The dulcet tones of Microsoft Anna

Downloaded a handy tool today which reads out text in the voice of Microsoft Anna. This is perfect as the robot voice can read out Skelton Yawngrave in a completely dead and uninflected way, which is a perfect editing tool. Sol Stein recommends having your manuscript read out by the worst reader you can find, so you actually hear the words for what they are. I am making better progress, but not as fast as I'd like. Working like a dog trying to get the thing finished.

Voted in the European elections on the way to the gym. A vast sheet of options with the repellent BNP top of the list. Considered boycotting the whole thing. British politics an absolute shambles at the moment. Labour busy imploding all day, there is now open rebellion and Brown looks rightly doomed. Even the Guardian is calling for him to quit. A Tory government is looming. God help us.

Otherwise received a box of aquatic plants which are now in my aquarium, and looking rather nice too. Popped up the road to babysit Klaudia again. She is spotty but cheerful despite the chicken pox. Anton and I chatting about The Inbetweeners, which is wonderful.

Spoke to Randolph. His play is now in rehearsal, but the fact that the actors haven't learned their lines is making him twitchy.

Comments

Very good idea that Microsoft Anna. For years I've been reading my own work out loud in a voice like those automated recordings (bus schedules and the like) that use a file of single syllable sounds to make up words. With no clever inflections, it lays any weak sentences bare.