Reflection on My Audio Narrative

Santiago Rolon Dr. Dietel McLaughlin Multimedia Writing and Rhetoric 13 September 2013 The audio narrative presented challenging moments, but at the same time, was greatly enjoyable because I was able narrate a story using both written words and my own voice. The writing process asked for creativity and detailed descriptions, which helped enhance my writing skills in various ways. On the other hand, the recording process allowed me to use both my imagination and technological abilities to express a story in a unique manner. I found it easier said than done. There were tough moments where I felt frustrated and wanted to give up, but there were also times where I felt confident and was able to surmount the challenge. Although both the writing and recording parts of the project presented specific difficulties, I was able to overcome such problems and enjoy the process. In one hand, the writing section presented certain parameters that I had to follow, which made process demanding and onerous. It was important to find a balance between writing detailed descriptions and being succinct. I found it tough to provide a background for the story in just a few lines since narrating a guitar contest that was hosted online requires lots of detail and thorough explanations. At the same time, it was difficult to find space for describing both the story and its purpose. I had to find a way to contrast the online community against ones actual lives and move into my personal conclusions from there. Additionally, it was necessary to catch the readers eyes by constructing tension and

describing the storys resolution as well as its turn. I found it extremely helpful to write many drafts and revise my essay thoroughly because every ounce of effort helped me improve my writing a bit more. Recording and audio essay, on the other hand, proved to be arduous in different ways. It was important to find a good recording location in order to avoid extra noise and a bad recording quality. I found it fundamental to record my voice in various takes as it was easy for me to make mistakes along the way. There were certain words which I found hard to pronounce as well as tricky sentences that made the task more difficult. In order to catch the listeners attention, I found it necessary to make emphasis on certain words, speak clearly, and change my tone of voice in order to suit the mood of the story. I had to use my imagination to shape the recording in a creative and unique way. As a result, I used my submission to Eric Claptons contest as the backing track for the narration, allowing the listener to engage and experience the story to its full extent. I was able to enjoy the recording process very much because it allowed to express my feelings through my voice and gave me space to use both my creativity and imagination. Even though the audio narrative essay proved to be a difficult task, I enjoyed every moment and am looking forward to facing more challenges in the future. I feel that being able to overcome certain challenges was a great personal accomplishment. At the same time, it was interesting and fulfilling to describe who I am through an audio recording. It was definitely a unique experience that helped me improve my writing and develop my sense of creativity.