Download EpiCast #013

This supersized EpiCast (the title has a double meaning!) has plenty of everything: recaps of the latest webserial installments, news about several returning webserials, a response to some listener feedback, and the massive main course in this feast: a discussion about long-running webserials and just how one can create--and maintain--a serial that has staying power.

Hosts Kira (yours truly) and Michael start things off with summaries and bickering--all in good fun, of course. Learn what happened on a variety of webfiction serials over the past month, and find out why pronouns can make the difference between a standard sleazy politician's ploy and a storyline straight out of a V.C. Andrews novel.

Next we offer a quick look at the news, which includes some returning serials (a few that have only been gone a couple of months, while another is making a resurrection from a years-long absence) and an announcement of a chat devoted to serialized tales.

And as promised, we embark on an extensive, in-depth discussion about some of the longest-running webserials, with plenty of advice from their authors, a varied group that represents a combined total of more than fifty years of serialized fiction experience! Interested in learning how to writers ensure their plots and characters have such phenomenal staying power? Get comfortable because we've got a ton of tips and tricks, as well as commentary from our hosts (who alone have thirty years' experience behind 'em).

Of course, we end with our sincere thanks to our sponsors and a teaser of our next episode, which will be posted in less than a week!Once you've listened, hop on over to our Podbean site, the EpiGuide forum, or our new Webcast Beacon site (links below) to share your own thoughts on these topics and this episode. Many thanks to everyone who helped out by submitting your recaps and news stories!

Episode Notes:

Recording date: This episode was recorded in two sessions on June 10 and July 14, 2013.

Rundown:

Many thanks to the special donors who helped make this podcast possible! Please see the sidebar for the list of Podcast sponsors.Links to the sites mentioned in this episode:

Music credits: "Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance" (EpiCast opening and closing theme), "Not About You" (Recaps intro), "So Far, So Good" (Recaps ending music), "Good Morning Tuscon" (News intro), "Just as Long as Me" (Discussion theme), "Take Care of Me" (EpiCast sponsor theme), as always all written and performed by Jonathan Coulton, host Kira Lerner's personal musical demigod. These tracks are licensed Creative Commons by-nc.

Technical notes: We used Skype for the conversation and interviews, Replay Recorder for recording, Audacity and The Levelator for editing/post-recording fine-tuning, and Podbean for hosting.

If you have any suggestions, questions, comments or brickbats you want to throw at us regarding this episode, please let us know!