You can’t get the nuances of your voice and the chemistry of your words unless you actually hear them. Got a new story to tell? Break out the video-camera or tape recorder and fire it up. Then, tell your story as if you had your live audience right there in your living room. When you’re finished, go back and watch or listen to the tape. You’ll hear how that new inflection sounds. You’ll hear where you need to pick up or slow down the pace. Maybe you need to see if holding your hands in a different manner conveys a character better.

When you’re done, record again! Practice, practice, practice.