Game 15: #3 Seed Jane in Progress Versus #6 seed PODdy Mouth
April 11, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt
The Matchup
The battle between television and print reaches a fever pitch as third-seeded Jane in Progress and sixth-seeded PODdy Mouth take the court.
Introductions
Jane in Progress
JIP is the blog of television writer Jane Espenson, who has written for such shows as Angel, Firefly, Gilmore Girls, Ellen, The O.C., Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dinosaurs, and Andy Barker PI. She has years of experience in her field and provides excellent advice to wannabee TV writers. You can also rely on her to tell you what she had for lunch.
PODdy Mouth
This blog is hyperfocused on the print-on-demand industry. The unnamed author spends most of the time analyzing different POD publishers, and has lately been leading the charge against Amazon.com’s attempt to strong-arm the POD industry into using their presses. PODdy’s recent self-publishing Sweet 16 was the inspiration for Blog Madness.
Archives
Jane in Progress
JIP’s archives go back to January of 2006. Espenson averages about five posts a week. Her archives page contains every article on the blog in chronological order. Jane doesn’t divide entries into categories as far as I can tell, so you have to read the titles and decide on your own what is important to you. Espenson posts about five times a week, so there is plenty of stuff to look through. The focus is on the life of a television script writer with plenty of advice along the way.
Result: JIP shoots a three pointer.
PODdy Mouth
The PODdy archives go back to September of 2007. PODdy doesn’t have an archives page but the writer tends to tag just about everything, so there are currently 60 categories that you can choose from, which makes finding your particular POD interest relatively easy.
Result: PODdy shoots a six-footer in the paint for two. A little more time and this will be three-point worthy archive.
JIP jumps out to an early 3-2 lead over the lower seed.
Design
Jane in Progress
JIP has a relatively straightforward blog design. It is attractive enough, but there are no three-point touches, which is ironic because she does use the LA Lakers colors as the base for her theme.
Result: JIP scores on a patented Jabbar sky-hook.
PODdy Mouth
PODdy is using a base Wordpress theme. Aside from a nice graphic of a ball-point pen, there are no fancy touches, but there is also nothing unattractive about the relatively spare design.
Result: PODdy answers back with a quick two-pointer off the glass.
JIP maintains its slim lead, 5-4.
Usability and Navigation
Jane in Progress
JIP is not a feature rich site. It is easy enough to subscribe to the feeds and there are archives, but there is no comment feature at all. That hurts.
Result: JIP scores one from the charity stripe.
PODdy Mouth
PODdy Mouth isn’t about bells and whistles, but subscribing and commenting are easy to do and because of the lack of advertising, all of the sidebar features are near the top of the page.
Result: PODdy shoots a two from short range.
PODdy has tied up the score at 6-6.
Purpose
Jane in Progress
Espenson is very knowledgeable in the area of writing for television and her posts stay focused on that topic. Many of the posts are anecdotal in nature, but all of them offer some value. Reading her blog will definitely give you great information about the topic.
Result: JIP nails a three-pointer.
PODdy Mouth
PODdy is one of the most focused blogs I have ever seen. The author covers the minutia of the POD industry with in-depth posts that never fail to inform.
Result: PODdy answers back with its own three-pointer.
The score remains tied at 9-9. This is going to be a tight one.
Personality
Jane in Progress
Espenson is an entertaining writer (she’s written for some of my favorite shows after all) and it shows in the blog. She writes from a very personal point of view. You also get to know what Jane had for lunch. The lack of a comment section takes a little of the fun out of her personality though. The inability to chime in with your own idiot opinion is part of what makes following a blog fun. The lack of community give the site (though not the author) a little less personality.
Result: JIP slam dunks a two-pointer.
PODdy Mouth
PODdy is combative, opinionated and funny. This is especially impressive when you consider just how much information you are getting in each post. The author somehow manages to make a very narrow and unglamorous topic entertaining. Millions of people love or loathe TV, but making POD publishing interesting to anybody is a real challenge.
Result: PODdy makes a three-point play.
PODdy takes the lead for the first time, 12-11.
Five Most Recent Posts
Jane in Progress
- Another Voice to Master
- Zoeae Doesn’t Refer to Baby Clams, But it’s Good For Scrabble
- And Maybe Looking in the Mirror Will Make Him See Himself
- How to Give Maris Hives, Alphabetized
- Addendum to Yesterday’s Post
All five posts are on topic, interesting and funny. I can’t find fault with any of them.
Result: JIP hits a final three pointer.
PODdy Mouth
- Scamazon 2008 – Part 5
- Top 10 Rumors Unraveled about Scamazon 2008
- Attorney General’s Office’s Initial Response to Scamazon 2008
- New HarperCollins Publishing Group
- More on HarperCollins’ new imprint
The last five articles at PODdy are all on-topic and if you care about self-publishing, important reading.
Result: PODdy closes out the game with a three-pointer.
PODdy pulls off the upset with a 15-14 win over JIP.
Post Game Analysis
I felt coming into this matchup that we were in for a good one. These are both great blogs about two topics that aren’t well represented elsewhere in this tournament. The real difference in the game was JIP’s lack of a comment interface.
What They Can Work On
Jane in Progress
I would love to see JIP allow comments. That was the issue that cost JIP the most in this contest.
PODdy Mouth
PODdy could use a nicer design and a couple more community building features. As long as the content stays this strong though, any other problems are just minor complaints.
The final contest of the first round is coming up. Second seeded I’d Rather Be Writing will look to avoid an upset at the hands of seventh-seeded The Book Sistah.
[...] the Writer’s Resource Center for the acknowledgment and be sure to check out their version, particularly this posting where yours truly wins the first round against Jane in Progress. What can I say? Imitation is the [...]
Blogger PODdy Mouth Posts False Statements, Violates Copyright Law, Refuses to Correct Numerous Published Errors/Inaccuracies
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubop070.htm
I guess Poody mouth is history – His/Her blog was removed – Any body know where She/He went ??