How…to make…the best of your time…making audio fiction Now I know you’ve got that great script you want to write, or maybe you’ve even written like three episodes, but please, by all that is sacred in this creative world. Please do not just write and record as you go.
It will injure your mental health, your capacity for living properly and possibly your relationships. Trust me on this one. No matter how excited you are about releasing anything. Just. Let. Them. Wait. You’re not ready. You need to be fighting fit to be ready. And when I say ready. I mean as in prepared. Tbh we are never actually ready. Ever. There’s always something else to doooo or something else to write or promote or that transcription needs a tweaking or that social media calendar needs updating or those show notes need those links or those actors need that contract or NDA oh my. If you’re going to aim for a professional look to your public facing persona and company. Heed the following….for your own personal sanity. 1) Write it all first…that whole first season, Get it allll done before all else.Some folks say they had at least 3 in the bag before starting. I reiterate….that…is not…enough. Real life happens and things get in the way and if you somehow find yourself in a position when you lose a week and then another and you are continually playing catch up…well…it can break you. Truly. 2) Whilst you’re writing - if you like - have a browse and Decide on your podcast host, and truly research it, What. Is best, for you. And your needs? Check out some articles from The podcast host.com for starters… 3) Prep your branding - what is your show about? Check out other shows from your genre…what do they do well? Where do they figure in search engines and how and why….what are they doing that makes their show seem successful or popular or whatever word you want to use to describe what success might mean to you! 4) Prep your recording needs - casts, crew, music, artwork, social media spread, website, recording preferences and budgets.There is so much to be put on several spreadsheets if you like that sort of thing. Record your best possible best case scenario wants. Aim high. See how you go. 5) Prep your casting call, ping it out to all the right places 6) Get brilliant artwork. Don’t scrimp, This is your public facing image and it needs to be groovy AF. 7)If you have a musician pal, remind them of how much you get on and love their musical style and talent and get them to work with you from the get go. Great music can be a huge brand identifier for your show…think Amelia Project and more! 7) Can you sound design? Yes? Brilliant,have fun! No. You have options - if you have money, Employ someone to do it and pay them sensibly. Also beware …make sure you check out previous works of this person and time management skills…in my experience so far (and this is my personal experience so true so far) folks working earlier in their indie career oft take on too much and if your project is the one they push to the back, and you can’t pay them much, (or possibly because you’re not paying them much) it’s hard to chase them to get it done or for them to make it take precedence over larger paying gigs cos that’s just life and survival. Of course you could learn to do it yourself, and of course there are courses of course, so coarse through some courses and become proficient in the DAW OF YOUR CHOICE ASAP! For an affordable fee I can take you through a basic editing in audacity course…email me for deets. Omg I wrote deets,😬 8) Casting process prep. Are you ready for those auditions? Do you have somewhere to store them when they come in that won’t break your laptop? Do you have a process and spreadsheet ready to mark up as you listen and decide which voice works where and with whom? Check my spreadsheet out here for at least a starting point, and create your own one bespoke to your needs. 9) Funding. How ya gonna fund it? Well yes you can crowdfund but are people going to invest if they don’t know you or the product? It’s a gamble. One successful model seemed to be to produce a season of the show, and then crowdfund. There are other options though…arts council funding and grants are there. You just, need, to look ya lazy bollox. 10) Yes I called you that, it’s my website and I can do what i like, Things can’t always be handed to you on a plane for free like this advice! So, get savvy, do your own research and crack on. This is your starter, and there is a choice of a few, so hold on for more advice #soooonnn Beyond that. Happy prepping! And go make that audio fiction amaazinggggg! Sarahx
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I WILL BE RECORDING MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS HERE AND MISTAKES AND MINI VICTORIES OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND HOPE YOU ENJOY ALLLLL THE FUN THINGS I AM SPENDING MY PRECIOUS LIFE CREATING@ MORE SOON THANK YOU FOR VISITING! |
AuthorSarah has been a voice actor on the indie scene for 5 years now. This is her first foret into writing directing, editing and producing her own work and some winning scripts. ArchivesCategories |