If you’ve been following along here and on Twitter (and who isn’t, right?) you’ll know that I’ve dipped my toes into the world of writing.  Through what can only be described as osmosis I’ve also disturbed the placid surface of podcasting waters.  While nothing I’ve done or am working on is as complex or amazing as the numerous talented people I know and have come to meet thanks to Twitter I do have multiple ideas in my head and a few that I’ve started putting down on “paper”.  As things seem to happen at just the right time there was a recent discussion and great exchange of ideas regarding podcasting that covered a wide array of issue from creation to distribution to increasing listeners.  Just search #podcrit on twitter to see it all.  It’s also a great way to find great people with vast amounts of experience in this space.

My first attempt at sharing some work online really opened my eyes and ears to the challenges of what I had assumed a simple task – write a story that’s no more than 100 words.  All I used was Audacity (yes, because I couldn’t get a good enough recording in one take) and my laptop’s built in microphone.  If you’re not willing to follow the link to the original post I’ll just say it was much harder than expected.  Though, according to votes my ultra short story easily grabbed the most votes.  Yes, I told folks on Facebook and Twitter to go vote but I also asked they vote for their favorite story.  I honestly wonder if anyone other than my brother even read the stories entered and instead just submitted a vote for me because they liked me and I did ask them to vote.  Why do I say this?  Well it ties back to the whole #podcrit discussion.  I didn’t get a single bit of feedback on my story.  Not a word.

So how was it?  Was it good as a read but painful to listen?  Did you envision why the character placed themselves in that situation to begin with?  What I find real neat about the good stories at 100 Word Stories is how my mind automatically tries to fill in and add what’s been written.

Well, I’ve sent in my second entry.  Yes, I’ve been campaigning again.  Like before it’s not so I can get the most votes, though it would be cool to brag about being 2-0 that’s not the point.  I’m campaigning to get people reading these stories, thinking about them, and perhaps even sending a few of their own in from time to time.  Most of all comments/critiques would be super awesome with amazing sauce on the side!  As only my second submission ever I noticed some things that were different about the process.  First, much less takes.  I’m talking less than ten and no need to use Audacity to splice anything because it was all in the same take!!  This I am truly amazed about.  Second, I moved away from the laptop’s built in microphone and pulled out my Olympus Digital Voice Recorder WS-500M.  Lastly (not really but I don’t want to bore you), both times I thought the sound quality was fine when I listened on my PC and yet both sounded real bad as part of the podcast.  I’ve yet no idea why but hope to figure it out in time.

This Olympus picked up a lot more background noise than my laptop mic while in the same room so I had to find a quiet spot in the house.  The house had to be empty of other too.  Oh, and I learned that though I sing great in the bathroom it’s horrible as a recording studio.

Comments welcome, but you already know that.  Look for future posts on my adventures in learning this craft.  It is a craft and the folks putting out works are truly artists.