#browncoatsteve

The National - “Don’t Swallow the Cap”

Julia Stone - It’s All Okay  

Ezra Furman - Every Feeling

The Horrors - Still Life

Circa Waves - Sad Happy 

Okay first of all: OW

Second of all: this is beautiful and lovely and I love it so, so much. Let the boy be happy, dammit.

(An ask I deleted by accident TT_TT I’m sorry!)

Hello @browncoatsteve 😀

Wow, 700k is such an incredible goal!

Since it is a series, how long is the first installment? I’d start from there, celebrating each finished story separately.

That way if you ever find yourself in a situation you can’t or don’t want to continue, it is perfectly fine; the fandom will be a lot richer due to your work!

Before you start (after you got the author’s permission of course😎) find a place you can record under mostly the same conditions every time (a closet, a recording room, a portable speaker booth, whatever). Make sure you have enough room to move a little (like hand gestures, sitting down or standing up). Are you happy with your microphone?

Then there is the story itself. Since nobody reads a 700k series once and goes “Yeah, I want to spend like 800 hours to produce an 80 hours podfic because it is kinda good” I’m sure you are familiar with it. But there is a huge difference between reading silently and reading aloud.

I once recorded a lovely fic I’d read several times. The humor and characters were great but upon recording, I realized I had to fight with almost every other paragraph; I finished but I’m not really happy with how it turned out. Since then I always do several test recordings of different scenes to make sure the writing “fits into my mouth”.

I recommend warming up your voice, keep uncarbonated water handy, and stop before your voice suffers. The voice is a muscle and gets stronger and more durable over time.

How long can you read before you notice a drop in concentration/quality? For most of us habitual podficcers a session over 90 minutes is too much.

I prefer ending a session at the end of a chapter because it is less noticeable when the next one starts with a slight change in voice.

As for editing: I usually edit between sessions but don’t start posting before I recorded the last chapter. This is kinda an insurance for myself to really finish a fic, even if the response to it is tiny or non-existent: I can edit without enthusiasm but not record. Other people like to record, edit and post a chapter as soon as it is done; that’s fine too. You’ll find what works best for you😊

Soooo… what a wall of text😅 Anyway, apart from the above you’re always welcome to ask any questions: send them to my inbox, ask the author (e.g. for additional character thoughts in key scenes -> if they are willing) or under the Podfic tag here on Tumblr.

The podficcer community also enjoys posts about how you are doing and what “adventures in podficcing” you encountered😄

Thanks! How’s this?

‘...forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation...’

Foggy closes his eyes, swallowing down the anger clawing at his throat while hoping it also pushes down the terror that clings to his every nerve. 

It doesn’t, but he can hope.

‘...but deliver us from evil,’ Matt screams, his hands raised in shaking fists as he stares at a point above him. ‘Amen.’

‘Matt, please,’ Foggy whispers, moving his hands from Matt’s forehead to hold his friend’s shoulders. ‘I’m here, you’re okay.’

Matt tilts his head and it rolls a bit on the sofa he’s lying on. ‘Foggy? Foggy you have to run, Foggy He’s here.’ 

The terror on Matt’s face strikes Foggy like a knife to the chest. ‘There’s no one here Matt. It’s just us.’

For a second Foggy thinks he’s gotten through and the relief makes him feel like he is flying. But then Matt shakes his head and goes back to staring - as much as his unfocused eyes can - at a point above his head. 

‘I can see him,’ Matt says, trying to punch thin air with blows too weak to get more than an inch from his body. ‘Our Father who art in heaven...’

And blowing his head, his friend’s desperate prayer in his ears, Foggy does the only thing he can until Claire arrives.

crazymaryt replied to your post “I’m really annoyed right now. My daughter barely ever has friends over...”

I had a friend do something similar once when I invited her over to watch a season premiere. I was all excited about it. Thought we'd gab about it that whole time. Nope. She was on texting someone the entire time. And we were in our 30's. People sure can suck. Hugs to your daughter. I hope your game time showed her how much she is valued.

That is even worse! An adult shouldn’t be so rude when they are a guest at someone else’s home. People do suck. Plus season premieres and finales should be top priority and definitely gabbed about extensively. 

browncoatsteve replied to your post “twelvesonic replied to your post “I’m really annoyed right now. My...”

Mom comedy is great. Shows you're engaged and generally awesome. :] Also, might this be a chance to chat with daughter's friend's mom about 'hey maybe next time she shouldn't do this' or would that feel too much like lecturing another parent on their parenting skills? I guess it depends on whether you have a relationship with that parent, but I think there's gotta be a tactful/gentle way to bring it up...

I don’t know her parents all that well. If a natural opening presented itself I’d probably say something. I don’t think I’m going to force the issue though.

onceuponapost reblogged your post and added:

I mean, I don’t know your kid or the friend, but...

I considered that possibility but she isn’t exactly that shy when talking to me or using questionable language and such so I’m not sure she’s uncomfortable here. Plus I make an effort to be invisible and not make things weird for them. I generally try to stay out of their way and mind my own business unless they need ideas on what to do...or food. 

fiftysevenacademics replied to your post “twelvesonic replied to your post “I’m really annoyed right now. My...”

I mean, I hope that didn't sound cruel just that girl is not a good friend and I hope she gives her up and finds a friend she really clicks with.

@fiftysevenacademics replied to your post “I’m really annoyed right now. My daughter barely ever has friends over...”

Well, maybe this will be the wakeup call that prompts her to get better friends.