from me, zvi

[zvi]

So, something came up in the discussion about changes that I'd like to talk about.

Is podfic for the writer, or is it an independent work of the reader?

We've got a couple of models about fanwork in fandom. There's fanfiction or fanart based on the source, which is clearly not for TPTB. And we've got art made for a particular fanfiction, which is generally presented as for the author of the fanfiction. And we've got exchange challenges, where the story written is a gift for the recipient. But we've also got prompt challenges and remix, where you're working based on story or prompt of a particular person, but it's really specifically not a gift.

Where does podfic fall in that spectrum? And, because of where it falls in the spectrum, should the authors whose work is being read treat it as a gift, or as an independent fanwork that they criticize to the extent/in the same manner as they would anything else?

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We only have one more discussion question left from the 3w4w blitz, so if there's some podfic meta you'd like to bring up, please leave a discussion prompt

Comments

[sothcweden]

I don't make podfic for the writer, but for myself and for fandom, because I loved the story or was impressed by it and want to share my enthusiasm. I know there are writers who get very excited and are grateful when someone offers to podfic a story, but the podfic isn't so much for them as it is in response to their work. That said, it's nice to feel as though I've made an author happy by selecting their work to podfic.

I don't expect the author or anyone else to have only good things to say about my recordings. I know I still have things to learn, and I welcome constructive criticism. Some stories don't translate to podfic as well as others, and I think discussing what does and doesn't work in a podfic will make for better recordings in the future.

But not everyone welcomes criticism. Some people need a place in their lives where they are cheered on unequivocally. That's why I really liked participating in the Podfic Critical Feedback Exchange earlier this year, and plan to submit a podfic if it happens again. Everyone chose to submit their work for analysis, so there weren't (as far as I know)any hard feelings about what was written.

Podfic made for auctions like Sweet Charity are more gift-like because the motivating force is someone else's desire to hear a story, rather than my own. However, it's also part of a transaction: I will read x thousand words of fic in exchange for a donation of y dollars to this charity, which somewhat negates the gift aspect of things.