Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
OCTOBER 2017 MICROSTORY CONTEST - COMMENTS ONLY
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I hope everyone who contributed to "The Future Is Short" Vol. 4 is promoting the heck out of it! :)Anyway, I'm so pleased to be published with everyone who wrote such great stories!
Best to all!
Hi folks. Two things -- still trying to get my name as editor instead of author (oh Amazon - sigh) and also having problems finding where they hid the Kindle version. Will hopefully get this all resolved soon.
Thank you for the email announcing TFIS4, Carrol. Does this mean the Amazon and Kindle problems are solved? Super, if so!
Just got mine up. A bit inspired by Indiana Jones and some article I read on how technology shapes vocabulary.Critiques Welcome.
Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"
Are you interested in having an audio version produced?
I asked Carrol about it and she said they did not have the permissions from all of the authors to produce an audio version.
I'd like to offer my services to narrate and produce an audio version for sale on Amazon at no charge. I don't know exactly how Lillicat Publishers parses out payments based on the number of stories contributed, but if it was a similar arrangement would that work?
I'd like to hear back from all the contributing authors with their opinions.
Thanks so much!
Justin
Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"
Are you intereste..."
It's fine with me, Justin. A very interesting idea. Thank you so much for generously volunteering your services.
Best wishes to you and to the families of Houston.
Nice story, Greg. Well done with lots of great back story window dressing!-C
Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"
Are you intereste..."
I'm good with it. No problem. Thanks, Justin.
Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"
Are you intereste..."
Hi Justin,
Sounds good, as long as I receive the customary royalties!
-C
Sounds good, Justin--a couple of questions. I know some people do many-multiple rehearsals for audio, especially if a story has multiple-voice narration, characters, etc.---can't it get to be LOTS of work or expensive equipment? Have you done this sort of recording before?
How does this affect our copyrights to our work? Does someone know (for sure)?
Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"
Ar..."
Thank you Tom, I'll check you off the list as a good for if/when this moves forward. Houston was good, though I'm a bit shell-shocked moving from 85 and humid to 55, cool and rainy in Everett, WA. The destruction is often hidden inside the houses, although you can look down almost every residential street and see pile after pile after pile of debris in front of every home. Tuesday's home was the absolute worst. I had to wear a full Tyvek suit, two sets of gloves, goggles and a mask (with Listerine in it to help with the stench) to remove moldy furniture, clothes, etc., from a home that was covered floor to ceiling in black mold, black flies, cockroaches and raw sewage. It is still bad down there for sure.
Chris wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"
Ar..."
Thank you Chris, I'll add you to the list of "yes."
C. wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"
Ar..."
Hello C,
Of course. I want any royalties from an audio version to be just like the printed version. I'm not asking for anything beyond that and the opportunity to do it. I'll put you in the "yes" column. Thank you sir!
Paula wrote: "Sounds good, Justin--a couple of questions. I know some people do many-multiple rehearsals for audio, especially if a story has multiple-voice narration, characters, etc.---can't it get to be LOTS..."
Hi Paula!
All great questions. Here are the short answers.
1) Yes
2) No
3) Unsure
Now, here are the long answers. :)
1) Most audio books today only use one reader. Some voice actors are very good at doing multiple voices and accents. I do not believe that level is necessary for these short stories.
2) As for equipment. I have a professional sound recording booth that creates a perfectly quiet recording environment. Go to www.soundsuckers.com to see examples. It is a 4'x4'x8', sound foam insulated booth. I have a professional grade microphone, sound mixing board and software, all that meet or exceed Amazon's recommendations for creating audio book narration files. (The booth I received for free, the rest I purchased using my carefully husbanded Best Buy gift cards) No expenses required!
3) Have I done this before? Not specifically. However, I have done on air radio broadcasting. I just recently completed a voiceover for a Boeing corporate video that our airline customers watch (the director/videographer said it was the cleanest voice work he has ever heard from someone who is not considered professional voice talent - I can send you a sample if you would like.)
4) I've been working on the editing portion on my own two sci-fi novellas and feel I am making exceptional progress on the critical backend work.
All that said, I am supremely confident in my ability to do this. If you are concerned about the quality of the work, I can either read a story of yours, edit it to meet Amazon's stringent audio requirements and send it to you for review and approval or I can read one of my own and do the same.
Basically, if I do this, I want to ensure the highest level of production quality and narration, not only for my own stories but for all of yours as well.
As for copyrights, it can be as simple as "Used with permission" with no rights transferring to me at all - nor do I want them for anyone else's stories, hence the request for all authors to give me approval to read their stories.
What do you think?
All sounds good to me, Justin--yes. I wasn't doubting the audio quality, just asking what you had in mind; and your background, as you've now described it, would certainly allay any such doubts.
The "used with permission" sounds like an ideal way to handle the rights question. Yes.
And it still sounds like very much work for you.
Justin wrote: "Paula wrote: "Sounds good, Justin--a couple of questions.
I know some people do many-multiple rehearsals for audio, especially if a story has multiple-voice narration, characters, etc.---can't it ..."
Justin wrote: "Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short:..."
I salute your hard work and humanitarian dedication. You are an inspiration to us all.
Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.
I have a question to all of the contributors of "The F..."
Thanks Tom, much appreciated!
Paula wrote: "All sounds good to me, Justin--yes. I wasn't doubting the audio quality, just asking what you had in mind; and your background, as you've now described it, would certainly allay any such doubts.
..."
It will be some work yes, but I'm happy to do it. I mean, yes, I'm doing it because I'm trying to get into audio book narration. But if I can bring everyone else along and get more exposure for their stories then I want to do that too.
So do I have your approval at this point?
Thanks for the questions Paula. I do want to make sure everyone understands the project, get everyone compensated appropriately, and produce a high quality audio book.
Yes, it's fine with me, Justin. Good work!
Hello everyone!Here is who I have in the "yes" column for an audio book:
C. Lloyd Preville
Jot Russell
Chris Nance
Paula Friedman
Tom Olbert
Justin Sewall
Here is who I still need permission from:
S. M. Kraftchak
Jack McDaniel
Andrew Gurcak
Jeremy Lichtman
Marianne Petrino
John Appius Quill
Greg Krumrey
Joseph Minart
Rejoice Denhere
Jeremy McLain
Jot, I don't know if you have emails to these contributors, or if anyone else here does, but if you do would you please ask if they are willing to let their stories be "used with permission" for an audio version?
Thanks to everyone who has already said yes!
Best,
Justin
I question the wisdom of publishing new critiques after the voting has started. It's technically allowed by the rules, but it just seems wrong to me. It's a personal preference, but I thought I'd share it with the group.And now. back to my bourbon.
-C
I don't always write reviews, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis....
Justin wrote: "I don't always write reviews, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis...."Hah! The most interesting man in the world got too old recently and they replaced him. Something to think about, eh, Amigo? : )
-C
LOL! He went to Mars. Not too shabby...My grandfather, who is my last living grandparent, turned 100 yesterday. Born 10/23/17 - during the flipping First World War. It boggles the mind.
Good for your granddad. 100 is the new 95 . . .-C
I'll tell him that when I see him this coming Saturday. LOL!
sent my votes in....a crazy good collection this month!
Justin and C. - Only writers would have an exchange like that. Strange lot, they.
Kalifer,I'll wait until the voting is over before I make fun of your hat.
: )
-C
I don't always wear hats, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis...(No, it never gets old for me...)
Justin wrote: "Hello everyone!Here is who I have in the "yes" column for an audio book:
C. Lloyd Preville
Jot Russell
Chris Nance
Paula Friedman
Tom Olbert
Justin Sewall
Here is who I still need permission fro..."
Yes
Thanks Justin! :)