Thanks for listening – how can I make things even better?

A short post to say thanks to the growing list of listeners and supporters of the podcast and to ask for your feedback on how I can continue to improve the show. I’ll say right away that I would really appreciate your feedback – both on this post and also as ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts.

Let’s take stock . . .

It’s been less than a year since I relaunched the show, focusing more on our guest interviews, learning to host a podcast on my own and introducing new features like Book Blogger’s Corner and Listener Spotlight. I’ve also shifted to a weekly format with my bonus ‘quick-listen’ Epilogue shows running in between our main long-form interviews. I wanted to look at a few of these elements, to give an overview for newer listeners and to ask for your feedback.

Weekly Format

Since the show began, back in December 2014, with then co-host Leah Osbourne, we’ve tried a few different release schedules. We began with bi-weekly shows, sporadically tried weekly episodes and even had a brief experiment with once-a-month releases. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, we should have been aiming for consistency which is why I returned to a weekly format – albeit it with a shorter show (The Epilogue) running in the weeks between the longer interviews. How do you find this new weekly format?

The Epilogue

For new listeners, The Epilogue is a short quick-listen episode where I ask the previous week’s guest an extra bonus question not included in their main interview. They tend to be around 15 minutes long and can be a good way for new listeners to try the show or for anyone to sample a guest interview.  In terms of what I can see from the figures, The Epilogue has similar download numbers to the main show. Anecdotally, I’ve had a range of opinions from ‘it’s great to listen to The Epilogue online, because it’s so short’ to ‘I wish they were a bit longer’! But what are your opinions on the length and format of both the main interviews and The Epilogue? Too long? Too short? What about the interviews themselves? Are there topics and questions you’re screaming at me to include that I just never seem to get around to?

Listener Spotlight

Listener Spotlight is a very new and only occasional segment where I shine a spotlight on one of our listeners – their most recent writing-related project, book or website. The idea is to be able to include new writers with smaller online profiles or perhaps some of the more introvert among you. You can send me a few lines about who you are and what you’re up to and I’ll do my best to include it in a future episode.

Book Blogger’s Corner

Book Blogger’s Corner – or The BBC, as it is now known – features a three minute book review, recorded by some great Book Bloggers including Katherine Sunderland and Victoria Goldman. I started the segment late in 2017 and it’s been tricky to coax some of those shy bookworms to record reviews for the show, but that’s changing with new bloggers on the way soon – if you want to get involved, check out my post here. I wanted link up with the amazingly supportive network of dedicated book bloggers out there and find an engaging way to include book reviews in the show. What are your thoughts on it? Is it nice to have a quick break from my dulcet tones? Perhaps you can recommend some other bloggers who are looking for more readers?

I’m Listening Too . . .

Ok, that’s enough for now – although I am generally interested if you would like to see more written content on the blog. If so, what topics would you like me to cover. I also want to know how you feel about my intro and outro sections. I try to keep them brief – I figure your main reason for listening is the interesting guests – but maybe you want to hear even less about my personal writing journey? Having said that, I’ve had a great response to episodes where I’ve opened up a bit more and shared some of my writing worries and concerns. Maybe you’d sooner me keep my own thing on my own website – Wayne Kelly Writes? Either way, let me know – no hard feelings! Just as you’re listening to the show, I’m listening to you – so shout up! Tweet me @Mrkelly2u email wayne [at] waynekellywrites.com and leave a comment below.

Share, Subscribe, Rate, Review

Just like new writers and books thrive on reviews, so it is with podcasts. The only way I can continue to grow and improve the podcast, to keep attracting interesting guests and devising new content is to reach a wider audience. To do that, I need you to SHARE the show with at least one other person you think would enjoy it. I need you to SUBSCRIBE to the show – by following this blog and by hitting subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast or wherever else you get your podcasts. Finally, I need you to RATE and REVIEW the show on Apple Podcasts or your chosen podcast app. Apple Podcasts (iTunes) in particular really has an impact. It’s easiest to do it from your phone app. When you’re in the Joined Up Writing episodes section of the app, scroll down to the bottom and press ‘Leave a Review’. It makes a HUGE difference and means I can continue to create free weekly content and a huge online resource of insight, inspiration and knowledge from the dozens of authors I interview.

Once again, thank you for all your support – to those of you who’ve been there from the start, to those of you who are only now stumbling across my little show. Let me know you’re out there, tell me how I can make your show even better and  . . .

Let’s get Joined-Up!

 

 

 

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