“Interior Monologue” and Transcribe.com to boost authentic voice in V/O

Many first time digital storytellers speak about their story in an authentic voice, but when it comes to writing script for Voice Overs (V/O) the writing often becomes more mechanical and unnatural.  Interior Monologue is a time tested technique for writers to get more natural writing to paper.  New technology, like Transcribe.com, allow for a 21st century spin on the old technique.  Digital Storytellers can use voice to text technology to describe their perspective on a story, and then cut/paste those thoughts into V/O monologue.

The basic activity for educators or trainers includes a description of the problem that is to be solved.  Show examples of V/Os that lack the authentic personal voice.  Trainers and teachers could describe how they heard CCs or students verbally describe a story in compelling language.  The challenge is to get that language to print.

Start with a traditional Interior Monologue assignment.  With pen, paper or Microsoft word with spell check disabled, answer a writing prompt that asks you to introduce your story.  Set a timer for 5 minutes.  Instruct students or trainees to write without concern for punctuation, spelling, grammar.  Write continual sentence or sentences describing your perspective on the topic.  Circulate the room emphasizing the avoidance of self-editing.  At the end of the activity, ask students to highlight or underline key thoughts that are important for their V/O.  Cut paste or transfer those key ideas to another paper or part of the Word document.  This portion of the activity could also be done with a partner or coach who is aware of the film topic.

Share access to Transcribe.com and install on devices.  Practice the voice to text process.  Students could read their written Interior Monologue into the Transcribe.com platform.

Here are additional online resources for Interior Monologue.  Most of the online resources are geared toward Fiction writing, but the skills and processes are the same for non-fiction or Civic Engaged Digital Storytelling/Community Media purposes.

http://www.novel-writing-help.com/interior-monologue.html

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/dos-and-donts-of-internal-monologue/

How to Write an Interior Monologue

 

Skills

Posted on

June 8, 2016