Writers – Podcast Your Spooky Stories!
Go to
www.smoke-and-mirrors.us
Dennis
Miller, is “impresario” producer, host and instigator of a great on-line
opportunity for writers. Smoke
and Mirrors is his website which podcasts (up to) 1-hour-long shows
of short story readings. Friday nights at 9:00 PM. Ya know, just like
radio but you log on with your computer and tune in any time you want.
Dennis is
always looking for new writers, readers, musicians and fresh material. No particular resume or previous
accomplishments are required. He has a
personal assistant to help him screen stories for “appropriateness to his niche,”
but he is the final word, governing if a story progresses from ‘submission’ to ‘show.’ If he likes the piece – it’s in. He is generally seeking work of 1000 – 9000
words, with a 55-minute maximum of oral reading time. He will also do compilations of shorter flash
fiction, or excerpts if they can stand alone as a story.
He
leans toward dark, spooky, edgy material but the show has a sense of humor
too. His stated preference is sci-fi and/or stories of the macabre.
Think: The Twilight Zone
or
Alfred Hitchcock. Specific
submission guidelines are spelled out on the website.
Dennis
has been telling stories since he was seven years old. “Lying is such a judgmental word…” he tells
me with a grin. In his youth he was
inspired by those old Twilight Zone episodes.
When they went away, he thought ‘I guess I’ll just have to do this
myself.’
This is a high-energy guy, clearly passionate about his
work. He began the Smoke and Mirrors
site in January of 2011.
Over 90% of the readings come from new and unpublished authors. There is a precise disclaimer on the website
for submissions, but essentially, authors maintain the rights to their own
material. While other
publisher/producers may have pesky objections to ‘simultaneous submissions,’ Dennis
does not.
The
Smoke and Mirrors studio is small and simple-– a backyard shed with a desk and
hybrid mixer that takes analog sound and converts it into digital signal for
e-broadcasting.
Dennis prefers that
readers have their own equipment. Not as
intimidating as it seems-- Required only are:
a computer, a microphone, and software that digitalizes sound. Amadeus-for mac, Sound Forge, and Cubase are
three programs that he mentioned. Dennis
is the one that needs the added mixer.
His readers send him a raw e-file of their voice reading the story, and
he polishes it off for podcasting.
So
far, there are no submission fees collected or salaries/payment offered. Currently money comes in via the website from
much-appreciated donations. Dennis is
also seeking sponsors for the venture.
The payoff for both readers and writers is exposure and expanded
resume/platforms - the bigger Smoke and Mirrors gets, the better the resume/bio
entry! Dennis happily supports his crew
onward and upward.
Write to
Dennis at: WriteSmoke-Mirrors@sbcglobal.net attn:
Editor