Comments on: The Podfading Roller Coaster http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/12/15/the-roller-coaster-of-podfading/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/12/15/the-roller-coaster-of-podfading/comment-page-1/#comment-136661 Tom Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:08:59 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=2465#comment-136661 Kevin, I completely agree with you about the goal. I think the same applies to almost everything we do. I wish I had a more clearly defined goal with podcasting, but I have to admit that I really don't. In the end, I hope it's simply something I enjoy doing, which coincidentally benefits me. I'm not doing it for the money, nor for the "fame," nor for the tremendous educational benefit. Perhaps in the end, I just like having these conversations with other colleagues. Kevin, I completely agree with you about the goal. I think the same applies to almost everything we do. I wish I had a more clearly defined goal with podcasting, but I have to admit that I really don’t. In the end, I hope it’s simply something I enjoy doing, which coincidentally benefits me.

I’m not doing it for the money, nor for the “fame,” nor for the tremendous educational benefit. Perhaps in the end, I just like having these conversations with other colleagues.

]]> By: Kevin http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/12/15/the-roller-coaster-of-podfading/comment-page-1/#comment-136622 Kevin Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:13:56 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=2465#comment-136622 Great post, Tom. I'd like to suggest another point to consider in the discussion of "podfading". Many podcasters start with enthusiasm, but no clear goal other than to produce a podcast. If you're not working toward something, it's hard to maintain your focus when your enthusiasm falters. If you have a goal (audience building, monetization, outlasting other podcasters ... it doesn't really matter *what* the goal is) you have a standard against which you can measure yourself. Every time you sit down at the mic, you can ask yourself whether or not you're getting closer to your goal. Determination is a good substitute for enthusiasm, but only if you have a clear objective. Great post, Tom.

I’d like to suggest another point to consider in the discussion of “podfading”. Many podcasters start with enthusiasm, but no clear goal other than to produce a podcast. If you’re not working toward something, it’s hard to maintain your focus when your enthusiasm falters.

If you have a goal (audience building, monetization, outlasting other podcasters … it doesn’t really matter *what* the goal is) you have a standard against which you can measure yourself. Every time you sit down at the mic, you can ask yourself whether or not you’re getting closer to your goal.

Determination is a good substitute for enthusiasm, but only if you have a clear objective.

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/12/15/the-roller-coaster-of-podfading/comment-page-1/#comment-136621 Tom Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:44:01 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=2465#comment-136621 Charles, sorry for the mention of you in the paragraph where I include examples of podfading. I didn't word that correctly, and I revised it to emphasize that even podcasters like you, who have a great following and an abundance of content, at times struggle to maintain your weekly publishing goals. I know you're not podfading. I really enjoy your show. Sorry I don't send you more feedback. If it helps, I don't get as many comments and feedback as I would like either. Keep up the great work. I enjoy all the informative content you gather and share. Charles, sorry for the mention of you in the paragraph where I include examples of podfading. I didn’t word that correctly, and I revised it to emphasize that even podcasters like you, who have a great following and an abundance of content, at times struggle to maintain your weekly publishing goals. I know you’re not podfading. I really enjoy your show.

Sorry I don’t send you more feedback. If it helps, I don’t get as many comments and feedback as I would like either. Keep up the great work. I enjoy all the informative content you gather and share.

]]> By: Charles Stricklin http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/12/15/the-roller-coaster-of-podfading/comment-page-1/#comment-136616 Charles Stricklin Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:11:57 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=2465#comment-136616 Although I was startled to see my name and podcast used as a prime example of podfading, I must admit you've adequately explained the reasons lot of podcasters quit. In my own case, I find I dread editing, and despite the rapport Jonathan and I have developed, we still have problems, missteps and outright blunders in every recording we do, and I can't simply slap the intro and outro on and publish an episode. Add to that the show notes and the editing involved there, and you have a process that takes two to three times longer than recording the episodes themselves, and I don't know if you've noticed, but we've been clocking in at 1 hour+ episodes lately. Add to that, seldom do I receive questions or comments to include in episodes, and about half of the comments left on the blog are either attempting to correct us or criticize us, and you start to see why we start to question why we do what we do. I'm considering breaking the show up into its elements: Having one show for WordPress News, one for WordPress.com users, etc. That would cut down on episode times and people could listen to only what interests them. One thing I am <strong>definitely</strong> not doing is podfading! Although I was startled to see my name and podcast used as a prime example of podfading, I must admit you’ve adequately explained the reasons lot of podcasters quit.

In my own case, I find I dread editing, and despite the rapport Jonathan and I have developed, we still have problems, missteps and outright blunders in every recording we do, and I can’t simply slap the intro and outro on and publish an episode. Add to that the show notes and the editing involved there, and you have a process that takes two to three times longer than recording the episodes themselves, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’ve been clocking in at 1 hour+ episodes lately.

Add to that, seldom do I receive questions or comments to include in episodes, and about half of the comments left on the blog are either attempting to correct us or criticize us, and you start to see why we start to question why we do what we do.

I’m considering breaking the show up into its elements: Having one show for WordPress News, one for WordPress.com users, etc. That would cut down on episode times and people could listen to only what interests them.

One thing I am definitely not doing is podfading!

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