I like where you mention having issues speaking in your writing voice. I have tried to record scripted videos. I read and edit them over and over and it looks amazing. Then I do a sample recording and play it back. It sounds terrible.
It is funny to realize that there can be quite a gulf between how we write and speak.
I wonder if it’s partly down to the different cognitive processes involved (slower, structured vs spontaneous, casual)… I also notice the issue the other way - sometimes I’ve been quoted verbatim by a media outlet, and it looks a bit, like, you know, strange on the page.
Tech is part of that. I’m old enough to have learned shorthand as a reporter and in both taking a note and re typing in my report, I’d clean it up a bit. AI transcriptions are horribly literal. Texting via Siri has a similar effect.
That seems likely. When I listen to an audiobook, it always sounds a bit... Fanciful. Even dialogue in books can feel unnatural. But it is a story and you want thet. If you heard someone talking like that at the grocery store you'd think it very odd.
I had no idea TED was scripted to this level. Personally when giving talks I always go for option 2, kinda having a general idea of what I want to say and then just talking freely.
If you can tell it’s been memorised, it probably hasn’t been learnt well enough - as I mention in piece, many stand ups will know their routine by heart, and most of the talks you see on TED.com are scripted.
I like where you mention having issues speaking in your writing voice. I have tried to record scripted videos. I read and edit them over and over and it looks amazing. Then I do a sample recording and play it back. It sounds terrible.
It is funny to realize that there can be quite a gulf between how we write and speak.
I wonder how common that is or the exact causes?
I wonder if it’s partly down to the different cognitive processes involved (slower, structured vs spontaneous, casual)… I also notice the issue the other way - sometimes I’ve been quoted verbatim by a media outlet, and it looks a bit, like, you know, strange on the page.
Tech is part of that. I’m old enough to have learned shorthand as a reporter and in both taking a note and re typing in my report, I’d clean it up a bit. AI transcriptions are horribly literal. Texting via Siri has a similar effect.
That seems likely. When I listen to an audiobook, it always sounds a bit... Fanciful. Even dialogue in books can feel unnatural. But it is a story and you want thet. If you heard someone talking like that at the grocery store you'd think it very odd.
Adam, thank you for sharing this practical advice. I am sending it to my kids; hopefully they can learn it too!
I had no idea TED was scripted to this level. Personally when giving talks I always go for option 2, kinda having a general idea of what I want to say and then just talking freely.
I find talks that have been memorized to be lifeless
If you can tell it’s been memorised, it probably hasn’t been learnt well enough - as I mention in piece, many stand ups will know their routine by heart, and most of the talks you see on TED.com are scripted.
Which might explain why I hate TED talks