I imagine all good stories are probably compelling. I can't think of any great narratives that consist of spinning wheels and a lack of ideas. Though maybe I am just dumb! The same idea is applicable to audio stories. Probably even more so than a visual medium. From our examples in class, I quickly decided that an audio story should have a lot going on, but in a manageable, subtle manner. As I looked into other audio stories (particularly those on This American Life), I realized that a production can be pretty sparse, as long as it has forward propulsion and an engaging tale to tell. There were some stories with the same sort of musical interludes and sound effects used in the pieces we listened to on Tuesday. There were others that were simply people recalling past experiences, occasionally with some interjections from the host. Sweet, sweet Ira Glass. It was audio stories of this variety that eased my worries about what mine should be like. I was preoccupied with the idea of trying to balance dialogue and music volumes, soundtrack selection, the inclusion of my voice, and so on. After a little bit of research, I'm more focused on just finding 3-5 minutes of genuinely interesting material. After that, the rest should fall into place.
This clip contains the retelling of a Valentine's day mishap and the quick thinking that led to a nice resolution. The tone is conversational--the story, not well rehearsed. Regardless, this six minute tale makes for interesting and amiable listening. It lacks production value, and perhaps could have used some polish, but I think it is effective as is. I like it because it's bare-bones and basic, but boy, it's not bad (ALLITERATION). I reminds me of the florist interview, not because it is lame and boring, but because it is a funny and enjoyable story told in a raw and ordinary sort of way. That is a pretty cool thing!
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