Three times in the last fortnight, I’ve received an email from an editor saying "Thank you for submitting your story. However, we don’t feel it’s suitable for our publication and as such, will have to pass.’
So I tend to turn up Elvis, pour a whiskey, pout a little (or a hell of a lot), and try again.
I don’t pin the emails up on my walls and throw darts at them.
No, really – I swear I don’t.
So when I got a phone call from a producer at the ABC recently, accepting two of my stories for broadcast on Radio National, I was finally able to let my shoulders drop in relief.
Had I promised them to another publisher? Ah, no. Would I be able to come to Sydney and record them in the studio? Um, hell yes. Was I fighting to control my vocal range so that I didn’t sound like a squealing teenage girl? You know it.
I was already headed to Sydney for the opening night of Jess Tremp’s solo exhibition at the MICK gallery in Paddington, one of Red Bubble’s finest photographers, so I packed an extra pair of high heels and said yes, yes, yes.
I flew up to Sydney and headed into the studios last Friday. The producer and I settled into a recording booth and I tried not to explode with the thrill of it all. We spent about two hours editing the stories for radio, and then I spent an hour or so recording them in my voice. It was exhausting, exhilarating, and so damn rewarding. I’ve been edited many times, but never right in front of me and as always, knowing what to fight for and what to acquiesce about is a fine art.
We did take after take after take, til my voice was hoarse and I felt I never wanted to hear another one of my words! If I ever get to prepare my writing for radio again, then I’ll know not to overdose on Veuve Cliquot champagne the night before…
I taxied to The Rocks to meet Jess and crew, where we toasted our Sydney stay with glasses held high and rain falling and the harbour laid out in front of us…not a weekend to sniff at.
I’ve always curled my lip at the ‘when one door closes, another one opens’ banality but you know, there just may be some truth to it after all, hey?
Mel Brackstone...
wow, that’s fabulous news Bell!!! Look forward to hearing them!
bellmusker:
Thanks, Mel! No-one really likes the way their voice sounds played back to them so I’m half looking forward to it/ half cringing :-)
jemimalovesbigted
That is brilliant dear lady.. When can we listen to said stories in your wonderful voice? x
bellmusker:
Thanks sweet woman! As soon as I know the date, I’ll let you know, I promise X
Adriana Glackin
This is very exciting! Congratulations! :)
bellmusker:
Thanks Adriana – I’m still smiling :-)
Enivea
Whooppppeeeeee! Fantastic news!! I’m jumping for joy! I still remember the excitement of hearing one of your stories on ABC, and now I get to hear it in your voice!!! Life is good :-)
bellmusker:
I listened to the CD of the first Radio National story recently, and still get a touch emotional when I hear it :-) As for my own voice, well, I don’t know whether you’ll enjoy my husky hangover cadences, but I’ll still let you know when it’s on!
msdebbie
Oh sweet Bell – that is great news. Please plug to all hell when they are airing on Radio National – I’ll enjoy hearing them no end! And the interesting thing about how we hear ourselves…well, although there is an internal cringe…everyone else is hearing you…and love it! I’d love to know what the auditory difference is…but it always happens…We cringe, everyone else grins with love and affection. So glad you got to celebrate in Paddington with Jess Tremp, such a gorgeous photographer indeed. Blissful memories xxx
bellmusker:
Thanks Deb – I really appreciate your support! When I hear my own recorded voice I always think I sound about eight years old :-) When they hired actors for my first Radio National story, I enjoyed the product immensely but found the lack of control a touch confronting. This time, being able to read them myself made the process really come alive for me -even with a whiskey soaked timbre from the night before!
As for Jess, well, the exhibition was amazing. She looked radiantly beautiful, and there were many red ‘sold’ dots on images, and more than a few champagne glasses held aloft in a rainy Sydney sky. In all honesty, we couldn’t have asked for more x X x
LindaR
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):) Feeling how good this is ~ big BIG CONGRATS Bell ~ !!! If there is a way to share with us here, I would love to listen xxx
bellmusker:
Thanks Linda! I don’t know when it goes to air, but I’ll definitely let you know x X
Arcadia Tempest
Outstanding!! What a feel good story this was for me…..what a wonderful wonderful outcome for you :O)
So very happy for you Bell. xxx
bellmusker:
I know the rejections come with the territory, but the acceptances make it all worthwhile! Thanks so much x X
abigcat
Living in the US it’s hard to hear your voice, I always hear it as I read you, but is there some way you could put up a recording of this broadcast for real here on RB? Perhaps it could go in the Performance Poetry page. I know it’s stories but you have a poetic way of using words. :))
Anyway congratulations on being recognised and the brief image of a champagne glass filled with red dots swirling around in a rainy Sydney sky :-00 Sounds altogether very bubbly :-))
bellmusker:
It was very bubbly, indeed! Another story of mine was on Radio National about two years ago (although they hired actors) and it was available on the site as a podcast for a while – if they do that again, I’ll certainly let you know.
Also, a radio station in the States is adapting one of my stories and it’ll be broadcast over California, New Mexico and upstate New York at the end of December…does that cover your region at all?
Now I’m off to check out the Performance Poetry group :-)
rjcolby
Congratulations, and it is quite an honor I expect. I too dislike recordings of the voice others hear. It just sounds really weird.
I hope to be able to listen via the web and the Flash player, from here in the USA.
Radio National is the top left box of the ABC Radio: Listen Online page. Another useful link to Australia media is: ABC Home which is a great place to get a different view of the news and America from what our media giants allow here. Check it out.
bellmusker:
Earlier this year I had a cough for over a month and my voice became so smoky and husky people didn’t recognise me on the phone. And I thought, this is what I should sound like! Thanks for the links, I appreciate the thought. As I said in the above comment, another story (but with actors) is coming soon on US radio, but you don’t seem to be in the area it covers…will let you know if there’s a podcast though :-)
Lisa Jewell
You know I’m smiling every direction but for the longest of times right in yours…
Darling you rock, yeah i just said that LOL
I’m so thrilled for you that I’m pinching myself for you hehe
I’m on my second coffee, it would seem I’m trippy a wee bit….but seriously in truth, just super thrilled for you.
xoxoxoxo
bellmusker:
Babe, how lovely of you to be so excited when you’ve already heard this story a dozen times, hehe. Ease up on the coffee woman, or you’ll be bouncing off the walls by the time I get there this afternoon! x X x
friartuck
Exciting stuff! Must be a great mix of relief and satisfaction.
bellmusker:
Thanks Kloose – how right you are. I feel like I can leave 2011 with my head held high now. Cheers :-)
Andy Smerdon
Congrats Bell! Well done :)
bellmusker:
Thanks Andy! Definitely a good way to end the writing year :-)
KathO
Woohoo!!! Well done you! Happy dancin’ for you x
bellmusker:
Thanks Kath – there was a shimmy in my loungeroom when I first heard, I have to admit! X
fleece
awesome, congrats! when is it broadcast?
bellmusker:
Thanks! It was such a wonderful experience, I really enjoyed recording them. I don’t know the date yet as they still have to record the other stories for the programme, but I’ll definitely let you know. Hope to see you at the meeting today :-)
wildwomenlove
wow Bell this is awesome news !!~! make sure you tell us when they are going to be played so we can listen ! guess what !? I’m on the radio next week too reading poetry on Poets on Air Radio Adelaide 101.5 FM on Tuesday at 3.30pm Adelaide time ! a half hour interview of me and my poetry ! it’s exciting and scary at the same time ! so please let me know when you’re on and I’ll have a listen woohoo congratulations xxx
bellmusker:
Congratulations!! Is it live? If so, how do you feel about that? How exciting… let me know how it goes, ok? I’ll come back and post the broadcast date as soon as they tell me, I promise X x
wildwomenlove
it’s pre-recorded Bell…it could have been live, but I was nervous about what I would blurt out in my answers to questions…it’s a half hour interview with me reading my poems as well…so I opted for pre-recorded… as it turned out, live would have been OK after all, cos we recorded it in pretty much one take…but I am happier knowing what is going to air…it’s still very natural, with a couple of stumbles in the poems…first ever time on radio ! woohoo I’m excited…I’m excited for you too !!! so make sure you give us the date and time…xxx
bellmusker:
That sounds like such fun babe, I’m really happy for you. I would’ve opted for the pre-recording too! x X
Lawford
Ooohh. I can say “I knew her before she was famous.”
Well done. Can’t wait to hear it.
bellmusker:
I don’t know, this could well be the peak for me…I could be writing fortune cookie messages this time next year :-)
Karen01
Stunning stuff – gave me goosebumps and beamy grins all in one!! :)
bellmusker:
Thanks, Karen! I’m still a bit goosebumpy myself :-)
berndt2
WOW! That is so, so SO brilliant (and so deserved!) – congratulations 8))
bellmusker:
Thanks!! If I ever have a story picked up by the BBC (cough, splutter) where you can listen to it, you’ll be the first person I tell :-)
anya
Bell, my lovely Bell. You are so wonderful and so wise. You said to me last time we met “just keep on sending them”. And you were so right. Well done for your bravery, your constant sticking at it, your fabulous words that you shake from your fingertips.Your words are grand enough, shivery enough, gentle and fierce enough to stick and stay stuck until they resonate with a million others. Maybe, just maybe,one day I’ll be brave enough too.
bellmusker:
It took me much time and many deep breaths to submit my work to editors, so I can’t pretend bravery plays a part. In all honesty though, the sting of a ‘no’ pales in comparison to the sweetness of a ‘yes’…now that, that, can lift my mood like no amount of grey whiskered cowboys, honey martinis or half price flights to Finland EVER could.
Your words took me by the hair the very first time I read them, and kept me bent towards the screen, drinking them all down….when you do send some into the great unknown, all manner of opportunities will come your way. I know it.
Hope to see you soon, lovely woman.
wildwomenlove
its today !!! eeek…xxx
bellmusker:
Eeek indeed!! How exciting! Tell me how you felt when you heard it babe…will have a toast in your honour over dinner with Lisa Jewell tomorrow X x
wildwomenlove
oh Bell I loved it ! it is so cool to hear your own work, and I love the two other poems I chose to share along with mine! I’m so happy and proud of myself for being brave enough to share my heart on public media ! I totally recommend it! and look forward to hearing yours !!! I have a sound file if you’re interested love, I can email it to you !? and my friends tuned in ! it’s nice to know people that are listening !…spread the word !!!…xxx