Podbooks Again
May. 13th, 2011 03:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cybel posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
amplificathonHi, guys!
I've never really posted anything about how/why/when I create podbooks, but with the volume of great podfics coming out now, I thought it was time to clarify things a bit and ask for your input/help.
First, I compile 'books out of love--love of fandom, love of podfics, love of readers and authors and artists and listeners. It is not a trial for me, or a burden, though it is often tiring, a bit overwhelming, and quite time consuming. There's no chance these days of coming anywhere near keeping up with podfic posts, even with more and more people creating podbooks of their own/other's work (and thank God for that!).
Over the years I've had to stop compiling shorter podfics for the most part, though I make occasional exceptions as the mood strikes and time permits. These days I try to get to most podfics of around 45 minutes or longer, and this cutoff keeps slowly creeping up. Like any human, I have my favorite readers and authors and fandoms, and those may get precedence at times. Total impartiality is impossible, but I do try to be diverse and inclusive as possible.
I am not an organized person, though, and I have a short attention span and a lousy memory, so if I don't keep up with posts, older ones are likely to drop by the wayside. This does not mean I'm deliberately not podbooking a particular fandom or story or author or reader! It just means I'm busy and a bit of a ditz! If I miss something you particularly want a podbook of, let me know, and I'll do my best to get one done.
I almost never have advance notice that a podfic is about to be posted. This means, among other things, that I usually have very little time to throw together a cover if a podbook needs one. If cover art already exists, like for BigBang stories, I have to search it out before using it.
I post most of my podbooks to the lists because they are made after the podfics are posted. I discovered early on that not every reader will go back to add another link to their posts, so people might not be aware that a 'book is available if it doesn't have a post of its own. Plus, I must admit, I enjoy posting my cover art. :-)
What is the point of all this verbosity? Just that readers may not be aware there are ways they can help ensure I am able to compile the maximum number of 'books possible. These are only suggestions! They are in no way required for me to continue to podbook as I always have.
1) If you let me know in advance you're about to finish a longer podfic and want a podbook, I will have that much more time to prepare a cover. Let me know if artwork already exists for the story and link to it if possible.
2) If you want to post podfic and m4b links together in your post, I can compile the 'book and send you the link (and cover if you'd like); this also means I don't have to prepare a separate post myself.
3) If you have any thoughts on the matter, let me know if there is some picture or screencap or concept in the story that would make a good cover. This is not essential, but it would be helpful as most of my covers have to be done well before I get a chance to listen to the podfic; it's likely I haven't read the story (no time to read these days!); and authors' summaries often give no real clue as to what the story is about.
4) If your podfic is Supernatural or Supernatural RPF and you want your permanent links, both mp3 and m4b, before posting, let me know. I am in charge of archiving all things Supernatural.
5) If you podfic a story from a 'verse and plan to continue with other stories from that series, please make that clear. Same with a WIP. There is no sense in my creating a podbook of a single story if you know you'll be adding more to it later. It is also incredibly helpful if the placement of the story in the series is clear.
6) Basically, just communicate, either in your list post or off list. The more information you give, the faster and easier making you a podbook will be.
You can reach me for anything concerning podbooks at either amplificathon, or at cybelh at gmail dot com.
Finally, feel free to ignore any/all of the above if you want to or must, and I'll just continue to do my thing as I always have. :-)
I've never really posted anything about how/why/when I create podbooks, but with the volume of great podfics coming out now, I thought it was time to clarify things a bit and ask for your input/help.
First, I compile 'books out of love--love of fandom, love of podfics, love of readers and authors and artists and listeners. It is not a trial for me, or a burden, though it is often tiring, a bit overwhelming, and quite time consuming. There's no chance these days of coming anywhere near keeping up with podfic posts, even with more and more people creating podbooks of their own/other's work (and thank God for that!).
Over the years I've had to stop compiling shorter podfics for the most part, though I make occasional exceptions as the mood strikes and time permits. These days I try to get to most podfics of around 45 minutes or longer, and this cutoff keeps slowly creeping up. Like any human, I have my favorite readers and authors and fandoms, and those may get precedence at times. Total impartiality is impossible, but I do try to be diverse and inclusive as possible.
I am not an organized person, though, and I have a short attention span and a lousy memory, so if I don't keep up with posts, older ones are likely to drop by the wayside. This does not mean I'm deliberately not podbooking a particular fandom or story or author or reader! It just means I'm busy and a bit of a ditz! If I miss something you particularly want a podbook of, let me know, and I'll do my best to get one done.
I almost never have advance notice that a podfic is about to be posted. This means, among other things, that I usually have very little time to throw together a cover if a podbook needs one. If cover art already exists, like for BigBang stories, I have to search it out before using it.
I post most of my podbooks to the lists because they are made after the podfics are posted. I discovered early on that not every reader will go back to add another link to their posts, so people might not be aware that a 'book is available if it doesn't have a post of its own. Plus, I must admit, I enjoy posting my cover art. :-)
What is the point of all this verbosity? Just that readers may not be aware there are ways they can help ensure I am able to compile the maximum number of 'books possible. These are only suggestions! They are in no way required for me to continue to podbook as I always have.
1) If you let me know in advance you're about to finish a longer podfic and want a podbook, I will have that much more time to prepare a cover. Let me know if artwork already exists for the story and link to it if possible.
2) If you want to post podfic and m4b links together in your post, I can compile the 'book and send you the link (and cover if you'd like); this also means I don't have to prepare a separate post myself.
3) If you have any thoughts on the matter, let me know if there is some picture or screencap or concept in the story that would make a good cover. This is not essential, but it would be helpful as most of my covers have to be done well before I get a chance to listen to the podfic; it's likely I haven't read the story (no time to read these days!); and authors' summaries often give no real clue as to what the story is about.
4) If your podfic is Supernatural or Supernatural RPF and you want your permanent links, both mp3 and m4b, before posting, let me know. I am in charge of archiving all things Supernatural.
5) If you podfic a story from a 'verse and plan to continue with other stories from that series, please make that clear. Same with a WIP. There is no sense in my creating a podbook of a single story if you know you'll be adding more to it later. It is also incredibly helpful if the placement of the story in the series is clear.
6) Basically, just communicate, either in your list post or off list. The more information you give, the faster and easier making you a podbook will be.
You can reach me for anything concerning podbooks at either amplificathon, or at cybelh at gmail dot com.
Finally, feel free to ignore any/all of the above if you want to or must, and I'll just continue to do my thing as I always have. :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-13 09:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-13 09:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-13 09:45 pm (UTC)*skulks guiltily*
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-13 11:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-14 02:29 am (UTC)Thanks again!
*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-14 03:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-14 03:43 am (UTC)<333
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-14 05:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-14 02:56 pm (UTC)<333
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-24 10:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-24 11:15 pm (UTC)For Mac users like me, the program to use is AudioBook Builder. It's awesome!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-24 11:49 pm (UTC)