creating & submitting podfic recordings

I've been asked how to create podfic a couple of times recently. I am not an expert, but here's what works for me.

Step one: Get permission to record the story you have in mind, unless you are the author. Some authors grant blanket permission, some may have plans already afoot to record their stuff themselves.

Step two: Get a program that you can record yourself with. If you're a mac user, your computer may already have garageband installed. People swear by audacity, though, which is free for download, and comes in both pc and mac flavors.

Step three: Find a place to record. You need relative quiet, but not a place that will echo. You can use the built in pick-up on your computer, or buy a mic - they run $10-30.

Step four: Read the fic seventy bajillion times. You want to know it really well. Practice reading it aloud and record draft versions if you like.

Step five: Record. I like to sit and read straight through. This takes hours. I get a big glass of water and put the fic on my screen (otherwise i make paper-shuffling noises). I screw up a lot. When you screw up, stop speaking, take a sip of water, go back to the beginning of the paragraph, stretch, start again. Don't stop the recording - you can edit out the screwups later. It's easier to cut pieces out that to glue a bunch of files together, and if you stop and start up again later, you (and the space around you) will sound different.

Step six: Edit! It's a good idea convert to mp3 if it's not already that sort of file.

Once you've made your recording, you can submit files as attachments or point me toward an upload to sendspace or a similar service. Or if you already have stable hosting on your own website, point me at that. If you can include a link to the text, a running time, and an email or link at which you'd like to receive feedback, then even better.

Everything I have here is hosted/mirrored here, so that I know right away if the link goes bad.

I am doing plenty of emailing people to ask permission to include their files. It's a lot like cold calling and I actually find it pretty stressful. So if you're wondering why I haven't emailed you yet, that's probably why. :) I watch podfic communities and ask for permissions there, too. But I'm sure I haven't found them all.

There aren't any fandoms I'm excluding, and if it's audio creative fanwork, it probably fits the bill.

And if I'm already hosting your stuff? Please spread the word.

If this didn't answer your questions, there are plenty of other good tutorials out there:
from zabira
from temaris
from isis
from mk
from keitorin
from kHo
from sabine
and the audacity tutorial for podcasters