By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig 
I’ve never been much of an audiobook listener due to my impatience. I know I’m an extremely fast reader and I get frustrated by the slower pace of narration. I thought the same would be true for industry podcasts. Recently, however, I’ve gotten into them. This has surprised me, since I’d usually rather skim a transcript over listening to anything.
I still do like the transcripts to remind me of salient points. But now podcasts are helpful resources that I enjoy listening to. I think that’s because I’ve now got a system for making them useful for me. I know some of you are light years ahead of me on this stuff. I thought I’d blog my revelations in case any of you out there are where I am in the discovery process.
I tend to listen to them when exercising (to forget that I’m exercising, since it’s my least favorite activity) or driving.
It took me a while to realize that I could subscribe to and download podcasts. I’d thought it would be some painstaking process of pulling websites up on my phone, clicking play, and then watching my data minutes get used up.
Instead, I use free podcast apps, Stitcher and Podcast Addict to subscribe to different podcasts. Once I’m subscribed, I’m alerted to new episodes. Then I download the episodes to my phone. That’s key to avoid those nasty data charges when the wifi is horrid at the YMCA (i.e., all the time). I plug in my earbuds, and learn.
And learning is what it’s all about for me. I wish I had time to be entertained, but I’m really just in search of helpful industry news and information. And forgetting that I’m at the gym.
In the car, I have Bluetooth enabled and listen to podcasts while I’m driving (and driving and driving) my daughter to different activities. The podcasts play through the car speakers. And entertain my nearly 14 year old! Or not. :)
I can still be an impatient listener. Still that person who’d rather skim the transcript. But the nice thing about Stitcher and Podcast Addict and all those other apps is that we can speed up the recording. Which, sometimes, results in a hilarious effect, but frequently just means that I can skim the audio. And then slow it down during parts where I really need to absorb the information. I follow up by reading show notes on the various websites or the transcripts.
I follow a fair number of shows, but there are some I listen to more than others:
Joanna Penn. She’s always so professional and seems to be a couple of steps or more ahead of me. I tend to be cautious and I like following people who are experimenting.
Rocking Self Publishing Podcast. Genial host Simon Whistler with interesting guests.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast. Several hosts here. One is Lindsay Buroker, and I’m a fan of her blog, as well. Useful for all genres.
Sell More Books Show. Nice news wrap-up.
Self Publishing Podcast. This is one that’s frequently NSFW, so heads-up on that. I believe they’re revamping their show now to make it more business, less social. A good deal of useful information and an interesting look at the way the men do business as writers.
The Author Biz. Stephen Campbell’s guests always have interesting things to talk about.
Hope this helps for anyone else who is as clueless about podcasts as I was. They’re a nice, free way to learn more about writing and marketing. And listening to voices does, somehow, evoke more of a personal touch. It can help me to absorb the information more easily.
Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones? I’m always looking for something new.
Keeping informed through podcasts: Click To Tweet]
Image: MorgueFile: AndyK
I don’t listen to Podcasts, but I will check out the science fiction and fantasy one.
Thanks for the list. I think we might need to add writer podcasts to the IWSG site now.
Alex–I think you’d like it. If you go to their site or add them to Stitcher/Podcast Addict, you can see a list of shows and descriptions of the episodes. You can listen, out of order, to the ones that might be most useful for you.
Yes, good idea! A podcast section/tab would be useful for your resources list (which is here, for anyone who’s interested…a wonderful list of resources): http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/self-publishing.html
Hmm…I avoid podcasts too for the reasons you listed, but maybe with your method I could listen while my kids were at the playground or library. Thanks for the tip and the list!
Deborah–That would be a *great* time to listen. Or at the pool. Those places where we need to *watch* them, but not *listen*.
HI Elizabeth!
I’m a big fan of podcasts too. It’s a terrific way to keep up to date. I listen to my favourites while jogging. It’s also great fun when a figure I know through blogs or Twitter suddenly comes to life as a voice – indeed I heard you several years ago when Joanna (The Creative Penn) interviewed you.
Could I add to your list? I have a podcast via Surrey Hills Radio about writing, publishing and bookish life which I record every week with an independent bookseller. Between us we cover all ends of the publishing spectrum, from creating the books to selling them. If anyone would be interested, here’s where you find it https://www.mixcloud.com/surreyhillsradio/playlists/so-you-want-to-be-a-writer/
Roz–It does make online friends come to life, doesn’t it? Yes, Joanna interviewed me for a podcast on cozy mysteries a few years back. It was fun. :)
Wonderful! I don’t know how I missed that you had a podcast. Thanks for leaving the link…I will be subscribing today.
I Listen While exercising too. It motivates me to actually exercise. Or clean house. :-) I listen to the same podcasts too except the author biz. I’ll have to give that one a try.
I also listen to Michael hyatts podcast. Not everything applies to writers but I find the episodes interesting and uplifting.
Sandy–Exactly! If there’s a new episode for a show, I’ll go to the gym. :) I’m averaging 3 days a week now, which is pretty amazing for me (I’m just a treadmill and weights-machine-for-5-minutes person) and it’s because of podcasts. Since I only listen to them in “dead” time (driving, gym), then it does motivate me to exercise.
Cleaning house…hmm. Except I have the Samsung phone and it’s so huge that I think it would fall out of my pocket with vigorous housecleaning. Maybe if I put it on speaker, but then I race from room to room putting things in their right place. Perhaps if I found a garment with larger pockets… :)
I’ll check out Michael Hyatt’s. I didn’t realize he had a show, but shouldn’t be surprised that he podcasts…he has such a tremendous online presence.
I agree with you, Elizabeth, that podcasts can be really useful and informative. Authors can use them too, as audio newsletters. People do like listening to them when they exercise, etc.. I’ve been actually toying with making my blog posts available as podcasts. Not sure I will, but I have thought about it. Thanks for those links to the industry podcasts – very helpful!
Margot–Audio newsletters…great idea! And, if anyone should podcast, it’s you. Former DJ? Yes, I think you’d reach a whole new audience with your mystery-related posts. And, rather selfishly, I like that idea since I want mystery to reach a younger readership. :)
I used to listen to podcasts. I need to get back in the habit. They would be perfect for when I’m doing “stuff” around the house.
Diane–That’s what Sandy was saying. Now I’m thinking about buying an apron so that I can carry around my huge phone and listen while I clean. :) Or maybe a lanyard or something. The phone is huge, but at the Y it sits on the little shelf of the treadmill and in the car in the cupholder.
I hadn’t listened to podcast until recently even though I love audio books. Since I’ve been listening to a couple of different podcast, I found them entertaining and informative. I’ve only listened on my laptop through email links or blog sites so I’ll have to check out the podcast apps you mentioned.
Mason–I’ve listened on my laptop too (that’s how I did it before figuring out the subscription/downloading business). Hope you’ll enjoy the podcasts.
Elizabeth, I do love podcasts-especially when walking the dogs-but I haven’t tried these yet. Thanks for the tips. For entertainment/general learning, I love This American Life.
Kellie–Thanks for the tip! I’ll check that one out. I also like the educational/entertaining TED talks podcasts.
Hi Elizabeth – Thanks for the mention in your podcast list. I’m an Android guy and use Podcast Addict as well, having found it about six weeks ago. It has made it so much easier for me to listen. The Kindle Chronicles, where the focus is digital publishing. The news bit at the beginning is a must listen for me each week.
Stephen–I’m on Android, too. Podcast Addict is great, isn’t it? I really like the interface.
Thanks for the tip on Kindle Chronicles! I’ll subscribe. :)
Hey Elizabeth! Glad you’re enjoying SMBS. We enjoy recording it :).
Bryan–Sounds like you both have a good time in production. :) Thanks for the resource for writers.
Thanks!
I’m obsessed with podcasts! Love Joanna Penn’s and Simon’s. So much great information out there.
I listen to them pretty much every day while I’m hiking the trails around my property. I also listen to faith based podcasts, which inspire me.
Julie–I think combining podcasts and exercise is the perfect use. I think I do need to expand what I’m listening to…have it be more than just work related (maybe I can exercise even more that way!)
Thanks Elizabeth for the ideas and the tips, also for the links … they are a really useful way to learn new things, or be reminded of idea .. cheers Hilary
Hilary–Thanks! And thanks for coming by.
Hi, Elizabeth. Great list! I’d like to add that podcasts are great for research, too. I just wrote a book with an economist character, and I listened to a few economics podcasts to get her to sound more genuine. And I’ve bookmarked a few episodes of jobs or places I think are interesting for future books (including a circus performer!). What I like about this method of research is that you get the info straight from the person doing it, in their own language and cadence, which makes writing the character more realistic.
Margot has a great idea about using podcasts in place of a newsletter. I’ve been doing a weekly podcast for two years now for my nonfiction work, and just this summer I started the weekly Quickie Romance Podcast to highlight great authors in my newer genre of contemporary romance. It’s fun to do, helps me become a better writer through narrating another person’s work out loud, and it connects me with top writers in the genre. A win all the way around!
Betsy–Great idea! I hadn’t thought of that. Yes, absolutely–it’s basically a primary source.
So…using podcasts as a newsletter. Love the idea, but wondering about the distribution and how that works. So is it something you post a link to on your website? Do you use something like SoundCloud to post a clip on your site? Email your list a link? I think it’s a really cool idea…would like to implement a form of it.
Hi, Elizabeth. I post mine on my site and distribute through iTunes and Stitcher Radio. Then I also include a link in emails to my list with a brief intro around it to generate interest.
Here’s what a post of the episode looks like for my nonfiction work: http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/how-to-keep-going/
And the email that went out to my list with the episode: http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4bafd91cfde8d5e2e2a2c020c&id=b7ac27a0c0&e=e10685ed57
I use SoundCloud for my romance podcast, which I like because it comes with an attractive embeddable player. Other people can post it to their sites, too (which is the point!).
Good luck – can’t wait to see what you do with this.
Betsy–That is just really, really cool. And very professionally done. Thanks for shining a light on this for me. Somehow I was completely unaware of this!
Terrific list! SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators – http://www.scbwi.org) has a tremendous and growing list of craft-based podcasts with authors, illustrators, and other children’s publishing industry professionals that SCBWI members can access anytime. Link: https://www.scbwi.org/online-resources/podcasts/
Thanks for the link, Emma!