Podfic Critical Feedback Meme

[dodificus]

Podfic: Once As Soft As Water
Reader: Superstitiousme
Author: Lustmordred
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Time: 1:21:36

I debated about how I was going to frame this, as either a general review or as something directed to the reader. But let's face it, this is mostly for you, the reader and most of my initial notes were written as such. I hope you get something out of this, I enjoyed listening to the story again, so I know *I* got something out of the experience:)


I've tried to give examples of most of the things I refer to, whether good or bad but in some cases I haven't, mostly due to it being an overall feeling and not one specific thing.

You have a good reading speed, my brain isn't racing to catch up with you but nor am I waiting impatiently while you over enunciate each word. This is very important to me, so thank you for not making it hard to settle down into the story.

Sometimes though, there are gaps between words that are just that tiny little bit too long, like you almost tripped over the next word and paused to collect yourself. It doesn't flow perfectly during these 3 or 4 times. It didn't negatively impact on my enjoyment of your reading but it happened often enough for me to mention.

You have this soft, gentle, *calm* voice. I think the best way of describing your style is understated and relaxed. Your style really allows the listener to put his or her own interpretation of the story into play.

I love that you give the secretary at the first motel her own accent and lilting voice, you bring her alive and with original characters that's really important. The listener already has a huge history with the canon characters that you're reading, they *know* them, they're alive already. So, the fact that you gave the motel clerk her own voice and personality was fantastic.

You're also kind of great at bleak, hopeless Dean. You capture the emptiness of Dean in the last sentence here:

"Where would we go, Sam?" he whispers back. "Tell me a place... where there are no demons. No ghosts. No wandering spirits. No vampires, werewolves, sirens, ghouls, goblins, monsters... angels... Do you know a place like that, Sammy?"

I mean, reading that line in text, it could really come off us melodramatic and lame but you made me believe it and *feel* how much Dean had given up.

And let's not forget the most integral part of any podfic: The sex:) I loved the sex scenes, the intimacy you created with your hushed, slow voice. There's a reverant tone in the way you have Dean say

"Jesus," Dean hisses, breath leaving him in a rush.


The sound is great, no hissing, every word clear. What more needs to be said? When it's right it's right.

I like the gap you leave between story sections, it's enough for me to know there's been a shift in time without being too long. It's an important thing to me, I'm easily confused:) If the gap is too short I end up taking a sentence or two to realise there's been a time/pov shift.

One editing snafu that I picked up: It's not quite a thrust, but it slides his dick right there, you repeat 'it's not quite'

I very rarely noticed parts that you'd edited, there were no tell tale shifts in volume or background noise.

And as to your story choice: I enjoyed it, it's not something I was familiar with (or remembered) the first time I listened. And I think it's important for a reader to kind of build trust with the listeners about their reading choices. If I know that we have the same taste then it makes it much more likely that I'm going to take a chance on a new fandom/pairing/story that you're reading.

So, thank you for the podfic and thanks for letting me critique it. If you have any questions or want specific examples of stuff then just let me know:)

Comments

[fish_echo]

but fish echo's was under half an hour so that theory didn't work.

I specifically said that my time limit was one 30 minute podfic because I've got so much on my plate but I still wanted to participate. I'm hoping that the next time this is run that I won't have so many preexisting commitments that I'll be able to do a longer piece.


but this voice thing? Definitely different!!!

Yeah, it really is, isn't it? I feel like I'm much more inefficient with my thought process with podfic compared to fic (or even compared to live-action performances), probably because I don't have the experience yet that I do for the other forms. I find it really interesting to read other peoples reviews/critiques/recs of podfics because it shows me different ways of thinking about these pieces and also the different things that people love about the podfic genre. I've also found it interesting to look at how I approach reccing podfics differently from beta'ing them-- which makes sense, I suppose, because even though both require critical listenings, one is critique directed to be useful to the listener and the other is for the performer. I ended up approaching my critique here as approximately what I would have given as beta feedback.

[podcath]

That makes perfect sense. I felt a lot like a beta too, except that I didn't have the trust and comfort relationship, which made it kinda harder.

I wasn't really upset about getting two assignments. I just had a really busy time and I'd have only signed up for one if there'd been an option...but I enjoyed both of mine so all was good (though I had another amplirecathon planned and definitely couldn't do that one :)