This is Podcasting where I'm on a quest to conquer the podcasting realm, and I'm bringing
you along for the journey to help you achieve your own podcasting success.
What's going on and welcome back to Podcasting.
It's been a while since my last episode, and I'm excited to be here again with you today,
and we're diving into something that has taken a lot of my energy lately, and that is Fiction
Podcast.
But first, let me catch you up to where I've been, so since my last episode I've been busy
between a new job, the holidays, and focusing on my other podcasts.
So I've had to take a step back from podcasting.
Now one of the projects I've been working on is a fiction podcast originally called
Jack's Chronicles.
It has since evolved into the Jack Moore Chronicles, and later in the episode I will share why
I made that title change.
So first, let's dive into a little background into fiction podcasts.
So fiction podcasts or audio dramas are not a new concept.
They've been around for a long time, dating back to the golden age of radio.
Thanks to the rise of podcasting, audio dramas are experiencing a major comeback.
Shows like Welcome to the Night Veil and the Magnus Archives have garnered a massive following,
bringing new attention to the genre.
Fiction podcasts may feel like a new trend, but they have deep roots in the history of
audio storytelling.
Before podcasts ever existed, radio dramas were the original form of serialized audio
entertainment, with shows like The War of the Worlds and The Shadow.
Over time, the popularity of radio dramas waned as television became the dominant medium
for entertainment.
However, the storytelling techniques and creative spirit of those early audio dramas never
truly disappeared.
Instead, they found a new home with the advent of audiobooks.
Audiobooks surged in popularity thanks to advancements in recording technology and the
convenience of listening on the go.
Classic novels and contemporary bestsellers were suddenly more accessible to busy readers,
leading to an audiobook boom that continues to this day.
Platforms like Audible have helped bring storytelling into people's daily routines,
whether during a commute, workout, or while cooking dinner.
Enter the era of podcasts.
With the rise of podcasting in the mid-2000s, fiction audio dramas began to make a significant
comeback.
What's particularly fascinating is that fiction podcasts are evolving as an art form.
They're no longer just stories with sound effects.
They're experiments in storytelling.
This historical evolution is what inspired me to explore the world of fiction podcasting.
Knowing the rich legacy of audio storytelling made me want to take on the challenge of creating
something uniquely my own.
And that's exactly what I'll dive into for the rest of this episode.
Now if you've listened to past episodes of podcasting, you know I've discussed the overall
growth of the podcasting genre before.
If you're interested in learning more about that, I recommend checking out those episodes
and doing some research, particularly look into Edison Research.
I always recommend them on this podcast for more podcast research and statistics.
According to their latest studies, fiction podcasts have seen an increase in listenership
over the past few years, with no signs of slowing down.
So what's driving this growth?
One reason is that listeners are creating more immersive and creative content.
Fiction podcasts offer escapism and a way to experience stories in a deeply personal
way.
Through the use of sound effects, voice acting, and layered storytelling.
My fiction podcast journey began almost by accident.
I started writing just for fun and the first episode was born.
I didn't initially plan on creating a full-fledged fiction podcast, but once I uploaded the first
chapter I realized how much I enjoyed the process.
At first it was just an experiment, a way to scratch that creative itch if you will,
but as I continued writing I found myself getting more invested in the characters and
the world I was building.
I'm sure if you're a writer you can relate to the filling of a story taking on its own
life.
One unique aspect of my podcast is the way I'm approaching storytelling.
I write one chapter at a time and only move on to the next chapter after I release the
current one.
This makes the story feel more improvised and I love not knowing what will happen next
along with the listener.
I'm also considering ways to involve listeners in the storytelling process.
If you have any suggestions let me know.
Perhaps they can help shape future chapters by submitting ideas or voting on plot twists.
So as I teased in the beginning, let's talk about the title change.
Originally the podcast was called Jack's Chronicles, however after doing some research I discovered
several other books and projects with similar titles.
To improve search engine optimization and stand out I changed the name to the Jack Moore
Chronicles.
Not a big change, but a change enough to set the title apart from the other Jack Chronicles
things that are out there.
Hopefully this change will make it easier for new listeners to find the show.
Changing the title wasn't an easy decision.
Titles carry a lot of weight, especially in storytelling.
I wanted something that felt unique and also hinted at the story's mysterious and evolving
nature.
Fiction podcasts differ from other genres in several ways.
They often require more scripting, sound design and editing compared to conventional or interview
based podcasts.
The immersive nature of audio dramas makes them a truly unique medium for storytelling.
One major difference is the importance of sound effects in music.
These elements help set the tone and create a more vivid mental picture for listeners.
If you're a writer, you might be wondering if a fiction podcast is worth it.
In my very limited experience it absolutely is.
It provides motivation to keep writing and acts as a built in deadline if you commit
to uploading episodes on a regular schedule.
It's a great way to hone your storytelling skills while sharing your work with an audience.
Fiction podcasts also offer a unique opportunity to experiment with serialized storytelling.
You can test out new ideas, develop characters over time and see how your audience responds.
It's a dynamic and evolving process that can help you grow as a writer.
So should you start a fiction podcast?
If you love stories and want to explore a creative medium, I say go for it.
The genre is growing and people are hungry for new engaging narratives.
Just be prepared for the work that goes into it.
It's not just about writing, you'll also need to focus on recording, editing, marketing,
film design and a whole lot more.
So since my last episode of podquesting, I've been focusing almost exclusively on the Jack
Moore Chronicles, releasing one chapter per month.
This schedule has been manageable with my full time job, but I'm working on putting
together a stricter schedule so I can release more episodes across my different podcasts.
Both podquesting and curiosity overload have taken a backseat, but I wanted to continue
producing episodes for both shows.
I'm also considering launching another fiction podcast, which I think I could handle if I
released episodes once a month or even less frequently.
Balancing the desire to run multiple podcasts and build a podcast network while working
full time is a challenge, but it's part of the quest I'm on and I'm working really hard
to overcome it.
Some strategies that have helped me include setting clear priorities, blocking out dedicated,
time and learning to say no to projects that don't align with my goals.
It's all about finding what works for you.
So thank you for joining me on this episode of podquesting.
If you're interested in fiction podcasts or thinking about starting your own, I hope this
episode gave you some insights.
Don't forget to check out the Jack Moore Chronicles on anywhere you listen to podcasts and my other
shows if you haven't already.
Until next time, thanks for listening to this episode of podquesting.
If you are a podcaster looking to join a network of like-minded individuals growing their podcasts
and embarking on this quest, well check out WolfShield.media.
There's an application on the website where you can apply to be part of a pack.
Again, that is WolfShield.media to check out that application.
Until next time, keep on questing.