Tag Archives: Scott Sigler

Episode #21: Giving the Fiction Away for Free

TSD-what

And finally, we sit behind the mics and fire up the wayback machine and the cart software for a new episode of The Shared Desk. We’re staying topical with talking about the change of heart podcasters are experiencing — reassessing the model of free. Once upon a time, we were all about making our fiction free in this new, daring audio medium that was podcasting. Here were are, eight years later, and oh how the times, they are a-changing….

00:00 — Introduction

  • Look at us! We’re back!
  • Oh Key & Peele — how we <3 you!
  • Possibly the shortest introduction section ever!
  • We’re looking back in this episode….

1:30 — Giving the Fiction Away for Free

  • What happens when you decide “I don’t want to give it away.” when you have been doing fiction for free?
  • The big question: Why did you give it away?
  • Tee looks back to 2004 and 2005 when Tee made the call to podcast MOREVI
  • Looking back eight years, and now considering podcasting in 2013
    • The playing field in 2005.
    • Since our friend and podcasting juggernaut Scott Sigler, we have not seen a new “breakout” artist.
    • It’s no longer a “community” but a “market” and few of the OP’s (Original Podcasters) are featured or even listed prominently.
    • An honest assessment of the path of podcasting
  • Why did Pip make the big jump into the podiosphere?
  • Tee and Pip podcast because we love it, not because we’re planning to overthrow “traditional media” with this platform.
  • Quick shout-out to The League of STEAM!
  • Pip asks Tee the tough question: Is Tee disappointed in the evolution of podcasting fiction?
  • The ROI of Podcasting
  • Not only is the playing field changed, so has the audience.
  • Giving your work away for free is not a contract with your audience. It’s a giveaway.
  • The Market of Giving the Fiction Away for Free still works, if you approach it properly.
  • Yes, it has worked for Scott, for Cory Doctorow, for John Scalzi…but…….
  • Would I advise a new author if they want to give it away for free? (Tee might surprise you…)

29:05 — Seriously?! Seriously.

38:29 — The Wrap-Up

  • Still getting back into the swing of things…
  • …and Tee needs to remember what drop in’s he has on call.
  • Looking forward to the next show
  • Dawn’s Early Light — it’s coming in 2013! In December! November!
  • What happened recently? Tee’s a free agent again…so take a look at what he offers at Imagine That! Studios.
  • And we are writing, writing, writing…and Darkwater is now out in the wild, along with Pip’s new proposal!
  • Foreword Literary — our new agency!
  • The Diamond Conspiracy (Book Four of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences) is also underway…
  • Next event in May — Up in the Æther
  • Ending with a belated holiday wish….from Lauren “Scribe” Harris and Crazy Uncle Charlie.
RELATED LINKS
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Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

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The Shared Desk: Episode #004 — Collaborating in Shared Universes

Hey-hey-hey, podcaster and author P.C. Haring is in town, kicking back with Tee and Pip; so of course the mics are going hot. Here, Tee, Pip, and P.C. go into the mindset when you collaborate with other creators and play in another author’s sandbox.

00:00 — Introduction and Tangents galore

  • The magic of a false start (and BTW, this is Episode 4…)
  • Introductions all around that digress into impressions of Angry Birds
  • Welcoming in-studio guest P.C. Haring, author of Cybrosis
  • Taking a moment to remember Whrrl…
  • …and Wingin’ It from Farpoint Media (where you might still be able to catch hints of Tee podcasting in 2005)

03:38 — Collaborating in Shared Universes

  • Whose sandbox have you played in?
  • What a dirty, dirty sandbox Erotica ala carte is…
  • When working in a shared universe, how hard do the rules apply to your writing style?
  • P.C.’s genesis of “The Seven” featuring Agent Brandon Hill
  • Talking a bit about “The First Day”
  • How guest authors go from writing in canon to creating canon (with a shout out to Jack Mangan)
  • Defining boundaries with your guest authors (and being a pro about it)
  • When you invite writers into your world, expect only one thing — the unexpected!
  • Another advantage of playing in another’s world: Writing out of your comfort zone

33:38 — Writers Off the Clock: Gaming on the xBox 360

  • P.C. Haring…also known as The Great Enabler
  • The story behind the xBox 360, and how we were dodging the gamer’s bullet…until…
  • It all started with Kinectimals and Dance Central
  • Tee squees hard over Batman: Arkham Asylum (and yes, even Pip, a bit of a Batgrrl…)
  • Then comes Portal. (Damn you, P.C. Haring…)
  • Tee flashes back to the days of Myst.
  • And if our banter doesn’t convince you, take a moment to watch this…

  • And here are a few of our current favorites on the iPad:
    • Highborn
    • Galaxy on Fire 2
    • Angry Birds
    • Crimson: Steam Pirates
    • Cowboy Guns
    • Battleheart
    • Tetris
    • Unblock Me
    • Words with Friends
  • Shout out to Felicia Day for her Guild goodness!
  • The good and bad for gaming writers — Give yourself the break, but don’t get lost in the time
  • Leave it to Mister J to get in the last word…

51:39 — The Wrap-Up

  • Kinda nice to have P.C. there for the end and the beginning…
  • Some feedback from Logan Waterman concerning Episode 3 of TSD and High School of the Dead
  • We didn’t think HSotD could get any titillating. Silly us!!!
  • Where you can find P.C. Haring online!
  • P.C. Haring heads to Archon while Tee and Pip head to New York Comic Con!
  • Where you can find us (and even our steampunk characters) online for feedback and questions for Crazy Uncle Charlie

 

Drop-In’s: Mark Hammil as The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum

Websites We Give a Shout-Out to

[display_podcast]
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

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