My story is set on a fire escape, which reminds me of scaffolding (utility) and a jungle gym (frivolity). And there’s the crux: between work and play, adulthood and childhood, responsibility and freedom, the communal and the individual.
It’s called “Recruit,” and the audio feature–me reading my story in all my Ohio-accented glory–is live at Flock Literary Journal.
From “Recruit”:
‘There is a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea.’ I thought of our lake that couldn’t wash away the filth of this city. Of our river that burned so many years ago and still seemed to burn.
From Flock Literary Journal:
In “Recruit,” Rebecca Moon Ruark has us on the edge of our seats and knocks us over with sentences like the above. We’re excited to share with you this short story in audio, a glimpse of what’s to come in #Flock20!
If you’re looking for a little reading (or listening) this weekend, I’d love it if you checked out “Recruit.” Let me know what you think! And share it with a friend who likes stories.
What I learned along the process of recording my story:
- Audacity (free recording and editing software) is awesome.
- External microphones are best but my MacBook’s internal mic did the trick.
- Closets–all those hanging clothes absorb extra sound–make a good recording studio.
- Be authentic, even if you have a weird accent.
Not to mention all the writerly stuff I took away from this process. So, props go out to all the podcasters out there who make it sound so easy. And to the poets, who brave live audiences all the time.
Happy weekend and happy reading.
What’s on your literary plate?
Rust Belt Girl 
Congrats, your story was great!
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Thank you–I appreciate it! Loved your haiku today!
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Congratulations! I will check it out.
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Thanks!
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I will check it out when I get a chance…a little over-loaded at the moment ☺
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Terrific advice. I’m about to start recording a podcast and I love the closet idea!
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Thanks–yeah, the closet won out, sound-wise, over the laundry room (which also had clothes hanging). Just checked out your site and I’m following–what a great idea. Wonderful stories for kids! Best of luck with your podcast. I’ll be watching for it.
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Thank you! Should be out in a couple of weeks!
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Ok…so, I tried to listen to the audio version and it won’t play…just thought I would give you a heads up….or I could be doing it wrong…but, it didn’t work for me..
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Oh no, so sorry. Hmm. I just tried it, at http://flocklit.com/ruark-recruit/, and it worked OK for me. Bummer. I’ll look into it. Thanks for trying anyway–and for letting me know. I appreciate it!
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Congratulations! I will check it out 👍
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Heard the audio … excellent narration… nice story and I liked it 👏👏👍🤝
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Thanks so much. I appreciate it!
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Wow. Awesome story. The heart of a poet beats within it. Elements woven together like a fine tapestry.
(And….accent? What accent? 😉 )
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Many thanks! That’s high praise coming from one who truly knows poetry. I told my family that now the world will know the proper (Midwest) way to pronounce “pajamas” (as opposed to pa-jah-mas. Ha!
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Puh-JAM-uhs. Of course.
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