Talking to Myself for Fun

About a year ago I decided to try a podcast. Because if you don’t have a podcast, are you even annoying enough to be human? I gave it the title of Cheryl Z Writes because I am nothing if not creative. I also created my own little thumbnail image on Canva because ARt iS mY PaSsiOn.

Yes I know.

I kind of gave up on it after 4 episodes even though I had several people pushing me to create more. A couple of them were related to book drama, which although interesting at the time, felt weirdly dated after I listened to them again. The others were about writing but I felt I didn’t really have anything to say. And even though it was just me talking into a $10 microphone with no video, I found the editing process a chore. If a hobby makes you go “Ugh – I gotta do THAT again?” it’s not a fun hobby.

Also you have to hear your own voice. A lot. And friends when I tell you, it’s like seeing every picture you’ve ever been tagged in on Facebook.

But something good did come out of it. I got much more listens than I expected. My awful voice could be found in places like Spotify, Apple and Audible and I received much better feedback then I thought I would get. A few people told me it was like listening to a friend and that my voice sounded great. That was nice. But I still wasn’t convinced.

However, the other day I was following a topic unrelated to writing which I found interesting and talking to myself about it (which sadly happens a LOT) and I decided, you know what? I think it’s time to spew my little thoughts into a microphone and unleash my awful voice unto the world again. Or at least to the 100 or so listens I get per podcast.

I’m rebranding the podcast as Cheryl Z Talks which is bit more apropos and yet still wildly uncreative. And yes, I’m a little proud of myself for not giving up entirely. But it’s still going to take a little time to get used to the sound of my voice.