The latest EpiCast takes a look at the design and website features integral to every webfiction site. Hosts Kira and Michael sought input from readers to find out what attracts–or, worse, distracts–visitors who check out an author’s site.
First, however, we start by continuing to share some news items from the world of webserials, including some newcomers, an ending of a serial, and a Kickstarter campaign for a new graphic novel by a webserial author.
And then it’s time for our discussion topic. Most writers hope that great content stands on its own, but like it or not, appearance matters…and thanks to our audience responses, we have a list of Design Delights and Disasters that every webfiction writer will want to hear. What ranks highest on the list of “Likes” and “Dislikes”? Listen and find out… you might just be inspired to fix your site accordingly!
There are also a couple of questions at the end of the episode that we hope you’ll help answer by visiting the EpiGuide and taking part in the conversation. Join us and let us know your thoughts on these topics and this episode. And thanks as always to everyone who took part!
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Episode Notes:
Recording date: This episode was recorded on April 7, 2013.
Rundown:
- 00:00 – 01:24: Opening greetings and teasers for the episode ahead
- 01:25 – 08:26: Webserial news
- 08:27 – 46:29: Discussion: Design Delights and Disasters
- 46:30 – 49:43: Podcast sponsors, questions for the audience, and closing pleasantries
(In case you’re wondering, the news intro song, “Good Morning Tucson,” is a bouncy number about a morning news anchor who’s so sick of the banality of his job that he sets fire to his studio. Yes, the awesome never stops with Jonathan Coulton!)
Many thanks to the special donors who helped make this podcast possible!
Links to the sites mentioned in this episode:
- EpiGuide Webseries and Webserial Community
- About Schuyler Falls
- Footprints
- All or Nothing
- American Legacy
- Animal Kingdom
- Beyond Beauty Kickstarter Campagin
- The Blackthornes
- Blissful
- Emerald Heights
- Fangs, Liver, Muscle
- Nightingales
- One Day at a Time
- Strangers & Neighbors
- Tales of the Big Bad Wolf
- Valley of Angels
Thanks & Invitation: Join in! We received a couple of questions at the end of the podcast, and we’d love to hear your opinions and ideas on those as well as the sites and design topics we covered here in the official thread for this podcast at the Eppy. As always, keep an eye out over at the EpiGuide for a Call for Submissions where we’ll be asking for webserial recaps and news, listener questions, and topic ideas.
Music credits: “Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance” (EpiCast opening theme), “Good Morning Tucson” (News intro), “Code Monkey” (Design discussion intro), “Take Care of Me” (EpiCast sponsor theme), and “I Feel Fantastic” (Epicast closing theme), as always all written and performed byJonathan Coulton, host Kira Lerner’s personal musical demigod.
These tracks are licensed Creative Commons by-nc.
Technical notes: We used Skype for the conversation and interviews,Replay Recorder for recording, Audacity and The Levelator for editing/post-recording fine-tuning, 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!
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