Pod_Aware Week - Day 3
The relationship between a podficcer and author can be totally hands off, completely collaborative or anything in between. There are a lot of ways podficcers and authors can help each other, check out 
pod_aware on LJ or DW for more information.
Day 1: Podfic 101/Why We Podfic
Day 2: Blanket Permission
Day 3: Author/Podficcer Relationships
Day 4: Accents
Day 5: Feedback
Day 6: Repodding
Day 7: Encouraging Podfic
Well, needless to say, for there to be podfic there at some point needs to be fic written by someone, even if that person is the reader. Podfic is rather dependent on it. So there is always a relationship between the author and the reader, assuming they are different people.
On the low involvement end, an author can have a simple blanket statement saying "Podfic is cool! Go for it." But there's every kind of level of interaction past that too. An author can be a great resource to the podficcer because when you start reading words out loud, suddenly you have a lot of questions like "Is this the right pronunciation of the original character name?" and "Was there a typo in this sentence or is it meant to be read that way?" and "What on earth is a 'hen do', Britain?" I can spend hours guessing at this stuff on my own, but sometimes the simplest solution is just to ask the author. I've heard of authors who have even gone so far as to beta the work.
I would argue there's a point where there can be too much author involvement though. At least in the form of podficcing that I am comfortable with making. The author is fantastic to have on hand as a resource, if they are willing, but the project is ultimately in the hands of the podficcer to make the necessary creative decisions. If the author wants to control the entire production and isn't comfortable with other versions existing, then perhaps it's best that they create the podfic themselves or recruit a podficcer who is comfortable with that process.
Podfic fandom is still relatively young as a fannish activity, so there isn't really a status quo for the author/reader relationship. Each one is different and it defined by communication between the two parties. Maybe we will have a status quo for it some day and maybe we won't. In the meantime, we take things on a case by case basis. No reader wants to upset or let down the author they are approaching for permission. The reader clearly loves the material or they wouldn't be putting hours of work into it. Finding an author who is excited about podfic and available in case the podficcer has any questions or wants direction is a joy.
For new podfic readers contacting authors for permission for the first time, my advice is to keep it to the point and be clear about what you want to do. You might want to write up a Dear Author letter ahead of time that you can link them to. Otherwise you might end up in a situation where both you and the author are making assumptions about how the final work will be distributed or created. But you shouldn't let that possibility worry you too much or deter you from asking.
My advice to authors receiving a request for permission from a podfic reader for the first time is to remember that the person is almost always asking out of a place of love for the work. If you're worried about something, just ask. Chances are they are more than willing to work with you and/or explain further. Most podficcers are okay with multiple versions of a podfic too. So if one person has asked permission, it doesn't mean that another can't also be given permission. (Although it's useful for subsequent podficcers asking to be aware of the previous.)
Podfics really are highly time-intensive recs. Podficcers do it because we love the author's work enough to want to spend hours upon hours with it and spread the love. That in and of itself is a relationship between the podfic reader and the author. So long as it's approached openly and in a well intentioned way by both the podficcer and the author, everyone benefits. More joy! All around.
Originally posted at http://revolutionaryjo.dreamwidth.org/563466.html. Comments prefered there, but not required!
pod_aware on LJ or DW for more information.
Day 1: Podfic 101/Why We Podfic
Day 2: Blanket Permission
Day 3: Author/Podficcer Relationships
Day 4: Accents
Day 5: Feedback
Day 6: Repodding
Day 7: Encouraging Podfic
Well, needless to say, for there to be podfic there at some point needs to be fic written by someone, even if that person is the reader. Podfic is rather dependent on it. So there is always a relationship between the author and the reader, assuming they are different people.
On the low involvement end, an author can have a simple blanket statement saying "Podfic is cool! Go for it." But there's every kind of level of interaction past that too. An author can be a great resource to the podficcer because when you start reading words out loud, suddenly you have a lot of questions like "Is this the right pronunciation of the original character name?" and "Was there a typo in this sentence or is it meant to be read that way?" and "What on earth is a 'hen do', Britain?" I can spend hours guessing at this stuff on my own, but sometimes the simplest solution is just to ask the author. I've heard of authors who have even gone so far as to beta the work.
I would argue there's a point where there can be too much author involvement though. At least in the form of podficcing that I am comfortable with making. The author is fantastic to have on hand as a resource, if they are willing, but the project is ultimately in the hands of the podficcer to make the necessary creative decisions. If the author wants to control the entire production and isn't comfortable with other versions existing, then perhaps it's best that they create the podfic themselves or recruit a podficcer who is comfortable with that process.
Podfic fandom is still relatively young as a fannish activity, so there isn't really a status quo for the author/reader relationship. Each one is different and it defined by communication between the two parties. Maybe we will have a status quo for it some day and maybe we won't. In the meantime, we take things on a case by case basis. No reader wants to upset or let down the author they are approaching for permission. The reader clearly loves the material or they wouldn't be putting hours of work into it. Finding an author who is excited about podfic and available in case the podficcer has any questions or wants direction is a joy.
For new podfic readers contacting authors for permission for the first time, my advice is to keep it to the point and be clear about what you want to do. You might want to write up a Dear Author letter ahead of time that you can link them to. Otherwise you might end up in a situation where both you and the author are making assumptions about how the final work will be distributed or created. But you shouldn't let that possibility worry you too much or deter you from asking.
My advice to authors receiving a request for permission from a podfic reader for the first time is to remember that the person is almost always asking out of a place of love for the work. If you're worried about something, just ask. Chances are they are more than willing to work with you and/or explain further. Most podficcers are okay with multiple versions of a podfic too. So if one person has asked permission, it doesn't mean that another can't also be given permission. (Although it's useful for subsequent podficcers asking to be aware of the previous.)
Podfics really are highly time-intensive recs. Podficcers do it because we love the author's work enough to want to spend hours upon hours with it and spread the love. That in and of itself is a relationship between the podfic reader and the author. So long as it's approached openly and in a well intentioned way by both the podficcer and the author, everyone benefits. More joy! All around.
Originally posted at http://revolutionaryjo.dreamwidth.org/563466.html. Comments prefered there, but not required!