You're listening to PodQuesting, where we're
on a quest to conquer the realm of fiction podcasts.
Welcome back to PodQuesting. In today's episode,
we are diving in to a slight change, but a meaningful
one, and that is the shift in the direction of
this podcast. So when I first launched podcasting,
it was an open playground, a place to explore
different podcast formats, genres, and ideas.
I experimented with a DCU -themed show, dove
into episodes about curiosity, and just let my
interests lead the way. It was all part of the
process, figuring out what kind of stories I
wanted to tell and what kind of podcaster I really
am. But something changed along the way, and
that something was fiction. When I started working
on my fiction podcast, I found myself genuinely
excited not just about writing the story, but
about building the world, designing soundscapes,
learning how to tell a story with nothing but
audio. It pulled me in more than anything else
I had done before, and over time I've realized
that this is what I want to pursue more seriously.
So from here on out, podcasting is going to shift
its focus primarily to documenting my journey
into fiction podcasting. This means you can expect
more episodes on topics like story structure,
sound design, character development, and the
challenges of serialized storytelling. It's going
to be a creative deep dive into what it takes
to make narrative audio. That said, not everything
is changing. I'll still be exploring broader
podcasting topics like audience research, promotion
strategies, tech tools, and behind -the -scenes
insights. Because those are relevant no matter
what kind of podcast you're making. But if you're
a finance podcaster, for example, you might notice
more fiction -specific discussions than before.
Ultimately, this shift reflects where my passion
is right now, and I want to bring you along for
the ride. Whether you're a fellow fiction podcaster,
thinking of starting one, or just curious about
how this all works, I hope you'll stick around.
So with all that said, let's dive into a fiction
-focused topic for today's episode, and that
is the top five things I've learned so far from
making fiction podcasts. So at number one, that
is, fiction podcasts are huge. There's a massive
audience out there, and there are also a lot
of fiction podcasts already being made, and that
might sound intimidating, but to me, it's actually
encouraging. It means people want this kind of
content. The audience exists. You just have to
find your place in it. Number two, it's a lot
of work. Like, a lot. You're not just recording
audio. You're building an entire world, crafting
a story, creating characters, editing sound,
and keeping people engaged all the way through.
You don't have a guest to help carry the conversation.
It's all on you as the writer and the creator.
You have to start strong and end strong. And
I don't just mean from episode one to your finale.
I mean from the beginning of every episode to
the end. That's something I'm striving for. Not
saying I've nailed it yet, but it's a goal I
keep in mind with every scene I write and record.
Now at number three, marketing is still everything.
No matter what kind of podcast you make, finding
your audience is hard. But when your show is
something niche like a noir urban fantasy, or
a unique audio drama, it's even harder. General
podcast listeners might not jump into a fiction
podcast series the same way they would with a
finance or mental health show. Those have a more
obvious appeal to a wider audience. So I've already
been focusing on building a community around
my shows. It's early days, but I can already
tell it's going to be a key part of growing an
audience. that actually sticks around. At number
four, we have sound design takes time. This one's
obvious, but worth saying. Fiction podcasting
requires a whole different level of editing.
You're not just cutting out ums and adding an
intro. You're layering effects, ambience, music,
voice acting. But if you're like me and you actually
enjoy that part, it's not a problem. But I can
definitely see how it could be overwhelming if
editing isn't your thing. At number five, cover
art matters a lot. Yeah, yeah, don't judge a
book by its cover. But let's be honest, we all
do. If you're scrolling through a podcast directory
and something has cool, eye -catching artwork,
you're way more likely to click on it. And with
fiction podcasts, this is even more important.
Think about how people choose movies. Half the
time, it's based on the poster or the Netflix
thumbnail. Your cover is your first impression.
So make it count. So those are just a few things
I've picked up while making two fiction podcasts
and developing a third. If you're thinking about
starting your own fiction podcast, I'd love to
hear from you. Leave a voicemail over on the
podcasting website or join our Discord at Wolfshield
Media. Link in the show notes. Or head over to
the Wolfshield Media website. And if you want
to check out my current fiction shows, head over
to Wolf Show Media. You can listen to The Jack
Moore Chronicles and Trapped Within right now.
Thanks for listening, and until next time, keep
questing.