More LTUE conference notes: Podcasting For Writers

I'm doing a lot of extra posts this week since I have a lot of notes to share from the conference. Check out my previous posts on the conference if you haven't already read them. Since my writer's group does a writing podcast at writingsnippets.com, I attended this panel to get more ideas for our podcast. After I went home I listened parts of the different podcasts. The sound quality for Author's Advisory wasn't very good on my computer, so I wasn't able to listen to much of it. Appendix Podcast has Robison Wells, Dan Well's brother, and has a fun dynamic and good sound quality. I haven't yet listened to Life is Fragile radio dramas but it sounds fun. I listened to a full episode of Create or Die and loved the conversational style between the cohosts and found the information they shared interesting and helpful. Here's what I learned from the panel. 

Introductions to the podcasts represented on panel:

Robin Weeks of author's Advisory

1. Author's Advisory

1 1/2 hours long

They interview experts

Appendix

2. Appendix Podcast

Consists of 3 hosts including Robison Wells and Marion Jensen, who has signed a

deal with Harper Collins

3. Radio Dramas Life is Fragile

            They do live radio dramas

4. Create or Die

They do Ebooks, give advice for any artisan of any genre, and focus on creativity

What are the Essential Elements of a Podcast?

News, updates, advice on writing, market trends

Writing rules

Make it Fresh

Live role playing/improvisation

Know who you are

Structure, tone, keep it consistent

music, sound effects

What are the benefits of having multiple voices (such as Audioplay)?

Help with formating, dynamics, interaction, conversation

Share the burden of creation

You can do audio book multi person podcasts

Network with your friends and gain more followers

How much preparation is involved in the podcasts?

Author’s Advisory uses outlines with questions, topics and subtopics

They also ask their guests if they want to add anything

They contact best selling authors and arrange to have them on the show

They do conference calls

Appendix Podcast plays games by creating a story on the spot

They also do conferences through Skype and pay their guests in donuts

What types of technology do the different podcasts use?

Author’s Advisory uses free conferencecalling.com, which includes an outline board. 

Listeners can call in and ask questions

Create or Die uses a $25 mic. 

They editing every once in a while or stop to collect their thoughts or they throw out podcasts.

Another podcast used a home recording studio with a Midi condenser mic. and Mixer (300) stands and used Sony vegas audio editor

Sound quality depends a lot on the room you record in and is important

Hook up through I-tunes

Distribution through Google Plus Facebook

How do you advertise?

Word of mouth

Presence on the internet