Learning Project Update 10: Take 2: Reclaiming My Voice
For context, last week I explored some new-to-me AI platforms to showcase my query letter to potential publishers. Things… did not go well. Bogged down by paywall after paywall, I finally settled on Lumen5 to create a query letter tutorial video. The platform contains a user-friendly interface and impressive creative features; however, its hyperactive AI quickly overwrote my original script. If nothing else, this experience underscores the importance of finding digital tools that align with your creative vision.
Stubbornly Doggedly Determinedly, I revisited my goal to create a compelling query letter tutorial video. But this time, I utilized some old favourites, Canva slides/recording and WeVideo music underlay. The main intent was to reclaim my script’s original integrity. Canva was a natural choice for its well-developed yet user-controlled AI features. While I (admittedly) have access to premium tools through my division, even the free version offers a wide assortment of visuals, graphics, and fonts.
Reclaiming My Voice: Exploring Canva’s Audio Options
Inputting my narration on Canva slides takes the simple click of a button, ensuring my voice and message remain authentic this time. However, I did start to question how to include royalty-free background music. I discovered Canva’s Music Generator (a feature that is either relatively new or overlooked by me until now).
AI music generated to match my slides? Sounds great! Snapshot: Canva.com
Enter some confusion on my part (and maybe someone can clarify for me).
When I clicked the AI music generator, a tab informed me that the music provided is strictly for personal use. I understood this to mean I could not then upload my tutorial video to YouTube. But the Canva FAQ tells a different story…
Royalty-free…with a subscription. So, not free, then? Snapshot: Canva.com
Royalty-free with a subscription does not sound like free to me. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t want to chance getting a scathing copyright infringement notification; images of Napster and Limewire lawsuits dance in my Xennial mind.
Desperately Seeking Royalty-Free Elevator Background Music
It wasn’t a must, but I really wanted suitable background music for video public-sharing. Ultimately, I went with WeVideo. Despite no longer having the premium membership (hello, watermarks!), I couldn’t resist its effortless text/video/audio features.
Premium paywall or no, WeVideo is a great video editing platform. Snapshot: WeVideo.com
In my explorations, I did find several other great resources worth sharing with you:
- YouTube Audio Library: Access YouTube Studio and you’ll unlock a vaaaaast selection of free music and sound effects. Lawsuit free.
- Bensound: Free music across an array of genres; can be used in online videos IF attribution is provided.
- Uppbeat: Beautiful, user-friendly website design coupled with a library full of royalty-free tracks. The free tier of music options require attribution, and premium membership unlocks expanded access to tracks.
Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The Final Product
Below is my final How to Write a Publishing Query Letter Tutorial video. Rather than 56 seconds (like the Lumen5 video), my version sits just shy of the 4-minute mark… but it contains everything I wanted to say about this process.
Was it as simple as the AI-generated Lumen5 video? Not even remotely! It involved writing/reworking my script, creating Canva slides, inputting my script into the Canva presentation video editor, downloading and uploading to WeVideo, underlaying background music, downloading again (accepting the WeVideo watermark), and uploading/publishing to YouTube. PHEW!
HOWEVER…
It is authentically my voice and my vision. AI might simplify the process, but I’ll take the blood, sweat, and tears human version any day.
Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead
As I approach the last stages of my learning project, my focus turns to finalizing all submission materials. I will need to take the final decisive step of submitting my manuscript to select publishers. I’ve never made it this far, so I’ll take even these last shaky steps as a “win.”
This journey has been a test of my resilience, adaptability… and patience! I look forward to sharing the outcomes and insights gained – and hearing more about your own. Please let me know any insights, feedback, and/or resources relevant to my learning journey or yours!
And, as a final piece – I know I’ve been negative about AI lately, so I thought I’d look on the bright, fun side of its potential. Katia introduced me to SUNO, and I was instantly smitten. I’ve used it to create music about my writing journey and conflicted relationship with technology. While I don’t believe AI generated music will ever replace human passion and creativity, sometimes it’s fun to digitally play in our modern age.
Sometimes it’s nice not to overthink it and just play. Snapshot: Suno.com
Kimberly, I loved this update—your determination and honesty really shine. It’s so relatable trying to balance AI tools with staying true to your voice, and you nailed it by creating something authentically yours. Thanks for sharing the royalty-free music tips too—super helpful!
Thanks, Kaela. Balancing the growing invasiveness of AI features with your (human) voice is certainly becoming a struggle. And yes, there are an awesome assortment of royalty-free music sites. I was actually going to create a Suno song for my Choose Your Own Adventure Genially, but then never got around to it. Whoops! Another time.