The tool is not the content : I Should Be Writing inspired me to finally put down my thoughts on the Podcasting Upheaval of 2010. I will say that what follows isn’t anger or frustration at one individual. This is my opinion as I personally view it. I don’t claim it to be right or wrong. Keep that in mind. If anyone feels like they want to comment on this post, go right ahead. But if this turns into a shouting match, shout amongst yourselves, I’ll be eating popcorn while working with those who take what is said for what it is and use it (because that is what writers do, they take criticism and turn it into magic shiny things of brilliance). Oh, and said shouting match participants will have their comments deleted. As a ref once said, “Let’s get it on!”
Nonconformity is one of those hidden gems not discussed much as a motive for podcasting fiction. It is implied that the product can’t be put into a nifty little box. “This is horror. This is science fiction.” And the ways podcasted novels have evolved into full cast productions can be considered logical, amazing, and a wonderful use of the tools given. Why are authors choosing to turn the written word into audio drama? Engage the listener (and potential customer) by creating a richer experience. Hutch is breaking away from the mold and I applaud him for doing so because the world needs more misfits. (Side note: You should read the latest newsletter I received from Chris Brogan; it expands on this not fitting in thing in better detail)
We all create worlds in our own ways and while there is a growing urge to focus on the self, (How can I get a better bang for my buck? Do I switch to producing some free content and have listeners pay for the rest? etc), there isn’t that sense of raising the bar. If we want to make podcasting a truly lasting part of the written culture like movies/tv/video games etc, we have to become more tightly knit. As it stands, this body is wriggling on the floor at moments, observing individual parts flex their muscles, running hard with fast starts out the gate, dazzling the crowds occasionally (Amazon sales rankings anyone?), but that well-oiled machine vibe isn’t present. Sure, a lot of us focus on our individual projects and encourage each other on Twitter FB etc, but there is more to support than retweets, promoting content, and buying books. We have discussions on forums and some people will chat on skype … what about conference calls so authors can bounce ideas back and forth? The skeletal framework is in need of some old fashioned physical conditioning. We should be willing to branch out and have podcasting as part of the whole … go into more uses of YouTube. (We like web series like The Guild. Surely, there can be web series based on the podcasted written content.) We like comics … figure out how to get more works done as graphic novels.
There are two glaring excuses looming over it all: “We don’t have the time,” and “We tried that before.” You get what you put in when it comes to creativity and I’m as guilty as anyone in not including more people of different backgrounds into my projects. But if we feel we don’t have the time, stop writing, stop creating, say you are done and move on; a “Poor pity me” cynic is worth cutting off. If we have tried that before, we wouldn’t be in the spot we find ourselves in; filled with doubt, debating over how to play the hand we are dealt, and feeding into the fear of failure.
The only way to break the cycle in my view is to stop being a reactionary community and start being a truly proactive one; this means quality over quantity, embracing all forms of entertainment to keep the listeners we have and attract new ones who may in turn buy our work, and also tap into markets that aren’t embraced much at all save for strictly best-selling books. (I am specifically meaning braille books in this case.) Audio is great but what 99% of you take for granted is the fact that there is a large community of patrons just waiting to get fiction and read it. Braille is a dying breed thanks to technology, but I feel that it still has it’s place. I personally wouldn’t have been introduced to a little book series about Harry Potter if I hadn’t gotten my hands on a copy from a braille publisher. There are many options open to us. Let’s stop looking at door numbers 1,2, and 3 and open them all. What do you say?
18
Feb
Jared Axelrod » Appropriate Questions To Ask Oneself While Writing.
This jumped out at me today and is definitely appropriate for the overall writing process I am undertaking. It is also good for those of you who are writing single episode audio dramas, short stories, you name it. What questions do you ask yourself as you write? How can the questions mentioned in this post help you improve your work? Something to think about.
Word blindsided many as those in the podcasting and social media space were rocked with the news of Tee Morris’s loss. His wife’s sudden death has impacted those of us who know Tee, know the love he has for his daughter, and our collective hearts go out to both of them. We at Astral Audio Productions would like you to help in any way you can. The industrious Kiwi in our cast started a chip in fund to help offset any costs Tee will have in the coming weeks. Any amount you can give is encouraged. (This post will be updated with more information of what those in the podcasting community are doing for the Morris family as it develops.)
Every year, around this time of year (where the last one ends and this one begins), a vast majority of humanity makes one mistake. I don’t mean having too much to drink; that is the obvious answer. What I’m talking about is the whole concept of that habitual promise to improve oneself just because a new year is knocking on the doorstep. The fact that everybody is doing it makes it as cliché as reality TV shows or like all the so-called musicians who are using autotune as if it were the greatest application since the microwave. Does the idea of having resolutions for the new year have as much of a damaging effect on the product as reality TV for the television industry or autotuning for music? Let’s take a look. Read more
A Guest Post From James N. Frey.
This post has to be read several times over. Truly amazing stuff for writers, musicians, painters, actors, podcasters etc. It goes beyond the mere labels and cuts deep into the living, breathing flesh of humanity. Replace every instance of “writer”with “person” or “individual” and see what you come up with. Go ahead. Take a leap into inspiration!
17
Aug
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The first step is often the hardest. Whether it is a new writing project, a class assignment, an oral presentation, or musical composition, the fear of rejection stands in the way of progress. So as you go throughout this week, take a chance and simply dive in. If you get 100 rejection letters, you are doing something right because somewhere in that dark cloud is a silver lining. Eleminate the word “can’t” from your vocabulary and thought process. The more you feel, believe, and think you “can” do something, you will find yourself able to “Boldly go where no one has gone before.”
Questions to start the week: What will you start today? How can you rid yourself of the word ‘can’t” in your life? How can you motivate others to boldly go beyond what is expected of them? Answer in the comments, and feel free to share this post with your friends, colleagues, and family. And if this inspired you in any way, let me know.
A little over two weeks ago, a 47-year-old man died of pancreatic cancer. No doubt, he wouldn’t want to be remembered for being another statistic. The fame that enveloped him for months before his death seemed to invigorate him, but who was this man who inspired millions? Randy Pausch was a geek, a family man, a motivated son, and former professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. He gave a now infamous lecture on how to achieve your childhood dreams. It was this lecture that I showed to the cast of Astral Audio Productions, and it is fitting that we start our motivational series with a man who made his dreams come true. Carnegie Mellon University has a nice press release that is a fitting tribute to Randy; it can be found here. Below is the full 76 minute lecture he gave to a packed audience last September. It is a must watch. Take notes; I sure did when I first experienced it. His story can be our story. His legacy can be taken up by those who are impacted by the principles he presents. If you want to donate for cancer research, there are two ways you can do so. (This is also mentioned in the press release, but I feel it is worth repeating here.) The family requests that donations on his behalf be directed to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245, or to Carnegie Mellon’s Randy Pausch Memorial Fund ( www.cmu.edu/giving/pausch ), which primarily supports the university’s continued work on the Alice project.
What are your dreams from childhood that you remember fondly? Have you achieved any of them? Has this lecture inspired you to do so? What lessons have you learned from Randy’s story? Are you going to tell others about the infamous “Last Lecture”? Speak up in the comments! And share this with anyone you think might enjoy watching and learning about Randy Pausch.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Inspiring computer professor Randy Pausch dies
- Farewell, Randy Pausch
- Randy Pausch, “Last Lecture” Professor, Dies At 47
- Diane Sawyer’s Pausch Hour Wins Timeslot
13
Jun
While browsing my updates on Twitter, I came across a blog post written by Liz Strauss. She lays out a six step process to help individuals build their own personal developmental network. I think that this guide is useful for not only members of the Astral Audio Productions cast, but for those who read what is posted here on a regular basis. So go show Liz some comment “love” if you find the steps appropriate; I hope they will motivate you as they have motivated me.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=ab532e43-9264-4be7-8326-c34e346d4aee)