Category Archives: writing life

What I’ve learned so far about podcasting

Dear Reader,

A whirlwind week! That is how I would describe this past week. Between grading, teaching, coaching, writing, and podcasting, I’ve been running in a large circle.

In case you missed it, I started my podcast as part of National Podcast Post Month. It’s similar to National Novel Writing Month except it’s with, you know, podcasts.

Going into the month, I knew I wouldn’t be posting everyday. That wasn’t going to happen. My schedule doesn’t work that way, as you well know.

So I decided to post twice a week for the month and then see what to do for the rest of the year.

That little lesson is one of many that I’ve learned so far. Yes, even this late in my creative game there are so many lessons and I find that exhilarating.

So, in the spirit of sharing, here are some lessons learned.

Don’t wait for perfection, just start

This is a re-learned lesson. I had started planning this podcast in the summer. I thought it’d be out just as the summer ended. However, I was in the middle of a manuscript and I knew better than to start a project before I was done with another. And yet that’s what I did.

Just an aside, I’m still working on the manuscript but it’s nearer to completion.

It wasn’t until last week that I uploaded the first episode. I wasn’t ready to go. There are still people I wanted to pitch to that I hadn’t done yet but here’s where I am with things like this…

I can plan everything or I can just do it and fix along the way.

So I decided that was the best for me and it was the complete right decision.

I REALLY LIKE doing it all myself

Okay, so I guess I’m a control freak. Sue me.

I like thinking of the concept, writing the script, recording, editing, uploading, and distributing the podcast. I mean I LOVE IT! It’s a lot of work but I enjoy it.

There’s something about not having anyone or any gatekeepers and being responsible for your own work that makes me happy.

After 12 years of being a reporter and being told what to do, it’s nice to be able to do my own thing and rely of my storytelling and interviewing skills.

I am so really lucky as I have an amazing friend who I can go to for technical questions. I know that I’ll be taught how to fix an issue. That way, I’ll have that knowledge forever.

This reminds me of Joanna Penn and her Creative Penn podcast. She writes and distributes her own podcast, books, and content. As you know, I’ve played with the idea of self-publishing and I haven’t done it (for several reasons). But podcasting has helped me understand what Joanna has been talking about this entire time — freedom, intellectual property, etc.

Using all your skills is fun…usually

Okay, let’s get this straight. I know how to do a lot of things. Like a lot. It’s a weird thing.

Here I am editing an episode of Dear Reader:The Podcast on my laptop. I use Adobe Audition for some of the heavy lifting.

And with podcasting, I’ve had to use so many of them. So far I’ve used:

  • Writing
  • Voice performance
  • Audio editing
  • Presentation skills
  • Social media
  • Marketing (I need to learn more about this)
  • Interviewing
  • Storytelling
  • Research
  • Pitching
  • Every inch of critical thinking

And these are just the ones I’m remembering for this blog post. I’m sure there are more that I’m missing. Yes, a lot of skills to put together an episode.

Tell stories. Always.

Bottom line, creating an episode of a podcast is about storytelling and I am a storyteller. I aim to be a master storyteller.

I want to tell stories across several mediums. From the written word to the spoken word to visual, I have something to say and I want to say it all.

I want to tell stories across several mediums. From the written word to the spoken word to visual, I have something to say and I want to say it all.

I think this is what I most like about this entire process. Storytelling, I am in love.

Alright! I’m getting ready to start my weekend and plan Monday’s episode! Keep listening!

Finding her groove,

~Icess

On the podcast: Dr. Trevor Boffone

Dear Reader,

I’m so excited about today’s episode on the Dear Reader Podcast!

My friend Dr. Trevor Boffone is a jack of all trades. He’s currently a Spanish teacher at one of the local high schools in Houston but you may know him from this:

Or maybe you know him from this:

Yup. That’s my friend Trevor with the sick dance moves!

He’s a guest on my show today talking about the guiding word: opportunity. He’ll talk about what it is, what it looked like for him and how to recognize it even dealing with tragedy .

Also on the show I talk about the latest in my writing life and the book at is shaking me to the core right now, “I’m Telling the Truth but I’m Lying” by Bassey Ikpi.

The podcast is available is lots of places now — Google Podcasts, Breaker, Radio Public, and, of course, Spotify.

I’m a podcaster now

Dear Reader,

So podcasting. That’s a thing I’m doing now.

Yes, this is a thing I’m doing now IN ADDITION to everything else.

No worries, Dear Reader, I am still writing on this site. In fact, I am going to predict now that the podcast will being be back to this site because the podcast name is…

Dear Reader: Mental Health and the Writing Life

Yes! The podcast is an extension of this blog and feel like it’s almost a return to me in a way. Man, I miss writing for you guys but, you know, life happens in the way that it happens and priorities are what they are.

I do have to explain, however, that this podcast was months in the “making” and by “making” I mean I was planning it and getting guests lined up before I had to focus on other things. But November, in addition to being National Novel Writing Month, is almost National Podcast Posting Month. I decided to take a plunge just to see what happens. So, we’ll see what happens.

As an aside, the idea of National Podcast Posting Month is to post everything. That’s not going to happen. But I’ll be posting most days as an exercise and to get into the podcasting habit.

So far, the podcast has made it to Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Breaker.

My Podcast’s lead image. It’s okay for now. I’m for sure changing it when I decide what I really. But meantime, how’s this for show?

Check out the first episode below. Yes, I’m on Spotify. I’ve decided not to think about that until Christmas, when I have more time.

So what’s the premise of the show? Every episode we talk about some aspect of mental health and/or some aspect of writing. I’ll of course have special guests on the show from time to time. During this November, the show will hopefully get its voice but once it actually has a full planned season, it will be more structured. In fact, to get an idea of what that kind of show episode can sound like, listen to episode 3 on Tuesday!

As you guys read this on Monday morning, a new episode would have done up! Episode 2 on Spotify or on my hosting site, Anchor, where you can leave me messages if you’d like.

Soon, I’ll add a link to the menu here on the site where you can access all the episodes. Give me a second, however, I’m flexing muscles I haven’t flexed in quite awhile.

That’s all for now, reader.

Happy listening!

~Icess

“Newsworthy” in pictures

Dear Reader,

Last Saturday, I attended my friend DEEP’s book launch. Instead of just writing about it, I’ll just share my pictures. A great time was had by all and I’m so excited for her .

I can’t wait to get into the book but it’ll take me a while to read it (end of semester, other books already in the que, etc). If you’re ready to get your reading on, order from the publisher here: https://www.bloomsdayliterary.com/deborah-deep-mouton

Here, some one was reading a proclamation from Shelia Jackson Lee.
My friend Jasminne Mendez, also a poet, was mistress of ceremony for the night.
You can’t tell here but her book is textured. Way to go book designer!
DEEP is actually a spoke word poet. So her reading was more visual. Not pictured: all the dancers she had. Sorry guys I was mesmerized so no dancer pictures.
Then my friend interviewed my friend. It was a meta-ish moment.

Why I always buy my friends’ books

Dear Reader, 

My friends D.E.E.P and Lupe Mendez are releasing their books within the next couple of weeks! 

It’s an exciting time in my friend circle. So many of my friends are writers and so watching them go through the publishing process is fun, exciting, and also filled with lessons for when I go through my own process. 

Yes, I will publish one day of this I am sure. 

One of the things that I’ve learned during my experiences and that I make sure that I do is to purchase my friends’ books. Always. I come out the pocket for a copy. I don’t ask for a freebie. I go to their readings. (If I can. Some of my friends are in other states.) I have them sign it. I tell other people about their books. 

I don’t insult them by not showing up and I spread the good karma. 

This is such a basic thing, right? The idea of respect is such a basic thing. How do you show a writer respect for their craft and experiences? You buy their products. 

Support writers is something that we in the literary community don’t talk enough about. We discuss all kind of marketing things that sometimes works and usually doesn’t because so many of us don’t understand marketing (including me). But this is basic. 

Why save your literary visits for the big names? Toni Morrison is always going to sell out. The latest literary darling will always fill their venue and by extension the parking lot (which is frustrating by the way) but your emerging writer is not going to fill Madison Square Garden. They searched high and low for the venue you’re about to enter to hear them read. And, if you’re in a city with not a lot of venues, it was difficult beyond any words I could string together in a blog post.  

Look, readings and launches are as much about the beginning of one journey as it is the ending of another. This is the wedding of the literary world, new art, new words, new thought are being birthed into the world. And that’s what the world needs now. Art redeems us. Art saves us. It’s how we explain the world around us not only to others but to ourselves. 

That work deserves to be paid for. Let’s put some respect on those books, guys. The work it takes to create art deserves to get paid for and considering the average paperback price book (and collection) is between $10 -$16, it’s a freakin steal. So, yeah. No freebies. I’m honored that a writer wants to sign my copy and put my name in it. Heck, I don’t even care if it’s misspelled at this point. 

So I buy the books (pre-order if I can) and go to the readings and tell the world about the work. Eternal respect for the practitioners of the written word and one day, I am sure of it, I will join your ranks. 

See you at the next book launch,

~Icess