Many of you know about the comics I make. I post them regularly on here. My original plan was to use those comics as a way to practice for when I get older and much more skilled in writing and drawing, and then use those skills to create a webcomic series. But then God had other plans. Last night, I was talking to the Lord, and I said something along the lines of "You know how much I want to make Herbie into a webcomic". I regularly pray about this stuff because of how important it is to me, and I want to be sure I'm following what God says to do, no matter what. As I prayed, a thought came to the front of my mind. A still, small voice. It said "Herbie isn't going to be a webcomic." You can imagine the turmoil I felt after that. I spent much of last night praying about this. I tried to calm down and go to sleep, but I was wrestling with what the thought said. Part of me wrestled because I wasn't sure if it was God talking to me, or simply my own thoughts tricking me. Yet if it WAS God, then what would that mean for my future? My plans? My dreams? This morning, I kept praying. I asked God to make it clear that what I heard was really Him. And God answered my prayer. During both the Sunday School lesson and church service, it was evident what God was trying to say to me. Both services were about trusting God's plan and doing what He says to do, even when we don't like it or it's inconvenient. I don't know where I'm going to go from here. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to keep making these monthly comics, or if God has other plans. I don't think God wants me to scrap this world I'm building, because God enjoys it when we enjoy the gifts He's given to us, and I definitely enjoy this gift. But my comics, my plans, my dreams, they all must come second in my heart, with God taking first. The answer is simple: put God first. Listen for the Holy Spirit's still, small voice. Everything else will follow after that. If you would, I'd like your prayers for me as I continue figuring out this journey of life. If God doesn't want Herbie to be a webcomic, then that's okay. Because when God changes our plans, it means His are so, so much better. God may be shutting a door for me, but another one may open later on. I won't know until I get there. For now, I'll just be thankful that God told me this now. God's timing is perfect. He's the perfect author. It's gonna be okay.

I put out auditions last week and have secured a hire to record a book on ACX! Thanks @Jake Phillips and everyone here for your direction and camaraderie! The title of the book is 100 Prayers for New Beginnings…pretty stellar start for me :^)

Whether you’re still trying to set up your studio, or you’re a full time voice actor who’s book up for the rest of the year, here are some things that are good to do every day. -read a poem out loud. This helps you express emotion in a nuanced way which can really pay off in the long run. -read something boring out loud. A road, an ad at a bus stop, a web site banner, etc. Read something “dry” and find a way to make it engaging. -listen to a great narrator. YouTube is your best friend for this, and you can find lots of great narrators and audiobook excerpts there. Hearing how other people carry a story along can help you a lot. All these can be done within 5-10 minutes a day (annd you don’t have to have a mic or a studio to do it) Even if you don’t have a payed gig at the moment, practicing constantly will make you even better for when you do.

In 2008 or so, I was sitting in a coffee shop near Fort Riley, Kansas trying to forget about work, and I heard Kenneth Branagh read The Magician's Nephew. I decided right there that one day I would become a voice actor (It didn't happen for nearly 10 years, but that's where I decided it) Here's an excerpt from Chapter 1 of that book. I encourage you to take a listen to a moment of two of it, and identify some stuff that you like then try to apply it to your reads. I love how he reads effortlessly. He inflection is very nuanced and not distracting at all. Also, when he voices children or women, he just "puts some air under it" but doesn't overdo it to the point of pulling you out of the story. Also, I like how he takes his time with his pacing. This helps you keep pace with what's going on, and allows it to "register" in your mind. Please post a narrator that you like so we can all take a listen and learn!

How far did you go and why?