Podcast Novels: Yet Another Route To An Audience

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Ever heard of Podcast Novels? I’ve only had a brief brush with them — and was pleased for another exposure when a “tweet” led me to Steve Saylor and his New Media site.

Steve is a Canadian college student, studying Broadcasting. I’m guessing that he’s not yet tied down to a paying 9-5 job and is free to experiment. Steve says that he “loves coming up with new and creative ways of producing content for Online and Offline use.” His site offers up some of his creations, including his Podcast Novels.

While the novels are apparently not paying the rent, it’s clear that Steve is enjoying other benefits. He’s building a network in his field and establishing a reputation. Not a bad pay-off for someone who will be entering the job market one of these days.

Maybe a short podcast novel will pour out of you. It is, indeed, another way to build audience and identity. I can think immediately of several ways that such a tactic can add to a writer’s growing, successful career.

Steve’s website threw out a new thread for me to follow, one I’ve seen mentioned, but which I’ve never specifically explored before: New Media. As it turns out, I’ve actually been playing around with New Media, mostly as a consumer. I turn to online TV and video frequently. And I occasionally listen to podcasts as well.

To underscore just how BIG the new media are, take at look at the website for the BlogWorld & New Media Expo, scheduled for next October in Las Vegas. I suddenly remember that I had thought about attending the BlogWorld event last year — and now that BlogWorld and New Media Expo have joined forces, I’ve just put it on my tentative schedule for this year.

For me, things are coming full circle. Way back in the 1970′s, I was hooked by the “multi-media” revolution. In those ancient times, this phenomenon involved very elaborate multi-projector slide shows, all the rage at conventions, trade shows, world fairs and major product launchings. In 1971, I even won the George Brakeley Award for Innovation in Fund Raising for what apparently was the first multi-media show created to promote a major fund raising campaign in behalf of an educational institution.

That award changed my career. I soon set up the free-lance AV production company SOUNDCEPT, named after my iconoclastic axiom that audio was the most important ingredient in a slide show. My production concept earned quite a number of awards, which eventually earned me a position in charge of Media Relations at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, where I’ve lived since 1986.

I still have a how-to audio tape I produced in 1980 about how to write an audio-visual script. I’ve often thought about posting it via the blog, as the principles explored are still valid today. It was, in a sense, my own “podcast” before such a thing ever existed. Maybe I’ll get around to making it available.

In the meantime, go take a look at the online Blogger & Podcaster magazine for “aspiring New Media Titans,” which I uncovered in the process of writing this article. This magazine comes in three editions: podcast and digital e-zine, both free, along with an expensive print edition as well. I’m personally very excited about this discovery.

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Comment by
Steve "Snowball" Saylor
8 Jan 2009

Mr. Colvin, I wanted to thank you for including me as part of this article. This is the thing that I love about New Media and the Internet is that exactly how you mentioned one “tweet” sent you into the world of New Media, this is the same reason why I love doing the things I do online. It's those little connections, that seem inconspicuous at first, but then introduce you to a whole world that you may or may not have known existed, and I am glad that I helped open that up to you.

You are correct in saying that my writing does not pay the bills, that will come with time. Patience is the key virtue in this new media space, and I will hold true to that. If you do not have the passion for what you do, and the patience to see it through, your goals can't be met. So with these projects, I am patient enough that if the time comes and I can be financially blessed for what I do, then I am glad for it. But if I am able to usher in people to this New Media world, even with only a few people, it's all worthwhile.

Thank you again for this. You have just made my day, wait no, week, oh what the hey you made the beginning of 2009 awesome!

Thank you. If there is anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask.

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

Comment by
tomcolvin
8 Jan 2009

Steve, what a nice comment. You certainly fill in the other side of the
ledger in our chance meetup in the New Media world. It is remarkable, isn't
it?

In fact, it's astonishing that you learned about my post almost instantly!
I guess you must be using Google Alerts, or something similar, as well –
another amazing tool for connectivity. Decades ago I once subscribed to a
news clipping service — about $50 a month back in the early 80's, and a
yield of boxes of paper newsclips that eventually got thrown away. Digital
clips sure are easier to handle and manage.

Comment by
Steve
8 Jan 2009

Haha, yes I did use Google Alerts. It definitely comes in handy. But I actually do remember news clipping services to a certain degree. I learned about them in school and had to use them for creating news stories. They still exist actually, but just now it's distributed online. However, I agree Digital clips are easier to handle.

Thanks again!

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

Comment by
Daniel Johnson, Jr.
8 Jan 2009

Hi Tom,

Saw that you found a picture from a New Media Cincinnati meetup we had last year. A good point to add to your discussion is that meeting up with others face-to-face is very helpful in enhancing the connections we make online.

Happy New Year!

Comment by
tomcolvin
8 Jan 2009

Daniel, thanks for the additional information about the photo and the meet
up. My photo source, Zamantha, indicated that the photo was available to
use, but did not explain its background. You make a valuable additional
point about the “meet ups” that new media facilitate. I'm beginning to see
more and more “tweet ups” among Twitter users who attend conferences.

Comment by
tomcolvin
8 Jan 2009

Steve, aha! More endorsement of the power of Google Alerts. Thanks for
confirming my suspicion.

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How would you do this? : The NMP Network
12 Jan 2009

[...] Podcast Novels: Yet Another Route To An Audience [...]

Comment by
Audio Shows
28 Jan 2009

Scott Sigler is another author who has really pumped up his career by releasing Podnovels of his work, and even releasing work by free PDF. Oddly, people still buy the book.

It is, admittedly, a bit of a paradox that you can make a living by giving things away, but I believe it's part of the emerging model in almost any media.

Comment by
tomcolvin
29 Jan 2009

Podfinder, you are EXACTLY RIGHT. We need to give in order to receive.
Developing the right giveaway strategy for one's work is, of course, not so
easy.

Thanks for the reference to Scott Sigler. I'll check him out.

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