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?
This is your chance to shine. As one of our own has come under personal and financial difficulties, we can band together as one voice to lift him up and show how much we care. Tee Morris is synonymous with playing Shakespeare in Chasing The Bard, and it is with this in mind that we are going to do a reading of John Donne’s Holy Sonnet X. What we need from you is simple, a quick comment on this post telling me that you’d like to be a part of this project. Pip and I will break down who will say which line. And what is more, the rest can say the entire poem and will be added in as a background chorus of sorts. At the end of the reading, there will be a call to action for the listener to donate to the Chip In fund as well as a declaration of our emotional support to Tee Morris.
Update Sat Jan 9, 2010 at 6:45 PM CST — Due to the overwhelming support and volunteers, we are going to also do a reading of A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for the auction for Sonic Boom so if you aren’t used for the first poem, you will be used in the second! Read more
25
Dec
Experience Christmas 2009 (Right click, download, and experience.)
Merry Christmas to all of our listeners. You have helped make this year a success for Astral Audio Productions. Crank this really stuffed episode up as you unwrap gifts and come back later today for our gift to you. All music in this episode comes from Ariel Publicity.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:16 — 101.0MB)
4
Nov
So it has come to my attention that one of my recent episodes was invaded with a promo about J.C. Hutchins and his novel Seventh Son Book 1: Descent. To help promote his book, we are going to take questions from you, the fans of Seventh Son and the Beta Clone Army. Your mission is to email your question(s) to feedback [at] astralaudio.net with “Questions for Hutch” in the subject line. You can ask J.C. about his writing methods, about music, movies, his personal background, about book sales, anything really; especially any question to help bring out Hutch’s geeky side. The goal is to keep it interesting. Hutch will then answer your questions in the second episode of our Beyond The Voices interview series. You have until Nov 11 to submit your questions. This episode should drop within the month if not early in December.
24
Oct
Initial feedback for Ariel Palooza will end on Friday so if you want your voice heard, email read etc, follow the instructions on the appropriate post. Questions, comments, anything welcome. (This includes any bands who wish to give something interesting.) Also, if we played your promo, count yourself among the many we would like to hear from in our first feedback show. And for those who have played the promo, you rock! It is because of you that we get noticed.
Keep the experience alive,
Allen
There has been something asked of those of you who have listened to all 4 Ariel Palooza episodes. I want to have an actual feedback show, but that requires your help. I won’t post the link for iTunes reviews since it is given in the show notes of each Ariel Palooza episode, but those reviews will be counted. Emails should be sent to feedback at astralaudio.net. Please put “your name – Ariel Palooza” in the subject line. If you want to go the mp3 route, files should be named with yourname_feedback; 160kbps stereo mp3 format with a sample
rate of 4100KHZ. Mail it using the email address and subject line discussed earlier. And the final way you can submit feedback is by calling 206-338-2138. I’d like this done as soon as possible since I hope to get this out to you at the end of October. Talk about the bands, the songs, the reviews, ask questions; anything goes really. Most importantly, have fun with it!
30
Sep
The following is a reprint of a notice given at BloggerLinkUp. If you are interested in contributing, email me at all...@astralaudio.net. Copy the below announcement and reblog it if you wish (being sure to give credit to Astral Audio Productions) or email it to anyone you know who might be interested; this includes any audio drama groups who want to showcase a sample of their work. As always, feel free to retweet and share this post. The more people who do this, the more chances there are for October to be a breakout month for Astral Audio Productions.
Astral Audio Productions is looking to fill October with plenty of gruesome goodies for its listeners and readers. We are looking for horror authors who want to share a short story or two, musicians that have horror-themed music they want played in a podcast,film-makers that have any horror short films they want viewed, (any audio drama organizations that have horror-themed material they wish us to play), or anyone who wishes to review any of the films coming out in October.
Posts must be a minimum of 300 words. Any music offered must be owned by the band/artist who submits it for podcast inclusion. Short films must be able to be embedded on the Astral Audio Productions website. (Audio dramas can be one or several episodes in length but must include a call back to the audio drama group’s website.) Film reviews must be for any of the horror-themed variety. All participants will have appropriate links given at the end of each contribution.
Previously published OK?: No
Posts needed by (date): 10/31/2009
Emails sent to: allen at astralaudio.net with “October 2009″ as the subject line
Astral Audio Extra: Episode 10 (Right click, download,, and experience.)
An odd title for an episode eh? Trust me, I do have a reason for it. I have tried with each audio presentation to bring to you something that engaged me emotionally in some way. Even the themed ones have had something in them that struck a chord. So when I read a blog post regarding a contest that wanted people to write about such experiences, I became excited. The post discussed the wave of celebrities that have been populating Twitter as of late; most not caring to interact with people but to rack up a number of followers. While I could easily slip into a diatribe, I will instead take a different approach and highlight someone on Twitter who has used the given medium for what it is; a method of interaction between interested parties who follow each other. The band Collective Soul has broken the mold and remembers through each reply given or picture posted that it is thanks to their loyal fans that they are popular. So I did as that blog post instructed and followed @collective_soul, sent a direct message, and thus, the seeds for the podcast episode were planted. Read more
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (24.4MB)