I officially have a new reader. Her name is Victoria, she's around 35 and has kind of robotic sexy voice.
Yes, I've discovered how to make my computer read the words I've written. Since I don't particularly like the sound of my own voice, plus reading 80,000 words makes the throat a little raw, this feature has been great. I can highlight a page and listen as she reads my words back to me. I've figured out that I use "said" way too much, so I've been able to fix some dialogue tags. I also find echoes a lot easier. Spotting spelling mistakes is a piece of cake as well as awkward sentences.
I remember someone saying, I think it was Lady Glamis saying that she was going to get her husband to read her book to her, which I had never considered before. And although my husband is wonderful, I don't think he would enjoy reading my book to me.
The voice does take a little getting used to, but once you do I don't know what I'd do without it. Plus when she tries to read an Irish dialect, it's quite funny.
Question of the day: Do you use liquid or crystal dishwasher soap? I know it's totally unrelated to writing, but I was just wondering.
21 comments:
I use liquid because the crystal gives off a powder I'm allergic too.
I love the idea of having the computer read you book back to you. It surely word read what you think you wrote but what you actually wrote!
I use both--whatever's on sale. I need to get a reader!
I tried to figure that reader thing out. I couldn't. Maybe I should go back and try again. I use crystals.
Ooh, that reader sounds interesting! I bet it's really helpful!
I'm with whatever is on sale.
Ohhh, I need a robotic reader! That would make me seem so less crazy (you know, when you are an empty room talking to yourself and the kids + friends walk in and stare at you - embarrassing).
I use those little soap cake thingies, because my dishwasher instructions told me to and I didn't want to break another dishwasher. =)
Southpaw: I hate being allergic to anything.
Catherine: I do that to, whatever is on sale, but I'm finding my liquid isn't cleaning as well, so I was wondering what other people use.
Susan: I use a Mac, but I could email you and let you know how I did it.
Kristen: It's extremely helpful. Although I can only do a couple of chapters at a time. Her voice is kind hypnotic.
Carolyn: Can totally relate to weird stares. This way I put my headphones in and nobody knows what I'm doing.
Liquid, although it used to be powder until I got tired of rinsing the residue off the glasses. :)
That reader sounds so cool!! Could I get one that would read my entire manuscript in an Australian accent? I might actually listen to my book that way!! :)
Hehe, well, if it helps you any my husband never finished reading my book to me. Too many things got in the way. But what we did manage to do was very helpful. I need to get a Victoria!
I haven't tried the reader yet, but I plan to!
Crystals.
I don't have a dishwasher :( Have to wash everything the old-fashioned way. I hate it.
I use lavender Palmolive soap because the smell of that lemon-y soap makes me want to gag. It makes it slightly more tolerable standing there at the sink for an eternity washing the dishes. :P
Heidi: I could go for an Austrailian accent, especially if it was a man.
Glamis: It's time consuming to have someone read it to you, that's why I love this feature.
Tamika: It's worth a try.
Dara: Our dishwasher broke and I was so relieved that my husband saw it as a priority to get a new one right away. I feel for you. I'm more of a fruity girl when it comes to dishwashing soap.
Pretty cool idea. Thanks for posting.
Paul
I don't know if I could handle the robotic reading of my manuscript. I'd want to rip it out of Victoria's "hands" and say, "no, read it like THIS." Actually, that's kind of what I do when my husband reads my manuscript. (And will he ever read it all, NOT out loud? I'm not sure.) I use those dishwasher tabs.
I use liquid. And I use Duke Mayo too. I threw that in just because. :-)
Love, love, love the voice activated software. It's really helpful isn't it Patti?
My hubby won't read my book to me. He does like for me to read it to him though. He fancies himself as my alpha reader. :0)
Crystal.
I love the voice activated software thing! I will have to get me one of those!
Liquid.
That reader sounds pretty neat!
It's crazy that you mentioned your new reader! Lisa was just telling me that she uses the Kindle computer to read our work back to her. She says she catches so much more when she listens. I tend to read our manuscript out loud to myself, but a reader sounds so much less exhausting.
I use those all-in-one tab things. I love them!
I've never used a reader like that. Hmmm.
I use those little Cascade cubes that you place in the dishwasher door. From Sams Discount.
Oh gosh, this is a great idea! Plus, my husband would never go for the alternative. ;)
Hah! What a deep question!! ;-)
And boy, I've never thought of that before. I read it aloud to myself, but hadn't considered having someone else (even a program) do that! But it's a great idea.
I also tried to figure that out, but never could. WE're pc. Also haven't found anyone who did. Ah well...but it does help so to have our work read back. I had a short read of mine read on CBC once and I can't begin to say how different it was listening to an actress read it!
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