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Narration_Arts
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Talking Shop, p.2
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“Those who know why will always beat those who know how. I can be on the track with you all day.
But when its time for the competition, all I can do is sit in the stadium. That’s
why I want you to know not only how to run this way, but why you’re running this way.
You have to be able to cope with any situation that occurs during a race. If
you listen and internalize what I’m teaching you, the other guys will have to beat you to win--because I’m giving you the tools to make sure you won’t beat yourselves.”
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Bobby Kersee,
Renown Olympic Track Coach for Gail Devers, Jackie Joiner, and Allyson Felix
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EDITOR'S VOX:
Can You Feel It?
Finding the feel of the text: Some
say it’s instinct, others say it can be learned. One thing
is certain, you have to know where to find clues to what the author intends.
Look
through the opening chapters of a well-written book for clusters of images. Look at chunks of descriptive nouns and verbs
and think of them as working together to produce a moving picture and an atmosphere.
How do they work together? Are descriptive portions lengthy, detailed,
objective, subjective? Is the story told using a lot of
metaphor and allegory? Is the imagery consistent, ironic, plain or contradictory? How dos the author use the language? Does it have a jagged, rhythmic feel or is it
smooth and sonorous? What tempo is implied by the above observations?
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Be aware of shifts in the motion of the text. Is the action external
or internal (i.e., physical or mental)? See how the author moves from moment to moment description (scene) to condensed action
description (summary).
Great narrators are familiar with a variety of writing and not only look for what’s on the surface, they
mine the subtext for clues as well.
So, get out there and read, read, read. There is no substitute
for hands-on exposure. You can also learn a great deal from comparing one book recorded by 2 different narrators. You may
be just honing your instincts, maybe learning a truly new approach. Observe, absorb and trust your feelings.
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