Hi everybody!

In case you hadn't noticed, it's been two months since the last podcast was posted. For three weeks I was feeling out my new hours, and have determined now that I will regularly be working 48 or more hours a week. With these new hours, Jay and I are unable to get together to record for the show.

So here's the deal. I need help.
1) We need more cohosts.
2) We need people able to edit using Audacity.
3) We need guest ideas and people to read their books to help create questions.

I don't know if Jay is willing to lead shows with another cohost on his schedule. If we did that, I'd like to train someone or recruit someone to edit the audio. I can do it for now, but I'd like to pass it on. Audio editing takes at least as long as the show is to edit. It's essentially cut and paste, and the zooming tool makes that really simple.

I'm trying to consolidate my podcasting into one show, and I'd rather that be a General Market audience so I can reach more people. I'm also not reading much CBA fiction right now because I'm trying to study the craft of the best writers out there. I have plans to start a podcast with Bryan Thomas Schmidt, author of The Worker Prince, and person behind #sffwrtcht on Twitter. He has a big audience through that and can get some big names to interview. This would replace my AudioTim podcast.

There are Splashdown Books and Marcher Lord Press authors that I would like to interview, but they are not on my short list of books to read. So, instead of letting this show go for a while without any new content, I'm asking for your help.

I've got some plans for podcasts with Chila Woychik and Diminished Media Group, but I don't know if I need to do that by myself, or if someone wants to volunteer to join the conversation. Chila's interview will harp on her vocal opinions on controversial topics for Christian readers and writers. The Diminished Media Group is a new Christian Spec Fic publisher that published Digital Dragon Magazine. Bryan Thomas Schmidt is their first published novelist and Becky Minor is their next (we'll be interviewing her this month).

Sorry, got to go, but this is the update for now. Let me know if you have any questions.

Okay, so I love the podcast! I've been meaning to ask you about it, Tim, actually. But life is crazy, you know that.

I actually have Audacity. I have tinkered a tiny bit with it, so I at least have a very basic understanding of it.

While my initial response is to say I'd like to help co-host and I can do editing needs, I am going to pace myself. I'd like to pray about getting involved, talk to my parents (who are good at grounding me) and seriously consider this.

Would you mind sending me a basic list, when you have the time, of what the responsibilities would be, and what would be expected of me, if I did this?

That would be great, Air. Really, I need help so that I'm not doing everything. I have time when there are interviews and books that interest me, but when there aren't, I'd like some help producing content. Is there a weeknight around 7pm CST that you could record with me? I'd like to do Chila's sometime soon so that we don't get too far from our last episode.

The two key things we need is another co-host and an audio editor. The co-host needs to be in Tim's time zone or close to it, so it's easier for them to coordinate schedules. The idea would be that there would be two co-hosts per podcast, with either Tim and I, Tim and the other person, or I and and the other person hosting. This would provide more flexibility for all of us, and help us get the podcasts out with more frequency.

We believe it's important for at least one of the hosts to have some prior dealings with the person we're interviewing, either by reading one of their books or being friends with them or whatever. So someone who's good at reading fast is helpful (* teases Tim about his reading speed *).

I know very little about the podcasts, actually, but I think I'm in the time zone, and I have professional audio editing software (Cubase4). How much of a time commitment would you estimate this would be?

I'm in EST (now EDT) and I'd like to say that I can co-host, but I'll be moving away at the end of the year and I'd only hit a couple of podcasts before then. It would probably not be a good idea to get a co-host on there only to have him leave after 2 episodes...

Right. Well put.


Yes, and part of the reason why I need help. In figuring out my current schedule of podcasts for October, I've got three novellas and a novel to read. None of those are research for my wip, or Podcasting for Dummies, which is in the mail. Lots of reading...



We can teach you. For podcasts on writing, check out Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing, Writing Excuses, and Get Published. Those are clean podcasts and are all excellent models. I don't have professional software yet, so maybe you could teach me something I use Audacity. The time commitment is whatever you're willing to do to help out. I record skype using Call Graph, but I'm not sure how to send the file for you to audio edit. We usually do hour long episodes, and it takes at least 1.5 hours to edit, depending on quality of enunciation of guests. The more time you have to help the better, but that's up to you.



Well, that's fine. The original idea of the show was to get multiple HW guests on. I'm sorry I haven't done that. I kind of have, but not as I envisioned. For example, we need to get Phily on to talk about her new release, Red Rain, and I'm sure there are other people we should be promoting.

I think I could be a co-host. But I still want to have a chat with my family. And I'm a speed reader. I just have to get my hands on the book.

Grace (Aniese) is an amazing audio editor, by the way, Tim. I can vouch for her. She would be waaaay better at it than me.

* chuckles * Yeah that's the other thing. If you're a cohost, you get free books.

For the editing, Tim, you just need to get it into Audacity and then export it in a lossless format to send it to the editor.

Yes, well, we haven't received any free print books, only pdfs, but in time that could happen.

What do you mean lossless format?

I just wanted to pop in and say I hope you can get the podcast up and running again; I've really enjoyed it so far.

As far as helping out, I can't be a regular co-host, but Griffin and I would be willing to come on as guests hosts, if you were at a loss for a co-host one month. We can't do it regularly, though, because of school and swim. We would have to talk to our parents about it, too.

It doesn't sound like the editing would be too incredibly time-intensive. I'd be glad to help out at least some.

That's great! Any guest co-hosts are appreciated. That keeps things fresh. Any editing you can do, Aniese, is great too!

I'm having trouble letting go, honestly. I feel like I need to be part of every episode, and have my hands on the editing. This is causing the show to be sparse, and needs corrected, so thanks everyone for offering your help. This is also affecting my delay on Phily's interview. I was a beta reader, and feel obligated to reread Red Rain before interviewing her, but I just don't have time this month. If you guys want to interview her and can do so from a reader's perspective, I'll consider letting you do it without me. That should be the priority project at this point.

I should be getting her book in soon. I can read it in probably 3 hours.

makes me sick. I mean, wow, I'm so thankful you can do that

* chuckles * You know we're only needling, Tim.

I mean don't save it in a way that makes it lose information or quality, so the editor can make those decisions and work with the raw data.

N-o... I was serious. I could finish the book in three hours. It's not that big a book.

But I make my Daddy sick, too. My mom made me take a speed reading test and comprehensibility test when I was younger. I ranked pretty high. That's the only reason I'm able to keep up around here. *shrugs *

*feels bad for Tim *

I'm doomed, apparently...

You don't read fast?

We will interview you, and you will LIKE it!

Oh! *just got Philli's comment, thanks to Grace *

Maybe I should go sleep.....

Yeah, what Grace said. Though, actually, I do read INCREDIBLY slow. It can take me long enough to read one page of instructions that certain family members will comment.

I'm supremely slow at reading...but we've gotten sort of off-topic. >:( No further derailment! >:(

Man, I wish I would have already read Philli's book. I'm gonna be free all day Saturday.

So, let's try and schedule an interview with Phily. Phily, when are you available? Ani, are you able to edit the audio? Can people come up with questions?

My schedule is unsure at the moment, in my usual schedule I'd have time to help out some. When would this be?

Well, my schedule is driving me crazy, so I don't have time for this any time soon. If this doesn't happen soon, it doesn't happen. That's fine. The more I think about this podcast, the more I see myself wanting to hand it off. I only have time to do one podcast a month; splitting my efforts to two podcasts means neither are done conistently enough to gain momentum. I will help train, but right now I don't have time to run this show.

If y'all are serious about this, I need to ask my parents for permission. I've never done anything with voice that will be public, so I need their go-ahead. I'll also need someone to help me test the quality of my netbook mic via Skype. It's the only microphone I have, and while I think it will work (I got a decent piano recording with it), we'll want to test.

Schedule-wise I can usually be pretty flexible, though I'm going to be a bit busy over the weekend with the library used book sale.

I can test with you sometime, if you want.

I thought you might be able to help with that.

I am moving this to the Projects room, so we stop creating alerts in the Announcements room. If you need further recruiting done let me know and we can scheme about it.

Okay folks, I was contacted by the Publicity Coordinator for Amanda Davis (Bryan Davis's daughter), and was asked if I wanted to do an interview with Amanda, as her book is coming out tomorrow. Of course, I responded with my eagerness to comply, and said I'd get with my podcast team to see when would work.

Problem is... Tim won't be able to do it most likely. At least that's what I'm guessing, although I'm hoping he'll be able to weigh in here on that. In any case, we might need another co-host and someone to edit. I don't want to miss this opportunity.

If editing needs to be done this coming week, I wouldn't be able to do it. If it's the next week, I probably could.

I don't have the time to actually help with this, but I cannot sit here and say nothing so I'm going to throw out some names and make it ya'll's job to hunt the people down and rope them in. Sometimes volunteers have to be persuaded.

Luke the Mindweilder has already met Bryan and Amanda Davis, so I think that that would give him a very good platform from which to co-host. Someone should talk to him about it. Failing that, ask Brendan. Brendan's good at this. (I don't know how I know that... just go with it.)

For audio editors we need to just come up with a list of people who we know have the software and start asking them. Seer might be able to do it. RedWing might be able to do it. Um... I'm not sure about Evening, she's really busy, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

You can't miss this opportunity. Don't put off getting back to them. Start calling people out, tell them it's a one time thing and pretty please will you do me a favor, give them the whole patriotic HW speech, etc.

Also, a few months ago I got two recruits who's specific job is promoting the HW Podcast... Svensteel and his brother Aeleknight. PM them, drag them in here, tell them what you want, and then send them to get it. They might not be able to actually fill any of these positions, but they can find the people to fill them for you, I'm fairly sure.

That should be enough to get you started, yeah?

Now that's why we have you around... You're good at this kind of thing.

I've already emailed back and forth with them a bit, so what they're waiting for is dates. Of course we need people before we can get dates. So. I'm too busy to get people (Josiah's 13th birthday and all). Can someone drag Svensteel and Aeleknight into here for me?

I'll bob them a PM, Jay.

Thanks!

The boys are in school. It wouldn't hurt to send them a pm, but the likelihood is they can't really help. That's why they aren't on HW. They participate in the summer when their schedule isn't as crazy.

I think Andi can handle the editing on this one by herself. She's very good and knows what she is doing.

I'm available, if needed.

The other people who can help are Elly and Bethany. I didn't realize that's why they hadn't been around, I was just going to mention them first because I remembered their enthusiasm.

Andi said she couldn't do it if it was this week, Airi. Granted, we could do the podcast right away and then hold off on releasing it until she can get to the editing, but it doesn't hurt to shop around and find out who else we can drag in.

Oh, oh, oh! Dalet is Scott Hansen, and he can probably help with audio editing! Another person to bug.

Umm... I'm sorry, which Bethany?

We have three Bethany's, to count. Lady Alina Bethany, Katie's sister Bethany (she doesn't have an account on HWF I don't think though....), and me Bethany...

When are you wanting to do this, Jay?

Yep yep, I can handle it by myself as long as it's after the twenty-third. If not, then yeah, you'd better find somebody else this time around.

Thanks, Airi.

You, Bethany. You can help hunt people down for us.

Ah, right. Well, if you need me to poke somebody or something; I'm at your service. But otherwise...I don't think I have anyone I can suggest as Katie's already pretty much listed everyone.

I think after the 23rd would work best for me... like on the 27th (Thursday) in the evening.

Has anyone been able to get ahold of Tim?

Okay, if it's going to be that late, then I think I can commit to some editing at least for this time. And depending on how long it takes me I could do more in the future.

I'm definitely willing to help.

I am unable to help with this as I have my own episodes to record and publish in the near future. I don't want to dump this show on you folks without some kind of transitional training, so let me know what you need from me. I suppose you'll need the intro and out music. If you have any other questions let me know. I use Call Graph to record from Skype and it's really easy.

I'm not saying I'm finished with this show, just that I don't have any room to record interviews for it in the near future. Since I don't see many of the books I read being CBA, I don't see myself as the right host any more - not if you want regular content, and you do. On top of the schedule clash between Jay and I, I've also limited my reading to what is most helpful for researching my book and what I like to read. Books and authors geared towards the CBA market is not what I'm looking for right now. Because of that, this podcast does not currently help me reach my goals of becoming a published author. We'll see what happens in the future, but I need you guys to be able to function without me. Any input I can give after I help the transition of "power" should be purely bonus.

Is there anything I can help with?

The fact that Amanda Davis's publicity coordinator knows we even exist is pretty cool, by the way.

Yeah, that's pretty cool.

In the next episode, I'd like to have an audio clip to explain, or maybe even just make a post that explains sort of why the hiatus and that more holyworlders are going to participate to help take the load off my shoulders.