Comments on: Expanding the offerings on Podiobooks.com http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/ News from the Staff of Podiobooks.com Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:06:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Kronikarz http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3550 Kronikarz Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:03:04 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3550 I believe that any kind of fiction that can be downloaded and played by a normal podcatcher should be welcome at Podiobooks.com, but nothing beyond that. I wouldn't want a page called PODioBOOKS.com to have anything other than books in podcast format. I recently stopped visiting a few pages just because they ventured beyond what they originally intended (digg.com for example). So - audio drama - why not?, enhanced podiobooks - as long as they play in my cheap MP3 player, fan movies - uhh, not really, comic books - nice idea, but not on podiobooks.com. Cheers, Kronikarz I believe that any kind of fiction that can be downloaded and played by a normal podcatcher should be welcome at Podiobooks.com, but nothing beyond that. I wouldn’t want a page called PODioBOOKS.com to have anything other than books in podcast format. I recently stopped visiting a few pages just because they ventured beyond what they originally intended (digg.com for example).

So - audio drama - why not?, enhanced podiobooks - as long as they play in my cheap MP3 player, fan movies - uhh, not really, comic books - nice idea, but not on podiobooks.com.

Cheers,
Kronikarz

]]> By: Daniel Emery http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3470 Daniel Emery Fri, 11 Aug 2006 16:44:23 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3470 I like Matt's idea a lot. In a similar vein, I would be interested in a serialized fiction podcast put together in the style of a tv series. I'm talking about prose fiction, not audio drama (although I love a good audio drama as well). In a prose form, you won't have to worry about voice actors (accept the narrator) and your time to produce the audio would be significantly reduced. Plus, podiobooks.com already has a lot of contacts that write good prose. You could structure it like a television series. Get a team of writers involved with someone to serve the role of executive producer and maintain control of the overall direction of the show. You could take your time and get a lot of the first season done before ever putting the first episode up. I'm imagining a series that has individual episode story arcs, some moments of which connect to a larger arc for the season. Eventually, other interested authors could pitch ideas for an episode. It's just a thought. Thanks for taking the time to read my comment. Cheers, Daniel Emery I like Matt’s idea a lot. In a similar vein, I would be interested in a serialized fiction podcast put together in the style of a tv series.

I’m talking about prose fiction, not audio drama (although I love a good audio drama as well). In a prose form, you won’t have to worry about voice actors (accept the narrator) and your time to produce the audio would be significantly reduced. Plus, podiobooks.com already has a lot of contacts that write good prose.

You could structure it like a television series. Get a team of writers involved with someone to serve the role of executive producer and maintain control of the overall direction of the show. You could take your time and get a lot of the first season done before ever putting the first episode up.

I’m imagining a series that has individual episode story arcs, some moments of which connect to a larger arc for the season. Eventually, other interested authors could pitch ideas for an episode.

It’s just a thought. Thanks for taking the time to read my comment.

Cheers,
Daniel Emery

]]> By: Dan Shaurette http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3454 Dan Shaurette Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:40:10 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3454 These are some great ideas. Especially Matt's serialized text/prose idea. I have a similar idea. What I think the EachCaster mechanism would be excellent for is in re-syndicating other feeds. Spin EachCaster off onto its own site. I think it would be extremely handy if a user of EachCaster could add external feeds to a list (manually and/or with OPML) and EachCaster could make a "Mondo Feed" from all of them. Moreover, all the other sites have various schedules, but you could schedule your ECMF to deliver the resulting content daily, weekly, etc. That way, we could subscribe to comic strip feeds, audio drama feeds, blogs/blooks, etc. but have the fine-tuned convenience that EachCaster provides for PodioBooks.com. Perhaps you could even have multiple feeds so the comic strips all arrive on Monday, the audio dramas arrive on Tuesday, etc. These are some great ideas. Especially Matt’s serialized text/prose idea.

I have a similar idea. What I think the EachCaster mechanism would be excellent for is in re-syndicating other feeds. Spin EachCaster off onto its own site.

I think it would be extremely handy if a user of EachCaster could add external feeds to a list (manually and/or with OPML) and EachCaster could make a “Mondo Feed” from all of them. Moreover, all the other sites have various schedules, but you could schedule your ECMF to deliver the resulting content daily, weekly, etc.

That way, we could subscribe to comic strip feeds, audio drama feeds, blogs/blooks, etc. but have the fine-tuned convenience that EachCaster provides for PodioBooks.com.

Perhaps you could even have multiple feeds so the comic strips all arrive on Monday, the audio dramas arrive on Tuesday, etc.

]]> By: Bear http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3202 Bear Mon, 07 Aug 2006 01:00:34 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3202 Ok, Matt. I gotta give you props for that one. Prose serials, <em>especially</em> the iPod Notes format is one that I didn't think of. I <em><b>still</b></em> maintain that if they're gonna do it at all, it should be a separate website, completely, but...the idea has merit. I've uploaded small txt files to my iPod Nano to use as crib notes when public speaking or going to the grocery store, but was not aware that there is actually software out there for the PC that can take larger text files and break them into linked files to have a whole story in the 'NOTES' section of your iPod. A google search will turn them up for the curious. There is also a wonderful website that will do it for you, http://www.ambience.sk/ipod-ebook-creator/ipod-book-notes-text-conversion.php . I have tried this out and it worked just fine. Once again, thanks for the good idea, Matt. I might even set up a website for that, myself. -Bear Ok, Matt. I gotta give you props for that one. Prose serials, especially the iPod Notes format is one that I didn’t think of.
I still maintain that if they’re gonna do it at all, it should be a separate website, completely, but…the idea has merit.

I’ve uploaded small txt files to my iPod Nano to use as crib notes when public speaking or going to the grocery store, but was not aware that there is actually software out there for the PC that can take larger text files and break them into linked files to have a whole story in the ‘NOTES’ section of your iPod. A google search will turn them up for the curious.
There is also a wonderful website that will do it for you, http://www.ambience.sk/ipod-ebook-creator/ipod-book-notes-text-conversion.php .
I have tried this out and it worked just fine.
Once again, thanks for the good idea, Matt. I might even set up a website for that, myself.
-Bear

]]> By: Matthew Wayne Selznick http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3186 Matthew Wayne Selznick Sun, 06 Aug 2006 19:26:43 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3186 No one has come forward in support of this, so I'll put up my hand: prose serials. I'm talking bite-sized (no more than 2,000 words) episodes of print serials, either closed (with a distinct ending) or open-ended (with defined, over-lapping story arcs.) The serials can be provided in plain text, .pdf, or iPod Notes formats, and would be distributed weekly at most. Anything longer might not risk losing audience commitment. How does it fit in with Podiobooks.com? - existing Podiobooks.com authors can provide companion material to their podiobook, perhaps focused on secondary characters, enhancing a setting, delving into a character's past (or future) and so on. - authors who are not interested in creating a podiobook, but would still like to utilize Podiobooks.com's EachCaster delivery system to distribute their printed work, can create a serialized version of their novel or novella. - there is probably a market for people who want to consume subscription content, especially excellent non-mainstream fiction, but don't want to have to listen to it due to the commitment of time required, inconvenience, or lack of a broadband connection. - open-ended episodic fiction creates a perpetual return customer for Podiobooks.com (and their sponsors), with a very low-bandwidth commitment on the Podiobooks.com servers. What would it take from the Podiobooks.com staff? - probably a similar setup as with podcast media... the requirement of five episodes of the serial, in a range of formats. - possibly the creation of templates to be downloaded by content providers, to maintain consistency. - back-end database fields, web pages, etc. -- whatever's necessary to work the feature into the existing Podiobooks.com infrastructure. Those are my Sunday morning thoughts. I have some experience running a serial fiction website, but back then, I didn't have the advantage of the EachCaster tool. For Podiobooks.com, the may be an Idea Whose Time Has Come. Thanks, Matthew Wayne Selznick Author of "Brave Men Run - A Novel of the Sovereign Era" http://www.bravemenrun.com No one has come forward in support of this, so I’ll put up my hand: prose serials.

I’m talking bite-sized (no more than 2,000 words) episodes of print serials, either closed (with a distinct ending) or open-ended (with defined, over-lapping story arcs.)

The serials can be provided in plain text, .pdf, or iPod Notes formats, and would be distributed weekly at most. Anything longer might not risk losing audience commitment.

How does it fit in with Podiobooks.com?

- existing Podiobooks.com authors can provide companion material to their podiobook, perhaps focused on secondary characters, enhancing a setting, delving into a character’s past (or future) and so on.

- authors who are not interested in creating a podiobook, but would still like to utilize Podiobooks.com’s EachCaster delivery system to distribute their printed work, can create a serialized version of their novel or novella.

- there is probably a market for people who want to consume subscription content, especially excellent non-mainstream fiction, but don’t want to have to listen to it due to the commitment of time required, inconvenience, or lack of a broadband connection.

- open-ended episodic fiction creates a perpetual return customer for Podiobooks.com (and their sponsors), with a very low-bandwidth commitment on the Podiobooks.com servers.

What would it take from the Podiobooks.com staff?

- probably a similar setup as with podcast media… the requirement of five episodes of the serial, in a range of formats.

- possibly the creation of templates to be downloaded by content providers, to maintain consistency.

- back-end database fields, web pages, etc. — whatever’s necessary to work the feature into the existing Podiobooks.com infrastructure.

Those are my Sunday morning thoughts. I have some experience running a serial fiction website, but back then, I didn’t have the advantage of the EachCaster tool. For Podiobooks.com, the may be an Idea Whose Time Has Come.

Thanks,

Matthew Wayne Selznick
Author of “Brave Men Run - A Novel of the Sovereign Era”
http://www.bravemenrun.com

]]> By: Bear http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3165 Bear Sat, 05 Aug 2006 16:23:52 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3165 Initially, in my college career, I studied the arts...literature, drama, music. Later, I studied business and business management (and then attacked the sciences, but that's another story). An artist who doesn't know basic business principles gets screwed in the real world. More than one expert (read expert as "financially successful") has said <blockquote><b>"Do ONE thing and do it well."</b></blockquote> While I've checked out a few videos on the web, and have enjoyed them, I' m one of the masses who doesn't have an iPod that will play them. Also, I have LOVED comics since I was knee-high to a catapillar... Having said that..."Do I want to see "Podiobooks" expand to include them?" NO!!! As evidenced by your recent "downtime", every venture comes with its own set of problems and every new load put on the venture increases the possible problems. The audiodrama is not a significantly different thing from what you're already doing, and to this I say, "Sure! Give it a try!" The other stuff, the comics and the fan-vids and other videos are gonna add lots of additional complications to what has been a fairly smooth operations. Finally, my biggest complaint with any podiobook or audio drama is the <b>INTERMINABLE WAIT</b>. I'm not exactly an impatient man, but still...if it ain't there in a reasonable time, I DON'T WANT IT, period. Thanks for opening up the forum and allowing me to insert my two cents. -Bear Initially, in my college career, I studied the arts…literature, drama, music. Later, I studied business and business management (and then attacked the sciences, but that’s another story). An artist who doesn’t know basic business principles gets screwed in the real world.

More than one expert (read expert as “financially successful”) has said

“Do ONE thing and do it well.”

While I’ve checked out a few videos on the web, and have enjoyed them, I’ m one of the masses who doesn’t have an iPod that will play them.
Also, I have LOVED comics since I was knee-high to a catapillar…

Having said that…”Do I want to see “Podiobooks” expand to include them?”
NO!!!
As evidenced by your recent “downtime”, every venture comes with its own set of problems and every new load put on the venture increases the possible problems.
The audiodrama is not a significantly different thing from what you’re already doing, and to this I say, “Sure! Give it a try!”

The other stuff, the comics and the fan-vids and other videos are gonna add lots of additional complications to what has been a fairly smooth operations.
Finally, my biggest complaint with any podiobook or audio drama is the INTERMINABLE WAIT. I’m not exactly an impatient man, but still…if it ain’t there in a reasonable time, I DON’T WANT IT, period.

Thanks for opening up the forum and allowing me to insert my two cents.

-Bear

]]> By: Mathew M http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3134 Mathew M Fri, 04 Aug 2006 03:11:08 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3134 In my opinion, the more stuff I can have in my subscriptions, the better. Podcasts are fairly new to me, I've only been into them for about 2 months now, but so far it's fantastic, and PB is my fav site for them. I agree that it would be nice to have different kinds of feeds put into at least seperate sections or subdomains. Please keep up the great work guys. In my opinion, the more stuff I can have in my subscriptions, the better. Podcasts are fairly new to me, I’ve only been into them for about 2 months now, but so far it’s fantastic, and PB is my fav site for them. I agree that it would be nice to have different kinds of feeds put into at least seperate sections or subdomains.

Please keep up the great work guys.

]]> By: Jason C. http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3131 Jason C. Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:32:49 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3131 love to see Audio dramas. and there is a good Poddrama directory is: http://www.dramapod.com There are some books on it, but most are audio dramas. love to see Audio dramas.

and there is a good Poddrama directory is:

http://www.dramapod.com

There are some books on it, but most are audio dramas.

]]> By: John http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3130 John Fri, 04 Aug 2006 01:49:39 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3130 - Audio dramas seem a good fit for PB. I personally have never heard one, just as I had never listened to a full audio book before coming here. So it'd be a good excuse to start. As for waiting time, I never start a novel unless it is completed, so I would probably do the same with audio dramas. - I like enhanced podcasts. The majority of people have an iPod, so it would be good for us. I can see an episode being divided in 3 chapters: intro, story, PB ad. But the mp3 feed would have to stay also. - Don't know about fan-films. Are there many serialized fan-films? If it's just one-shot, I don't see the value of using RSS. - I am a comic book fan, but I'd be curious to know what type of comics you'd release. Personally, PDF is not my favorite format for them. CBR/CBZ would be better. - Audio dramas seem a good fit for PB. I personally have never heard one, just as I had never listened to a full audio book before coming here. So it’d be a good excuse to start. As for waiting time, I never start a novel unless it is completed, so I would probably do the same with audio dramas.
- I like enhanced podcasts. The majority of people have an iPod, so it would be good for us. I can see an episode being divided in 3 chapters: intro, story, PB ad. But the mp3 feed would have to stay also.
- Don’t know about fan-films. Are there many serialized fan-films? If it’s just one-shot, I don’t see the value of using RSS.
- I am a comic book fan, but I’d be curious to know what type of comics you’d release. Personally, PDF is not my favorite format for them. CBR/CBZ would be better.

]]> By: Aaron Morris http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3127 Aaron Morris Thu, 03 Aug 2006 22:46:34 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3127 Of the possibilities that are listed above, I would definitely listen to audio dramas. Waiting for updates is a slight annoyance, sure, but a guaranteed outlet for that type of material is usually well worth the wait. Life Geoff, I listen to “Children of the Gods,” but also have subscriptions to a few others, including the Spaceship Radio feed. I am curious as to what an enhanced podcast is, since I do not think that I have ever come across one. I agree with Oberonix in that an enhanced podcast still allows for a simple mp3-only feed. Of the possibilities that are listed above, I would definitely listen to audio dramas. Waiting for updates is a slight annoyance, sure, but a guaranteed outlet for that type of material is usually well worth the wait. Life Geoff, I listen to “Children of the Gods,” but also have subscriptions to a few others, including the Spaceship Radio feed.

I am curious as to what an enhanced podcast is, since I do not think that I have ever come across one. I agree with Oberonix in that an enhanced podcast still allows for a simple mp3-only feed.

]]> By: Randy Lea http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3126 Randy Lea Thu, 03 Aug 2006 21:16:14 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3126 My vote is for audio drama. Old time radio is great, except for the audio quality. The Sci Fi channel's web site has a number of great drama's, at their Seeing Ear Theatre. Keep up the good work! My vote is for audio drama. Old time radio is great, except for the audio quality. The Sci Fi channel’s web site has a number of great drama’s, at their Seeing Ear Theatre.

Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Paul Campbell http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3123 Paul Campbell Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:00:24 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3123 Catching up with long-running web comics: I've been going back and catching up on a few over the last few weeks, and there are no existing wasy to easily catch up. There are systems for readers who are already caught up (e.g. comicalert.com), but trying to read from the begining isn't easy. If I had had the option to subscribe to them on a feed system similar to podiobooks.com with however many updates being released a day, it would have been fantastic. I've been surprised that Audio Dramas haven't been any appearing on podiobooks.com before now. Catching up with long-running web comics: I’ve been going back and catching up on a few over the last few weeks, and there are no existing wasy to easily catch up. There are systems for readers who are already caught up (e.g. comicalert.com), but trying to read from the begining isn’t easy. If I had had the option to subscribe to them on a feed system similar to podiobooks.com with however many updates being released a day, it would have been fantastic.

I’ve been surprised that Audio Dramas haven’t been any appearing on podiobooks.com before now.

]]> By: JClark http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3096 JClark Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:21:33 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3096 Personally, I don't see waiting for new episodes of Audio Dramas as being that different from waiting for new episodes of In Progress podiobooks. Sure, the wait is longer, but so long as we're made aware of the distinction ahead of time I don't see that as a problem for most people. The comic idea is a good one too, but why limit it to comic books? There are tons of web comics out there, and a lot of them use long story arcs, which would make them just right for this sort of thing. I agree that it would make sense to use a different site, or at least a very distinct section ot this site, for this, but it's a good idea. A lot of web comics are available through their own RSS feeds already, just as many podiobooks are, so this is already right in line with what you're doing already. Personally, I don’t see waiting for new episodes of Audio Dramas as being that different from waiting for new episodes of In Progress podiobooks. Sure, the wait is longer, but so long as we’re made aware of the distinction ahead of time I don’t see that as a problem for most people.

The comic idea is a good one too, but why limit it to comic books? There are tons of web comics out there, and a lot of them use long story arcs, which would make them just right for this sort of thing. I agree that it would make sense to use a different site, or at least a very distinct section ot this site, for this, but it’s a good idea. A lot of web comics are available through their own RSS feeds already, just as many podiobooks are, so this is already right in line with what you’re doing already.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3093 Geoff Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:56:28 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3093 Audio dramas would be great. My favorites ate the ones from Darker Projects and Children of the Gods. They both seem to need 1-2 months or even more to produce an episode though. That said, it's worth the wait. Podshow has a new one that is ok. Anyone know of any more? I haven't found many either Audio dramas would be great. My favorites ate the ones from Darker Projects and Children of the Gods. They both seem to need 1-2 months or even more to produce an episode though. That said, it’s worth the wait. Podshow has a new one that is ok.

Anyone know of any more? I haven’t found many either

]]> By: Oberonix http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3092 Oberonix Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:30:03 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/08/03/expanding-the-offerings-on-podiobookscom/#comment-3092 Audio dramas seem like a good fit for the site since they are very similar to a well produced podiobook. Personally between podiobooks and audiodramas it takes up most of my podcast list. Enhanced podcasts only seem worthwhile to me if a lot of people want them or an author is willing to put in the extra work to create them. I don't care as long as the regular mp3 versions are still available. Maybe comics and videos should go on another site, or at least a very clearly divided section that covers other media than audio. It's not really what I come to podiobooks for, I don't know about other people. Just some thoughts, -S Audio dramas seem like a good fit for the site since they are very similar to a well produced podiobook. Personally between podiobooks and audiodramas it takes up most of my podcast list.

Enhanced podcasts only seem worthwhile to me if a lot of people want them or an author is willing to put in the extra work to create them. I don’t care as long as the regular mp3 versions are still available.

Maybe comics and videos should go on another site, or at least a very clearly divided section that covers other media than audio. It’s not really what I come to podiobooks for, I don’t know about other people.

Just some thoughts,
-S

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