This story previously appeared in the Shimmer pirate issue, edited by John Joseph Adams.

I’m sorry things have been so quiet around here lately. I just don’t have much to say right now.  Soon though.

This week’s Sofanauts features Tony C. Smith (the Sherlock to my Moriarty),  Matthew Sanborn Smith (the hairy mango to my kumquat), and myself (the toad to my wet sprocket).   We wish Joe Haldeman well, discuss the ridiculousness that was the Highlander franchise, learn that Tony doesn’t know who Ralph Nader is, and I temporarily put Ray Bradbury in the same category as Shakespeare.

Then we have some of my fiction over at the fantastically weird Drabblecast.  Norm has produced one of my earliest stories,  “Storm Comes A’Callin,” and turned out a piece with music and singing that only he could do in the genre podcasting world. If you like the blues or thunderstorms, this is the podcast for you.  Or if you just like absolutely amazing podcast production.  Seriously, you have got to listen to this.

In other news, the job in Vermont didn’t work out, so I continue my quest to be the most badass genre-related web designer I can. By night, writing up a storm of short stories, and feeling like I’m really starting to get it.  I’m also taking serious steps towards getting involved in writing for video games, after several years of thinking about it and never bothering to learn a thing about how the field works.

Finally, fall is hitting, which means the elk rut is upon us.  I’m thinking a 4 AM drive to Estes Park on Monday is called for, camera gear at the ready.  I haven’t put my new camera bag to a field test yet.  Bull elk beating the crap out of one another should do nicely.  If all goes well, expect to see some fantastic photos next week.

I hope to write up a post about the amazing time I had at the Austin Game Writers Summit when I have had a better chance to digest the experience.  I’m dipping down into that post-con  low today.  It’s hard to go from being super-social and hanging out with amazing people to being back at your computer alone with nobody but your cats for company (Sarah’s putting on a show, which I get to go see tomorrow).

I’ll be turning around and flying out to Vermont on Monday to meet the fine folks at Chelsea Green, a publishing company that specializes in books on sustainability and green living.  It’ll be a whirlwind trip of meetings and driving in a place where I have never been.   I’m less anxious about the job interview than I am about the driving in Boston.

So what did I miss this week?  Anything cool happen with you folks?

I just glanced through the comments on last week. It’s the usual mix of complimentary and less than complimentary. One particular bit that would normally upset me but has only left me amused is “dull.” It finally sinks in for once that it’s just one (or maybe a couple) people’s opinions. The editor didn’t think it was dull, and that’s pretty much all I care now! Financial necessity really hardens you to public opinion.

The trifecta also includes two other good stories:

Aqua Vita by Stephanie Campisi
Jake and the Carpet Sharks by Michelle Howarth

Thoughts on what kinds of stories translate well to podcasts and what kinds don’t?

First of all, full disclaimer. I am the managing editor at Escape Pod, the science fiction audio podcast. I’ve been doing this job for about 3 or 4 months now, and I am by no means an expert on to topic. I can only comment as to my personal tastes here. I reserve the right to change my opinion as I learn more about my job and what seems to work.

I can talk much more easily about what does not work well in podcasts. Here are a few things:

• Typographic weirdness, of the sort you would see in The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
• Fiction that plays with formatting in some way–fake news report, branching dialogue, and so on. This would be great if we produced audio dramas, but Escape Pod approaches production in a very straighforward narrative fashion. I’d love to do more radio-drama style readings, and we have one coming up that was recorded live by Steve Eley at a convention. But the production that goes into a regular episode is difficult enough.
• Stories that have a lot of very short scenes and lots of jumping around in time.

The last one is the one I’m least certain about, but I find that stories that go back and forth in time can be a bit more confusing in audio format. On the page, it seems easier to organize the events into a chronological order, but when listening to a story, it is harder to do this. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s definitely something I pay attention to.

Okay, so what works particularly well? Here are some general ideas:

• A strong, unique perspective or voice. It’s my experience that some of the most popular EP episodes have been from a very unique character, such as a bomb dog or the AI that resides in a soldier’s helmet. These stories are often in first person perspective. That’s not to say that I find first person better than third person. First person coupled with a really unique and orginal voice stands out very well. Like it does in regular fiction.
• All the other, usual things that make a story good.

Other than the few things I think don’t work that are specific to the audio format, I use basically the same criteria for selecting a story in audio that I would for selecting in print. I have some restrictions unique to Escape Pod, such as length. I can’t tell you how many times I remember what I think would be a great story fo rthe podcast, only to look it up and find out that it was a novella. It’s something I’d like to see us do more of in the future, but I’d want to pay more for them and possibly serialize them over the course of two or more episodes. It’s something I think about a little when I have time.

If you listen to podcast fiction, what do you think? What kinds of stories really work well for you in audio? Try to focus on the things you think work particularly well, and cite specific examples if you like. This will make up for my rather underdeveloped list. If you have something critical to say about a particular podcast story, share it on the forums over at the ‘cast or send it to our feedback email, as a favor to me, please.

I suppose it’s about time I get some new work out there, eh?

This is my take on what if the Star Trek Federation were actually capitalist bastards.  With a little AI lolcat humor mixed in here and there.    Take a listen.

• Do you listen to podcasts? If so, which ones?  (If no, please do say so, and you can ignore the rest of the questions.)
• How do you listen to them?  At your computer, in the car, while jogging, etc?
• Do you just subscribe in iTunes or another podcatcher and forget, or do you read the websites associated with them too?
• What kinds of products advertised in a podcast via sponsorships would you actually find interesting?
• What are the traits of a good podcast episode in your opinion?

I’m just trying to understand how people inteact with podcasts a little more.  I have my own pre-formed theories, but they’re not based on anyone’s reality except my own.  Ostensibly, answers to these questions will help me make Escape Pod an even better podcast than it already is.

By they way, let me just say, we’re a paying market, but we can’t pay without the support of our listeners.  If you regularly listen to Escape Pod and enjoy its content, please consider making a donation via PayPal.  Much like NPR, we’re funded by the listeners.

And of course, if you’re a writer, I want to see your stories.  Read our submission guidelines and send your work along!

This week, I purchased stories by:  Kameron Hurley, Merrie Fuller, Ian Creasey, David Rivera, Ian McHugh, Tina Connolly, and more.  As an editor, I don’t have any agenda other than to find stories that I think are good that will also make good audio productions.   I think we have some great stories coming up for the listeners.  I hope they and you will agree.

I don’t know what it is about being on podcasts that turns me into a raving lunatic, but this week, I spend time explaining why WALL-E is darker than the Dark Knight, why I think the Singularity as a futuristic concept is laughable, and to stick a fork in my career once and for all, I disrespect the science fiction saint Robert Heinlein.

So, if you enjoy listening to me make an utter fool of myself in a relatively entertaining fashion, go take a listen.

The Sofanauts » The Sofanauts No 3.