Podfic

[ratherastory]

Dear flist,

I have been in fandom just long enough to have heard of podfic but never to have listened to any. I'm not sure why the prospect worries me, but there are also technical considerations (such as I don't actually have an MP3 player on which to listen to it, and I can't see myself just sitting in front of my computer listening to a podfic when I could just as easily read it myself).

So, what's the deal with podfic? Why is it a good thing? Why do you like it? (Alternately, if you're not a fan, why is that? What fails to turn your crank about podfic?) What do you look for in your podfic? What makes you run screaming for the hills?

Is there the equivalent of BNFs for podfic? What's the protocol with recording someone else's fiction? Do people record their own work, or is that considered super-extra tacky?

How does it work for longer fiction? I would imagine that reading for six hours straight is right out for the vast majority of people, so do they get recorded as multiple tracks? So how does that work?

Anyway, this post is a bit disjointed, but I hope you get the gist.

Inquiring minds want to know! :)

Comments

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

Hi, I've friended you, since from what I've read, I really like your stuff.

Thought I'd comment here to say hi and because podfic is something I've come to love. What's weird is that I've never enjoyed listening to books in audio format, but a little over a year ago I got hooked on podfic. Here's a rec post I made last month. It mentions fics from approx. 30 minutes to six hours in length.

I love podfic because it makes long, solitary car trips more fun, and if I sing for three hours straight I get hoarse. I also enjoy hearing stories told by people from all over the world:England, Germany, Australia, etc. It can also change how you experience the story. I read, and was mildly amused by fleshflutter's story The Incestuous Courtship of the Anti-Christ's Bride, but when I listened to FayJay's reading of the story, I was actually laughing out loud in places. (Drunken!Sam comparing Dean to a "really badass flower" will never be not funny.)

I would be happy to recommend podfic to you, depending on your preferences of length and rating. Just let me know!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

You people are making me want to buy a proper MP3 player so I can listen to podfic. Egads.

Fandom will have corrupted me more in five months than all the rest of my life. ;)

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

I have a little 2GB player that's plenty big for just podfic, and it wasn't very expensive.

Also, I know what you mean about being corrupted. I keep meaning to write up a post called "Lines Crossed" because I keep finding them and crossing them thanks to fandom. But it's so much fun I just don't care.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Dear God, yes.

First line I crossed? Reading fanfic. Second line I crossed? Writing fanfic. That was within about 24 hours.

Third line was Wincest. Fourth line was RPS.

Yesterday I caught myself reading an actual tentacle porn fic. I have NO idea how that happened.

Holy crap.

Like you said, though: FUN!

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

Despite 3 years of reading fanfic, I'm still not writing. But, I just posted my first podfic...and I have a massive list of stories I'd like to record. I have been assimilated.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

Fandom is totally like the Borg!

[pandarus.livejournal.com]

Ah, my friend, wait until you find yourself WRITING tentacle porn. That is the point at which you fling your head back, laugh like a mad scientist, and accept the fact that fandom has broken you irreparably.

Er. Not that I know that first hand, obviously.

::looks shifty::

Anyway, yes - I do hope you don't mind me chipping in like this, but I have to agree that podfic is just a splendid splendid thing. I've never been interested in audiobooks in the past, although I'm a voracious reader, and I'm not even sure how I first happened across podfic, but I DO know that it was a transformational experience for me. Being able to 'read' fanfic WHILE SHOPPING! While walking to work! While in the gym! Having a filthy little smile twisting the corner of your mouth because, while the outward picture of respectability, you're listening to a fellow fan from somewhere else in the world whispering a fabulous story into your ear - So. Much. Awesome. I started out listening to lots of Zabira's 'Due South' stories, and to the fabulous SGA multivoice extravaganza 'Written By The Victors', and found myself wanting to just go and HUG all these total strangers whose voices I could hear.

Hope you find some stories to tickle your fancy!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I just had a bunch of podfic recc'd to me, so I'll see if I can get to some of that this week.

I'm looking forward to listening. :)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I have NO idea what I'd like. I have really eclectic tastes when it comes to fic.

I suppose starting with shorter stuff is a good plan, since I have no idea whether I'll like it.

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

I'll get on it! Just SPN or would you be interested in some short things from other fandoms? I'll look at my list when I get home tonight and get back to you tomorrow!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I think SPN for now. I'm so thoroughly obsessed with it that I don't think I could get into the right mindset for anything else.

Thank you!

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

Ok, SPN it is! I didn't see my first ep of Supernatural until this time last year or I'd probably have the same singular focus. As it is, I'm polyfannish. I'll get a list of short-ish SPN podfics together and get back to you tomorrow...

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Uh, yeah. It's almost embarrassing. I started watching SPN in October, then mainlined all the seasons by mid-November, and I developed a seriously unhealthy fascination and have rewatched it four times since. It's sad, but I don't care.

*bounces excitedly*

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

Hey, I got that list together. Would you be willing to PM me with your email address? I'd hate to post this much verbiage in the comments.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Sure thing!

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

OK, it should be there.

[pandarus.livejournal.com]

::beams::

Yay! Go Team Me!

(er...sorry, didn't mean to stumble into your LJ like this, ratherastory, but I typed 'fleshflutter' into the newfangled search boxy thing and instead of taking me to her lj it gave me a list of references to her - including my own name! And despite the fact that curiosity apparently slew the cat, I was intrigued & came along to read.)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Hi there!

Sorry I'm late replying to comments this weekend: I am converting three friends to the joys of Supernatural. :)

Welcome aboard! I'm just getting started in fandom myself.