Karen Commins

Since I haven’t posted an article in over 6 months (gasp!), you might think my blog went into hibernation and never came out. However, I’m busy creating content that remains unseen to my audience.

First, I have several articles in progress for this blog to aid narrators with research.

I’m also writing a series of articles for my author blog. I’m basing them on the presentation I gave to the Atlanta Sisters in Crime chapter about the stages of audiobook production. I provided members with this rack card to plan their trip to Audiobook World. I recorded and transcribed my talk to re-purpose the info into a format I could share on my site. The articles relate to the stops on the map. I wanted to write all of these articles before I posted them so I could schedule them to publish on consecutive weeks.

Beyond developing stories for my blogs, I’m excited to tell you I recently launched a new site NarratorsRoadmap.com. This site will expand my work to help narrators of all levels. I’m gratified by the enormous positive reaction of the narrator community to this endeavor!

Currently, NarratorsRoadmap.com contains loads of terrific information and resources from a number of pros about getting started as an audiobook narrator. I’m working with Voice Actor Websites, a wonderfully creative and highly responsive team, on the design and implementation of the full site. Meanwhile, I’m creating the content. I hope you’ll sign up for updates! The first one will go out soon to give everyone the preview of coming attractions. (This tweet is a hint!)

Starting today, Tuesday 28 May at 10:00am and concurrent with this article, I will post quick tips on my Twitter account. I’ll write my #TuesdayTips on a postcard, naturally, and they’ll cover a range of subjects, from online safety to software usage to marketing tactics.

Even though I am a full-time empress of information, I continue to narrate books! If I don’t have an assignment from a publisher, I create my own projects. I’m prepping a comprehensive biography about Mary Todd Lincoln.

I wanted to share these activities with you to illustrate that just because we don’t see things happening, or our desires aren’t manifesting on our timetable, we shouldn’t give in to discouragement. Hidden forces are moving conditions around in our favor!

Here here are 4 quotes that sustain and inspire me while I’m on the path toward unlocking the next achievement. I hope you find them helpful, too.

1. 1. Johann Goethe is usually credited with these lines, but the Quote Investigator site notes they should be attributed to Irish poet John Antser:
      

      What you can do, or dream you can, begin it,
      Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

   2. I recently read the transcript of Tim Harford’s TED Talk titled “A Powerful way to unleash your creativity.”  The path to the success you seek can be a meandering line among many projects.
      

      I would like to urge you to embrace the art of slow-motion multitasking. Not because you’re in a hurry, but because you’re in no hurry at all…If you have another exciting, challenging project to work on, being stuck on one is just an opportunity to do something else.

   3. Joanna Gaines, TV star of home improvement shows, wrote in her and her husband Chip’s book The Magnolia Story that you must thrive BEFORE you can get to the next career rung which garners more attention and increased influence.
      

      Most people think that you start off not thriving. Then you get a TV show or some other amazing opportunity, you get fame, you get fortune, and then you thrive. That’s certainly what I thought earlier in my own life. But what’s interesting to me is that Chip and I got to a place where we were thriving — as a couple, as a family, as business partners — before any of this new success unfolded.

   4. When I catch myself making those unproductive and soul-stealing comparisons, I start thinking about this quote from Joel Osteen:
      

      I read where an elephant is pregnant for two years. Because the animal is so big, it takes more time for that baby elephant to grow and develop…People around you may be giving birth. They’re seeing their dreams come to pass. Be happy for them. But the reason it’s taking longer for you is because, like that elephant, what you’re carrying is not ordinary. It’s not average. What you’re going to give birth to is going to be bigger, more rewarding, more fulfilling than you’ve ever dreamed. Don’t get discouraged by the process.

Do you have a favorite quote to help you stay inspired and motivated? I’d love for you to share it in the comments!