perhaps this is an ignorant question...

[lirazel]

but I have never listened to a podfic in my life, so I genuinely don't know. As a person who doesn't enjoy listening to stories, the whole culture around podfics is opaque to me.

When a person listens to a podfic and enjoys it, I assume they leave a comment for the podfic itself. But do most people also go back and tell the original writer that they enjoyed the fic? I want it to be accepted practice that of course you tell the person who actually wrote the story that you enjoyed it, but...I am not sure!

And when you write a comment for the podfic, do you focus primarily on the way the writer read it? Like, "You really nailed the emotional content of this fic?" kind of thing? Like, are reviewing it as an adaptation, which is what it is?

Comments

[elperian]

Not for podfics, but Audible book reviews include a rating for the story, the reading of it, and overall. That sounds like a good model (although I never really understand what 'overall' means, but I appreciate the option to separate out the first two).

[lirazel]

Oh, that's good. I like them separated out. Maybe overall is like, "The reader is so bad it destroys an otherwise good story!" kind of comments???

[elperian]

Maybe! Or maybe "the reader was so good it make me like the story even more", for the flip-version :P

[lirazel]

That too!

[theseatheseatheopensea]

I've only listened to something like 5 podfics in my life XD so this might not be very helpful, but: I would definitely comment on the fic that inspired the podfic. I would also mention things unique to the podfic (for example: background music, cover art, using two readers for the story, etc.) "You really nailed the emotional content of this fic" is a great comment--I've definitely used variations of it! :D

[lirazel]

Yes, that's what I would do if I were going to read podfics, too!

[chestnut_pod]

Generally speaking, one leaves a comment for the reader that focuses on performance, interpretive choices, the art, the effects, where the listener was or what they were doing while listening, the reader's voice… stuff that has to do with the podfic and the performer, rather than stuff the author did, though obviously the two are connected. It can make me feel slightly put-out when someone comments and it's just, "I loooove this story, X character and Y character are so great and I loved when Z happened!" It's nice, but that's stuff for the author, you know?

It is not customary or expected to leave two comments, one for the reader and one for the author, but I think many do. I do, from time to time, especially if I found the fic via the podfic, which is less usual than me finding the podfic linked at the bottom of the story.

[lirazel]

It can make me feel slightly put-out when someone comments and it's just, "I loooove this story, X character and Y character are so great and I loved when Z happened!"

Right?

especially if I found the fic via the podfic, which is less usual than me finding the podfic linked at the bottom of the story.

Ah, a distinction I had not considered!

[likeadeuce]

I have never listened to podfic through ao3 so I'm not sure what's customary, but on the one occasion I've had podfic posted on ao3, i've had readers come and comment on the fic as well. It was nice but I don't feel like it's mandatory. To me, having an awesome podficcer record my work was the reward.

[lirazel]

There's this whole vibrant strand of fandom experience that I really know nothing about!

[likeadeuce]

I am a little mystified by podfic culture in general, but as somebody who does listen to audiobooks, I like the idea of having access to fic that way. I feel like the big podfic boom happened before I had a device where I could easily download and listen (was still transferring to my ipod nano via a cord) and nowadays I'm not really sure to go about discovering them except, as chestnut_pod mentioned, when they are linked from the bottom of a story. In that case, I generally will have already commented on the fic and am DLing the podfic as a bonus -- but since I've just read the fic I usually won't bother listening.

[lirazel]

Oooh, thanks for sharing your experience!

[lokifan]

I think AO3 tags would help you find them? like 'podfic' tag + fandom? But this isn't my area, lol.

[snickfic]

As someone who's had people choose to podfic my fic a few times, I've actually observed the reverse: people are more likely to see the podfic listing on AO3, click through to the original story, and read/give feedback on that and never listen to the podfic at all as far as I can tell. I've kept track a few times, and I nearly always end up with more new kudos on the fic itself than the podfic gets total, at least within the first couple of weeks it's posted. Podficcing seems to me like one of the loneliest forms of creative fannish engagement.

[lirazel]

people are more likely to see the podfic listing on AO3, click through to the original story, and read/give feedback on that and never listen to the podfic at all as far as I can tell.

That tracks for me!

Podficcing seems to me like one of the loneliest forms of creative fannish engagement.

This is an interesting insight! But so many people do it! It must be enjoyable on its own?

[slaymesoftly]

I'm with you. Never listen to podfic (or any other pod casts). I prefer to read. But if I did, I'd assume I would compliment the reader for whatever they did well, but I'd also want to contact the original author for providing the material.

[lirazel]

I'd assume I would compliment the reader for whatever they did well, but I'd also want to contact the original author for providing the material.

Yes, exactly.

[ruuger]

I had someone make a podfic of the meta I wrote about fandoms being like cities, and I got a few comments from people who'd listeted to it and then followed the link back to my meta. The comments to the podfic tend to be more focused on the mood of the reading, while the comments to my meta are more about the content.

[lirazel]

The comments to the podfic tend to be more focused on the mood of the reading, while the comments to my meta are more about the content.

That absolutely makes sense and is what I would expect.