4 Lessons from Telling a Strange Story

4 Lessons from Telling a 

Strange Story on Youtube

Learn By Doing

1. Take a goal that is beyond the reach of your skills (but not too far. No brain surgery without qualification. Don't be a Walter Freeman and go experimenting with fancy ice pick ideas.)
2. Decide on a project like sculpting a paperclip out of paper to make a social comment on paper clips. Or tell a strange, simple story in your own words (I cannot emphasize enough no brain surgery.) 
3. Go for it. (Just no ice picks.)
4. Look at the end result and see what you did right while accepting what you did wrong.
5. Then start all over again with the lessons you've learned.

I Learn By Doing

Not Named is a mystery. Things are disappearing from the world and no one wants to acknowledge it except her.

Projects leave me with a sense of accomplishment at the end that cannot be acquired from simply studying. I started telling a story on Youtube. I have the basics of equipment (a laptop) and did little research into best practices.

Every episode, I've tried something new to improve on my performance and production of the previous episode.

My Lessons Learned

After a few episodes I have learned (be prepared for more than a few "no duhs")...

1. Audacity can reduce background noise but it takes experimenting to reduce the noise without distorting the voice.
2. Laptop microphones are not ideal because no matter how quiet the room is, it picks up the fan. I'm currently shopping for a replacement. But I didn't feel comfortable spending any money till I knew if I liked it. I have too many electronics and appliances that gather dust.
3. Scripts should not be written like short stories. Comments on pauses and emotions are helpful. (Hey, at least I wrote the scripts in advance and didn't try to do it spontaneously)
4. The British Library has beautiful images that fit with the feel I want for the story. A thoughtful background justifies posting on youtube. I'm still working on how to improve this further.

Even knowing little (nothing, I knew nothing), I know these are obvious lessons and I would have learned all of this if I was like you dear reader and did more research than listening to podcasts. The lessons were drilled home by listening to the results of each episode. Learning by going through the process is what works for me (for better or worse)

What's next for Not Named?

Next episode.

I learn my lessons. I want to learn yours.

Any words of advice for a novice podcaster? I'm open to any advice I can get (I need it).