Yvette Keller's Blog, page 15

Narration Demo

Somebody’s got a new demo…

Yvette at Voice One School, San Francisco

This week I’m in San Francisco, writing and recording a professional demo reel for narration jobs.

I’ve learned gobs about this very technical work, and gained the experience of a director looking for a specific sound and helping me get there.

In the booth

Identifying areas where I need deeper work and more practice is always humbling. It will help me be better at things like:

Talking on the breath Having consistent p...

Finnemore Fridays: Bad Love Affairs

Happy Friday the 13th!

For this triskaidekaphobia day, I invite us all to think about the worst love affairs in our past. No matter how deeply, passionately, and devotedly we participated, some people are just bad luck.

Stay Astonished

It’s good to stay astonished by things. Curious. Aware.

Here’s a list of the things which astonished me today and especially on my “commute” to class in San Francisco tonight:

There’s a Redwood Park next to the Transamerica building 81 degrees in SF at 5PM Despite my runaway worrying, Asphalta provided a parking spot directly in front of the place I’m staying in Bernal Heights The missing shoes I thought I’d mis-packed, turned up where and when I needed them The cat I’m caring for didn’t...

Tips From SBWC: Be Not Afraid. Query Away, Writers!

Yesterday, thanks to spontaneously participating in #PitMad, I wrote a query.

What’s a query? It is a letter (email, these days) that you send to an agent, a publisher, or anyone who might help you along on your route to publication.

I hear you, devoted audience.

“But wait,” you are saying, “didn’t you already write a query to get ready for the Santa Barbara Writers Conference (SBWC)?”

Thank you for following along, for thinking so highly of me, that is so very kind of you…but no. A query i...

Finnemore Fridays: Cutest Beagle Ever!

I met a really friendly beagle at LAX. Adorable little guy ran right up to me and wiggled and sniffed, and wanted pets. I’m so used to dogs and and cats coming to me for attention I thought nothing of it. I’ve never used or posessed drugs. I was totally okay and he had the softest little ears!!

“Yvette,” said Mark. “Yvette, stop.”

“Ma’am, do you have fresh fruits or vegetables in your bag?” asked the customs officer.

Ooops. I’d packed some fruit to eat on the plane. You cannot bring fruit in...

Finnemore Fridays: Time Travel

John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme (JFSP) travels through time with hilarious efficiency in a number of sketches. I particularly like the logic in this one about how the machine works…or does it?

Finnemore Fridays: Don’t Tell Me, Please

At LAST! At LAST!

You may recall that I had to end my Finnemore Fridays posts because all of the (illegal) YouTube clips of his sketches were removed for copywrite violations (correctly).

But GUESS WHAT?!!?

John Finnemore has found YouTube! Or been forced to use it by his producer…or maybe lost his day job…I don’t know why, but suddenly he has begun posting these adorable, minimally animated versions of his sketches and songs on his channel.

This makes me SO happy! I henceforth resume my Fin...

On Writing Well: Part I, Principles

On Writing Well by William Zinsser came to me as the result of someone else cleaning out their books. I don’t turn down free writing books. (Who am I kidding? I don’t turn down books…)

My inherited edition is hard-bound, with a cherry-tomato linen cover that peeks from the ripped dust jacket. A Goth cover design: stark, matte-black. Bold red serif fonts. The pale white suggestion of a subtitle. Very appropriate for a 1985 Third Edition.

It has been recommended to me several times by writers...

Pride and Prometheus: The Post-Perusing Depression of Great Novels

I finished a fantastic book for my Jane Austen book club today. Pride and Prometheus was supposed to be my “reward” for getting work done.

But I read a little bit during breakfast–I just wanted to get to the end of the chapter I fell asleep on last night–and I couldn’t make myself put it down. It had fascinating characters. It had remarkable pacing. It stayed so true to the timeline and events of the source novels, that as I approached the climax I was incapable of tearing my eyes from the p...

Taking a Break to Celebrate An Audiobook Review

I’m crazy busy writing my creative, fan, non-fiction, travel book. I want to have a full draft done by July 15th, so you’re not likely to see much from me in the near future.

However, a review of my latest audiobook, The Wizard King, was posted by a fan, Rabid Reader, and I thought you might want to enjoy it with me.

It’s also a good reminder that I share free audiobook codes with anyone who wants to listen to my audiobooks and is willing to post honest reviews. Hit me up for a code anytime!...