EpiCast webserial news, recaps & chat

EpiCast #004: Awards

editor@epiguide.com (Kira Lerner) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:29:45 +0000

Hey everyone. For our fourth EpiCast episode, we have the usual recaps, previews and new series introductions, as well as discussion on how much easier it is to read webfiction that’s been carefully edited. We answer a listener’s question about semi-controversial topic: Awards, and whether the EpiGuide will ever hold another award ceremony again–and also some chat about the pitfalls and benefits of awards in general. Finally, our co-hosts Kira and Michael also discuss some new developments in the ever-converging world of TV vs. video webseries, such as the new original programs appearing on Hulu and Netflix, share some new useful tools to help authors self-publish, and introduce you to new webserials and webseries.

As always, the recaps and news focus on the EpiGuide.com community but we do try to expand and look at a variety of serials whenever possible. To participate with your own webseries/webserial recaps, or to submit news for next month’s edition, please send the info to us by March 11 (for recaps) or March 17 (for news bulletins). The email address is mentioned in the podcast, or you can visit The EpiGuide, register an account, and send a private message to either Kira or Michael.

Recording date: This episode was recorded February 19, 2012.

Rundown:

0:00 - 1:01: Opening pleasantries and intror
1:02 - 17:53: “The Story So Far…” (Recaps of recent storylines from a selection of webfiction serials and webseries)
17:54 - 18:16: Invitation to serial writers to submit recaps for our next podcast
18:17 - 23:19: Chat about the aforementioned recaps, and why editing can make or break a webserial
23:20 - 39:42: “Around the Webseries World” - We discuss the convergence of TV and webseries via Hulu and Netflix’s original content, services to help authors self-publish, and recent webserial/webseries launches.
39:43 - 54:15: Responding to listener email: the Eppy Awards (and whether they’ll return), and for that matter, the pros and cons of awards presentations in general. Errata: The Eppys were held in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
54:16 - 55:54: Wrap-up.

Links to sites mentioned:

Music credits: “Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance” (EpiCast intro), “Not About You” (Recap intro), “So Far, So Good” (under recap segue), “The Big Boom” (News intro), and “I Feel Fantastic” (end theme), all by the brilliant Jonathan Coulton and licensed Creative Commons by-nc.

Technical notes: If anyone’s interested, we used Skype for the conversation, Replay Recorder for recording, Audacity for editing, 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!

EpiCast #003: Extras

editor@epiguide.com (Kira Lerner) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:10:45 +0000

Download EpiCast #003

Hello all, and welcome to our first EpiCast of 2012. This is our third episode, #003: Extras., and we have the latest batch of recaps, some discussion about storylines that affected us during the past month, a few news items, and a rather extensive examination of the difference between self-created HTML sites and blog/CMS-based sites, and the related issue of ways to supplement one’s writing with extra features — what works, what’s not so great, and what our hosts (Michael and Kira, as usual) actually think is mandatory. Yep, we totally go there. Nervy, huh?

The recaps and news focuses on the EpiGuide.com community but we do try to expand and look at a variety of serials whenever possible. If you don’t see your favorite genre being represented, please encourage the author / producer to submit material to us! We do hunt down topics and serials ourselves, but it sure makes life easier for us when the writers give us tips themselves.

As mentioned, this episode is hosted by Kira Lerner (yours truly), admin of the EpiGuide, and Michael, longtime community member and webserial producer.

Recording date: This episode was recorded January 15, 2011.

Rundown:

0:00 - 1:22: Opening pleasantries and chatter
1:35 - 22:00: “The Story So Far…” (Recaps and discussion of recent storylines from a selection of webserials)
22:00 - 26:30: Commentary on a storyline in Footprints
26:30 - 27:34: Invitation to serial writers to submit recaps for our next podcast
27:34 - 29:05: “Around the Webseries World” - News, announcements and interesting topics from around the community.
29:05 - 58:48: Discussion about HTML sites vs. blog-/CMS-based sites, different ways of presenting one’s story, useful extra features.
58:48 - 1:01: Wrap-up.

Links to sites mentioned:

Music credits: “Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance” (EpiCast intro and wrapup music), “Not About You” (Recap intro), and “So Far, So Good” (under recap segue), all by the brilliant Jonathan Coulton and licensed Creative Commons by-nc.

EpiCast #002: Finales

editor@epiguide.com (Kira Lerner) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:17:32 +0000

Download EpiCast #002

Happy holidays, everyone! And a little late in arriving but no worse for the delay is our second episode of the EpiCast,#002: Finales. As always, we focus on discussion, news and recaps from the world of original web entertainment, and more specifically, the EpiGuide.com community. This month’s installment is chock-full of recaps in particular from a variety of serials in a variety of genres, which is just how we like ‘em. From sci-fi to fantasy to melodrama, there’s surely something for everyone. We also take a look at the end of one highly popular serial, answer a related question from a listener that allowed us to reminisce about serials gone by, and finally offer some discussion topics and news tidbits for everyone.

Hosted by Kira Lerner (yours truly), admin of the EpiGuide, and Michael, longtime community member and webserial producer.

Recording date: This episode was recorded December 11, 2011.

Errata: During our news segment Kira incorrectly identified a publishing platform that was mentioned by M.E. Traylor on the EpiGuide. The correct name for this platform is PressBooks. Sorry about that!

Rundown:

0:00 - 1:09: Opening pleasantries and chatter
1:10 - 18:05: “The Story So Far…” (Recaps and discussion of recent storylines from a selection of webserials)
18:06 - 25:20: Recap, review and commentary on the final episode of The Blackthornes
25:20 - 26:05: Invitation to serial writers to submit recaps for our next podcast
26:06 - 32:46: “The Audience Asks…” We answer a question from a listener re: our most-missed webserials.
32:56 - 36:17: “Around the Webseries World” - News, announcements and interesting topics from around the community. Introducing Special People, eBook resources, and a blog post about publishing platforms
36:26 - 37:30: Wrap-up

Links to sites mentioned:

EpiGuide
About Schuyler Falls
American Legacy
Autumn Lake
Black Hat Magick
The Blackthornes
Covington Bay
Crescendo Cove - Also for sale as an eBook!
The DSR
Ebook Service Professionals Directory
@elizabethscraig
Emerald Heights
Fluffy-Seme
Footprints
Hanging By a Thread: The Storylines We Missed
Mr. Anyone
MZP-TV
One Day at a Time
Pandamian
PressBooks
Special People
Spy Like Me
Weblit Platforms: Pandamian vs. Fluffy-Seme (Here’s the discussion on the EpiGuide)

Music credits: “Chiron Beta Prime” (EpiCast intro), “Not About You” (Recap intro), “So Far, So Good” (under recap segue), “The Big Boom” (News intro), and “Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance” (EpiCast wrapup music) all by the brilliant Jonathan Coulton and licensed Creative Commons by-nc.

EpiCast #001: Pilot

editor@epiguide.com (Kira Lerner) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:49:18 +0000

Download EpiCast #001

Welcome to the EpiGuide’s first podcast. This series of broadcasts will feature discussion, news and recaps from the world of original web entertainment, and more specifically, the EpiGuide.com community. We’ll cover everything that the Eppy does — from online fiction and web serials to webseries and webcomics, in all forms and in all genres.

This pilot episode is a bit of a test-bed for us, so please bear with us as we get used to and refine the format. It’s longer than we’ll probably aim for in the future (and actually we cut about twenty minutes of extra material, which may show up at a later date as “deleted scenes” or outtakes, if there’s interest).

Hosted by Kira Lerner (yours truly), admin of the EpiGuide, and Michael, longtime community member and webserial producer.

Recording date: This episode was recorded November 13, 2011.

Rundown:

0:00 - 3:04: Introductions and brief history of the EpiGuide; rundown of the EpiCast’s content
3:05 - 13:15: Recaps of recent storylines from a selection of webserials
13:16 - 20:37: Recap commentary focusing on Strangers & Neighbors and The Blackthornes (re: storyline endings/serial finales)
20:39 - 21:23: Invitation to serial writers to submit recaps for our next podcast
21:24 - 28:43: News and discussion on topics of note in the web serial world, including: warnings about predatory publishers; online fiction venues for reading publishing webfiction; WebfictionWorld podcasts (erratum: the WeSeWriMo podcast was episode #5, not #7); the new season of the webseries Venice… and hints on how to make life difficult for potential paying audience members.
28:43 - 29:45: Wrap-up and big sighs of relief from your hosts!

Links to sites mentioned:

Music credits: “Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance” (EpiCast intro/wrapup music) and “So Far, So Good” (played under recap segue), both by Jonathan Coulton and licensed Creative Commons by-nc.