View from Valhalla

Category: challenge

  • Podcast Challenge – Part 2

    Why?

    I am currently celebrating the one year anniversary of View from Valhalla. My, how quickly a year goes, and how much things change. When I first started this blog, I had no idea what I would be doing with it. I knew I had opinions (hence the tagline) and I knew I loved social media. I was also very new to Twitter (well, at least being involved to a large extent) and had no idea that one would help feed the other (strangely, the have helped each other).

    Almost a full year ago, I wrote a post entitled Podcast Challenge, in which I challenged my few number of Twitter followers, and many fewer readers of this blog, to spread the word concerning their favorite podcasts. At the time, I was listening to Weather Child and I really wanted to get the word out on what a wonderful story it was and how much I was enjoying it. I was successful in my part of the challenge and got that podcast 5 new subscribers, but unfortunately, the challenge never bore the fruit I had hoped for, so as an anniversary event, I’ve decided to lay down the challenge again.

    So, here it is:

    Choose your favorite work of podcast fiction. It can be any genre, any style, any cast type. It really doesn’t matter. Pimp that podcast however you choose. Gain five new listeners for it. You can choose more than one podcast if you want, but then you need to gain it an ADDITIONAL five listeners. (Each podcast is independent, five total listeners for five separate podcasts doesn’t count.)

    This year I am changing one rule: it can be ANY work of podcast fiction. Last year, I was asking people to choose something currently in production. In retrospect, this was probably a mistake. Choose any work you want. Burn a couple of eps on a CD. Go crazy with a DVD. USB thumb drives are incredibly cheap these days. Spread the word!

    Accountability

    Now, how do we know how we’re doing? Twitter! Let’s revive the hashtag #podcastchallenge. When you gain a new listener for your favorite podcast, simply post it on Twitter with the aforementioned hashtag. Example: 1 new subscriber for Some Other Scotland!! #podcastchallenge

    Timeframe? Well, we can keep it going forever if you want, but i really would like to see who can get their five by the end of April.

    Keep a running total letting us know how it is going. Are you an author? Pimp your own book! Spread the word! Don’t worry about giving credit to VFV, I’m really not worried about it. However, if you’re up for a little extra accountability (like me asking how you’re doing), feel free to leave a comment here stating which podcast(s) you’re going to be promoting.

    Good luck!

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  • International Podcaster Appreciation Month

    I realized recently that while I might want to be a producer, at this point in my life I am a consumer (sigh), and one of the things that I consume most voraciously is podcast fiction.

    As far as I know, there is no month/week/day set aside to those that give us the fruit of their time and efforts so generously, so I would like to take a moment to say thanks, and maybe encourage others to do the same. I am proclaiming December to be IPAM. Are you with me?

    If you have listened to an author’s podcast and enjoyed it, maybe you could see if they have a print version available. I am sure there is nothing that most authors would appreciate more.

    If that isn’t possible, perhaps they have an ebook version available. I know Brand Gamblin’s Tumbler is currently available here in multiple e-formats. Phil Rossi is selling autographed copies of Crescent and limited edition soundtracks here.

    If any type of purchasing is not feasible, perhaps you could go to podiobooks, iTunes or the authors site a leave a comment. From the podcasters I’ve talked to, this can greatly help others choose to listen.

    Of course, if you happen to live near a podcaster, you could always bake them cookies or take them out to dinner. Unfortunately, this probably wouldn’t work for most of us.

    Of course in the end it is up to you how, and even if, you do it. I think I’ll take my own advice and start my thank you list now.

    Cheers!

    update: If you read the comments, you’ll have noticed that Orion commented that he likes to provide feedback in the form of “listener lines” that many podcasters provide for that exact purpose. Also, somehow I forgot to include that you can also provide financial remuneration for that favored author via podiobooks.com.

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  • Weiner dog song

    A couple of weeks ago, Jeffrey Hite prompted everyone to submit a weiner dog song on his Great Hites podcast. I am not a song writer, but I am quite snarky, so I tweeted the following back, and no, I didn’t submit because the accompanying tune is copyrighted.

    Sing with me:

    Ohhhhh…. I wish I were a dog shaped like a weiner!
    Without a single nit or tick or flea,
    Cause if I were a dog shaped like a weiner,
    I wouldn’t have to bend so low to …

    Wait, sorry bad visual there I’m sure. Unfortunately, now I can’t get the blasted thing out of my head!

    What would your weiner dog song sound like?

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  • Podcast Challenge!

    Good evening everyone! A few minutes ago I laid down a challenge on twitter to the relatively small group of friends that follow me.

    You see, I am a huge fan of technology. I love the iPod. Including my iPhone, I have five. I discovered, and fell in love with, podcasts about six years ago. My how the market has grown during that time.

    I also have a daily commute that leaves me alone in the car for a minimum of an hour a day. Due to all of these factors, I have become a huge fan of serialized fiction.

    As a way to thank these authors that give so freely of their efforts, I try to donate to them directly when I can and purchase their books that are in print whenever possible.

    However, I’ve been thinking lately that I’d like to do more. Since starting this blog, I’ve found that I have a previously umdiscovered joy, knowing that people are actually reading the thoughts that I’m electronically making available. That thought led me to the obvious realization that listeners are probably what the authors would appreciate most.

    So, the challenge…

    I want everyone to pick their favorite (or two, or six or however many) podcast(s) and somehow get that podcast five or more new subscribers.

    Rules are simple: the podcast should be one that is currently in production. If we want to do one with legacy ‘casts, that would be cool too, but let’s keep them separate. I am going with Weather Child, because as I’m sure you’ve guessed from reading the first ever post on this blog, for some reason I seem to have an emotional investment in this story (Thanks Pip) (Tee, I’m REALLY trying to be patient for Legacy). I’m going to download and burn the first nine episodes to cd and hand them out to people at work, then follow up with them and see if they’re enjoying it. If so, I’ll ask if I can help set them up to subscribe.

    Now here’s the catch. Accountability. I created a hashtag on twitter for everyone to keep tally. As you get someone to subscribe just tweet to #podcastchallenge the podcast you’re fighting for and the number of new subscriptions you’ve garnered for it. I would love to see one hundred or more subscriptions, for all ‘casts combined, come out of this.

    If you don’t twitter, feel free to post your efforts here and I will tweet them on your behalf. Please feel free to post your comments or lay down your own challenge as well.

    You’ve been challenged.

    Are you up to it?

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