Cannot & A lot

Cannot
Can not?  Cannot?  I like the following explaination I ran across:



Here's the explanation: If I can not do something, then I can also do it. I can not write these words if I choose (and you may think I shouldn't), but I also can, and am, writing them. What I cannot do is know who will read them, or what they will think. I can imagine such things, but I'm limited by my experience and perceptions. So this is the rule: if you either could or could not do something, then you use two words, because you can leave out the second word if you so choose. If you could not do something no matter how much you desired or tried, then you use one word, cannot. There is no other option.
Sometimes both are true. Witness:

I cannot change the world.

I can not change the world.

from: http://alexfiles.com/cannot.shtml

A lot
Alot? A lot?  This is the official word from a university:

A lot means "a lot": "A lot of pancakes." Note that this is an informal expression.
Allot means "to divide" or "to give out": "They allotted six square feet per family."
Alot means nothing, and therefore is not to be used under any circumstances.

from: http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/UsAlot.html

Audio Recordings

I"m experimenting with producing audio recordings of some books.  I'd like to eventually produce versions with different voices for different characters and subtle sound effects.  I'll experiment with just my own voice to begin with.  As I come across tips for recording, editing, and publishing these - I'll post them on this blog.  The first set of generic tips I've found are from a website dedicated to volunteer read audio-books: http://librivox.org.  Here's what they recommend:

• Read first, record second. It always helps to know your material before you set out to record it.
• Talk slowly. Set a pace that seems almost unnaturally slow to you.
• Pause. Take breaks between sentences and paragraphs.
• Enunciate. Treasure every syllable.
• Modulate. Never forget Ferris Bueller. "In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the... Anyone? Anyone?... the Great Depression, passed the... Anyone? Anyone? The tariff bill? The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act?" Monotones are evil. Bring life and vitality to your reading.

Some more details:

Style

The key to developing a good reading style is to become comfortable with your reading. Let your body relax as you're reading, and don't get frustrated over mistakes. If you are tense you're more likely to read too quickly, or forget to enunciate words. Don't worry about reading too slowly, because listeners will prefer a slightly slower reader. This allows them to digest what they are hearing and enjoy it more.

Voice

Some use nasal sprays, mint-drops, brushing their teeth and chamomile tea, to clear the throat, to be able to breath well and also to get rid of "mouth-noise", these little clicking noises the tongue may produce. A wide and clear nasal passage and throat gives your voice more timbre.
If you want to record the most brilliant, deep, resonating voice you can do, (unless you are reading a shady, muffled speaking character *wink*) try looking slightly upwards while you are reading. Just like singers do it in the recording studio. Just like radio moderators have their mic slightly above them. Of course it's not easy to hold your script very long there but if you like the effect, hopefully you will find a way to keep it there.

Voice Characterizations

Using different voices in dialog is certainly not necessary in your recordings. It may even be better to avoid them in certain circumstances. However, some people will want to create different voices for different characters in a story. The following is a thread in which several volunteers have discussed ways to develop and improve upon this skill. Voice Characterizations and for more, see the Voice Character Performance page.

Also, check out this guide to storytelling:
http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Storyteller%27s_Recording_Guide