Podcasts and Guidelines

A podcast is, simply, an audio story or essay. Click here for samples. Below are instructions on how to write a podcast and then TECHNICAL STUFF to record your audio piece. The only technical equipment you need to create a podcast is a computer and an inexpensive microphone. Also below are ways to get your piece considered for broadcast on Vermont Public Radio.

IMPORTANT: You can upload a podcast to this site in two ways: upload a podcast file to your blog entry -- or create a podcast; whichever way you do it, be sure to put the KEYWORD: podcast in the keywords section of your entry so everyone can find them.

Click here to submit a podcast now. Make sure your audio file is an mp3 file and that you write "podcast" in the keyword field.

HOW TO CREATE A PODCAST -- CONTENT
What is podcasting? Essentially it is writing something -- an essay, poem, story, speech -- or saying something which you record into a digital recorder and then upload that audio file to the Web. In order to do an audio story, you need to approach it as you would any story or poem or essay. Here is an idea for a podcast that helps you understand how to do it. The idea is A Memorable Moment:

• 1. Brainstorm. Think of an emotional moment in your life; it could be an event, something that happened to you or something you witnessed; it could be something that you remember clearly about something you're passionate about -- a great play on a soccer field, or stepping onto the stage in a play. What happened? What was the drama? Why was it so memorable? What details do you remember? How do you tell the story? How do you start?
• 2. The Idea. Jot down your story idea. One graph or two. Just get down the elements to the story.
• 3. First draft. Write the story of your moment.
• 4. Revision. Read it aloud. Any place your tongue trips up, smooth out the words.
• 5. Final read. Read the second version aloud. Like it? Is it your natural voice? Any words sound unwieldy, like something you wouldn't speak? Change them.

HOW TO CREATE A PODCAST -- TECHNICAL STUFF

Once you've written your piece, it's time to record it. Here's how:

Step 1: Write your piece.

Step 2: Record. Use your microphone to record your poem, essay, reflection, interview -- whatever you have written. If you are using a hand-held recording device, simply speak into the microphone. If you are using the microphone that came with your computer, or a microphone that is hooked up to a computer, you will need a program to record to. Audacity is excellent for this purpose.

Note: When you are recording, hold the microphone just beneath your chin in order to get the best sound quality. If something goes wrong while you are recording, simply start again from a point just before the interruption. There is no need to stop or delete because you can edit your file later.

Step 3: Transfer the file to your computer.

Step 4 (optional): Edit your file. Now you can fix those mistakes -- or add other sounds if you want. Audacity is a great free, editing program. It offers helpful tutorials with instructions on how to edit.

Step 5: Upload to the Web. Upload your file to the web once you have it the way you want it. You may need to change the format in order to be able to do this (some Web sites will only accept audio in certain formats). Use the free LAME encoder to export MP3 files from Audacity. Click here for Audacity's instructions on using LAME to convert Audacity files.

Getting your podcast considered for airing on radio:

Vermont Public Radio and YWP are looking for stories about your daily lives. We want conversational pieces about something you have experienced or are experiencing -- the lunch room, mean girls (or boys), graduation, the prom, the big game, SATs, pressure to drink, whatever.

You could focus on everyday life or something extraordinary, life at home or at school or in the community. You can take a theme and interview friends or neighbors.

These should be focused on one point and they should represent a strong point of view. Some tips:

• Read the story by Caleb Daniloff, an experienced radio commentator.
• One idea. Focus on one main idea -- the thing that interests you most -- and stick with it.
• Value. Is it interesting to someone else? Will the listener care?
• Write it out. What is the idea? Write down the gist of it or, even, an intro and outline.
• Casual. When you record your commentary, imagine yourself sitting down at a table with a friend or a neighbor. Be casual but be direct; tell them the story.
• Conversational tone. Write and record as you normally speak, with informal narrative structure and conversational choice of words.
• Keep it simple. Use simple language, declarative sentences and a narrative style — think storytelling.
• Keep it short. If you write it out, realize that 500 words is about three minutes.
• Deep breath. Before you record, test volume. When you record, take a deep breath BEFORE you start; be calm. Put the microphone or recorder below you, don't talk directly into it. Talk for a minute or so.
• Avoid slang. Avoid slang or jargon and words or structures that may "snag" a listener's attention and cause them to miss the next few words or sentences of your text. If a listener gets hung up on a word or phrase, you may lose them entirely.
• Divisive turns off. Concentrate on issues and avoid personal attacks or statements of an overtly divisive political nature. While you may feel very strongly about the foibles of a political leader, being strident or nasty may also cause listeners to become distracted or tune out. And they may be the very listeners you most want to keep listening through your concluding remarks.

Other ideas. We'll be posting some more examples as we go. ... Do an audio journal of a trip or your job ... Sound is just as powerful as a photograph -- if it's appropriate capture external sound that helps us appreciate your story.

Copyright and ownership issues will be addressed in the contract process. Young Writers Project always signs back to the writer the right to use the written commentary however the author wishes.