Advice From A Curmudgeon

There are too many podcasts out there, if you want me to listen to yours it’s got to give me something. It’s the same with blogs. Everyone with an internet connection has a blog. Telling me what you ate for breakfast will probably be a lot more interesting then telling me you haven’t updated in a while, I already know that, or, saying you don’t have a lot to say, then don’t say it.

No matter how compelling the podcast content if the audio quality is poor then I’m not listening that also means all you runners who think it ultra cool to record while running.

You need to have something to say it doesn’t matter what it is it’s how you say it that counts.

I’ve listened to hundreds of CBC radio programs about things I‘m not interested in and enjoyed them. Before podcasts let me listen to what I want anytime and anywhere CBC radio was on in my house or car most of the time. It was in the background like a wrinkled old aunt, sitting in a rocking chair in the corner. Mostly you barely noticed her but man, when she opened her mouth you listened. Her stories could keep you enthralled all day. I remember I had speakers all over the house so I didn’t have to miss any CBC radio. I listened because the program hosts were adept at taking the subject matter and turning it into a damn good story.

As William Zinsser wrote in his timeless tomb, On Writing Well, if what you have to say doesn’t grab the listener or readers attention they’re not going to stick around. There are too many other blogs, podcasts or other web 2 timewasters to soak up their fickle attention.

One more thing- unless the weather report is specific to your story, leave it out.