could act as an image for the piece on a paper towel and had sent it to me as a working CD Booklet / CD Folder that has morphed into what you see below. I think it is simple but effective and I really like it.

Currently, Keith has recorded all 12 'Chapters' of the story and has tried to create tracks the length of which are within the same sort of region (between 5-7 minutes). I love how the piece is evolving, and find the additions and alterations to 'my' story incredibly interesting and rewarding.

Keith has used his many skills across music, sound effects and narration, combined with my little story, to make something that I hope we can get onto streaming platforms when it's complete. I really think it is that good.

Of course, I'm afraid that like with a lot of our output, you'll have to wait a while until it is ready to be released into the wild but when the time is near, I'll try to remember to update my Blog accordingly!

Thanks for reading this and keep being nice to each other!

Alan