Herschel Sterling Devises the Indicator Inquiry

The Arc of The Bard is built on storytelling and on simply doing what I want. The discussions are about the nature of storytelling as a facility of consciousness, as well as an opportunity for storytellers to bring their books and other forms of storytelling. Sometimes they even bring their writing theory and writing business knowledge. 

I have always been fascinated with how thoughts arise and what happens in our minds and brains to formulate new ideas, especially creative, imaginative scenarios. Then, out of nowhere, we bring them forward into the world in the form of stories. Where do stories come from? What is that about? I think we are momentous beings and refractions of and manifestations of a single creative force.

It's most certainly a niche thing. While it's fascinating for me, and I never stop learning from it, even if I felt I could afford it at this time, I would not pay for exposure. It's steadily growing on its own, and I think that's the core audience that I want. I would prefer to have a foundation of listeners who consistently want to be there and then build from that. At some point, once I feel it's at a good place, I'll hire out some marketing. 

My other podcast, easytopia! is the foundational audience for The Arc of The Bard. I write and podcast my very short stream of consciousness stories there. Having that built-in audience is how I felt comfortable starting the discussion show. Since easytopia! has been going for three years, and I've consistently had 200+ stories there each year. I do get some audience engagement for that reason and discussions in the comments from time to time.

To the point of good dialogue. I call it the indicator inquiry. My question about the origin of consciousness is a very good indicator about how the conversation will go. 

It will be either more philosophical or more writing theory and technical. Then they have the reins. I play a role in setting up the arena and pointing out the course, but I have to get to know them with that question first. It truly does set the atmosphere of the podcast. 

We get to the place where they read something short, and we discuss that. By this time we’re having a blast. I’ll read something from my large catalog of flash and micro fiction, trying to stay within the subject or theme the guest initiates and we may explore that. Ideally, the guest will read again, unless the conversation is so engaging that we blow past it.

I want to let the guest really take it where they want to go. The conversation gets exciting, and I participate, of course, but that's only because they are good guests making great points. It's really about them. I want them to have the floor, even though they inspire me to make noises.

I get very nice feedback from my guests, who seem to enjoy themselves. The incredible talent I have on my show is humbling. What I’m learning is blowing my mind.