Guest Post: The Gift of Voice by Paula Messina

When Paula pitched this topic to me a couple of weeks ago, I had never heard of this organization. Seemed like a very cool idea. Please welcome Paula Messina back to the blog today...

  

The Gift of Voice by Paula Messina

 

Writer William Burton McCormick found his muse, Librivox.org.

He says, “I am a huge fan of Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories and detective fiction and early to mid-20th century weird fiction, many of which I can hear in Librivox recordings.” His listening to those stories is reflected in his novella, A Stranger from the Storm, which is set in Odessa in 1900.

Librivox is an all volunteer organization that provides audiobooks of works in the public domain. It was founded in 2005 by Canadian writer Hugh McGuire. According to Wikipedia, “On 6 August 2016, the completed projects numbered 10,000, and on 14 February 2021 there were 15,000 completed projects.”

McCormick, the author (with John Christmas) of the novel KGB Banker (https://www.williamburtonmccormick.com), says, “There are so many good readings on Librivox that it exposes me to many authors who are obscure to modern readers. And through repeated listenings, I know it has definitely altered both the style and subject matter of my own writing.”

Librivox’s offerings include children’s stories, poetry, short fiction, novels, and non-fiction. There are readings of religious works, recipes, speeches, even works guaranteed to make you fall into the arms of Morpheus. Recordings are not only available in English. Numerous languages are represented, Italian, Latin, Romanian, Mandarin to name a few. In short, there is something for everyone.

We’ve gotten away from gathering around the piano to sing with the family or sit in the parlor of an evening to listen to Dad read aloud. Being read to is one of life’s great pleasures, an unhurried, intimate, shared experience that opens up myriad vistas. Librivox can’t replace dear old Dad, but it allows the listener to experience literature in a different light.

Librivox can also be a sight for sore eyes. “Since I fry my eyes by staring at a screen all day,” McCormick says, “Librivox readings allow me a break where I can just kick back, listen, and immerse myself in stories from long ago.”

I come to Librivox from the other side. My introduction was as a volunteer reader. That is I make recordings of works in the public domain. Like McCormick, I am exposed to writers whose works I probably would never know and the early writings of some of my favorite authors. I’ve recorded numerous poems, chapters from books on Edmund Campion, Michelangelo, and Theodore Dreiser, a section from The Inimitable Jeeves, and Thomas Frederick Crane’s translation of an Italian myth, “The Lord, St. Peter, and the Apostles.” I’m currently putting the finishing touches on “A Curious Dream” by Mark Twain.

Unlike McCormick, I am not an aficionado of ghost stories. Nevertheless, I’ve recorded a few ghost stories to expand my exposure to different kinds of writing. In fact, I often select works to read because I am not familiar with the genre or author.

I’m not sure how recording these works is reflected in my writing. I do know it’s made me a more adventurous reader.

It’s fun to record these works, and there are definite benefits. I am more adept at reading aloud, a skill every writer should have in his quiver. I’ve become accustomed to the sound of my voice. That’s to say I no longer cringe when I hear it. I am more willing to take chances by experimenting with different voices and interpretations.

To become a listener, simply visit the website Librivox.org. The search feature is in the upper right-hand corner. You can search for a particular work or a certain author.

It’s easy to become a volunteer reader. Sign up as a member. While there are volunteer readers who have great radio voices, I’m evidence that great pipes are not required. You don’t need to read flawlessly. Recordings can be edited.

A one-minute test recording is required to get started. Instructions are provided on the Librivox website. Probably the best way to get your feet wet is a poem. It won’t take a huge chunk of your time, and it will be easy to edit and make final adjustments. No special equipment is involved. I use Audacity, which is open-source audio software (https://www.audacityteam.org).

There is a moderator for each project. I have found all the moderators to be patient and helpful. Once you submit your recording, the moderator will advise you if any changes are needed.

I have never suggested a work to be read, but it is possible to do this. It must be in the public domain. Sometimes this is tricky. For example, an original work might be in the public domain, but not its translation. Emily Dickinson died in 1886, but some of her poetry is still under copyright. One of the best sources for works in the public domain is gutenberg.org.

Audacity has a manual. I confess I find it easier to learn from youtube videos than Audacity’s manual. A search for Audacity results in many videos. Librivox provides a host of instructional videos on its website: https://wiki.Librivox.org/index.php/Instructional_Videos#THE_MAGIC_WINDOW_-_How_to_get_into_it_and_keep_it_neat_and_tidy. You can also post a query on Librivox.

No matter what your reading pleasure, you’ll find something to satisfy your literary longings at Librivox.org. If making recordings sounds like something you’d enjoy, there’s at least one project waiting for your voice. Don’t be shy. Give it a try. 

 

Paula Messina ©2022 

Paula Messina is a seasoned Toastmaster and an award-winning speaker. She writes essays, fiction, and non-fiction. While she does not own a cat, she is on the board of Indelible Literary and Arts Journal (Indeliblelit.com). Indelible’s Evenings can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8qZIPPS8P9Dlml-y9AggTg.