I recently had a chance to sit down with the wonderful Wil Wheaton in an interview put together by Audible. Wil and I had a fantastic time talking about audiobook narration, writing, and acting. You may listen to the interview in its entirety here:
Timestamps
0:00 – Introductions for Mary Robinette Kowal and Wil Wheaton
1:04 – How an acting and performing background lends to success in audiobook narration
3:29 – How two puppeteers work together (being the right hand)
5:30 – The experience of acting on stage or with puppets
7:46 – Recording a high-quality audiobook performance with just your voice, and without your body
9:52 – Standing versus sitting for audiobook narration
12:06 – Embodying characters… for the long haul (and a special character for Mary Robinette)
13:49 – Collaborating to bring characters to life, and how this poses a challenge when recording our own work
16:52 – How recording Mary Robinette’s own work, herself, becomes part of her proofing process
19:08 – The perspective we have of our Author selves and our Narrator selves
21:13 – How much we listen to audiobooks for enjoyment, and how much we listen for professional development
23:46 – … or how much we listen for “what if this happens?” and storytelling
25:54 – Mary Robinette’s favorite narration compliments
27:14 – Speaking of compliments, Wil is grateful to Mary Robinette and her writing instruction
27:48 – No one creates alone
29:00 – More compliments! Mary Robinette loves Wil’s writing and creative process
30:33 – Wil is enjoying The Spare Man, and here’s what Mary Robinette wants people to know about the book
32:24 – Where you can find our books
32:32 – Here’s what Wil wants people to know about Still Just a Geek
35:25 – A neat perk of writing in first person narration, and how that relates to writing memoirs
37:22 – The importance of the relationship between an audiobook narrator and director
41:48 – The hilarity and frustration of audiobook narration bloopers
43:30 – Falling asleep during narration – a myth?
46:25 – Audiobook narration is hard and tiring and wonderful
47:17 – Weird audiobook narration trivia and how surgery for a deviated septum changes everything
50:46 – Mutual appreciation, goodbyes, and where to find Wil and Mary Robinette on Audible
