The AudioFiction Namespace - in alpha!
This is my attempt to define a namespace that can be used to better describe fiction podcasts. This uses a series of tags that are specific to fiction podcasts, and can theoretically be read by any app/wesbite that chooses to interpret them. It's a similar concept to the Podcast Namespace.
You can either generate these tags yourself if you are writing your own RSS feed, or search for your show and check the "creator" tab or copy the auto-generated tags from there.
To declare you are using the namespace, at the top of the feed in the <rss> tag, you need to include:
xmlns:audiofiction="https://audiofiction.co.uk/namespace/audiofiction.php"
So it might look:
<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" version="2.0" xmlns:audiofiction="https://audiofiction.co.uk/namespace/audiofiction.php">
You then need to define all the relevant individual characteristic tags in the <channel> tag. These will depend on the nature of the show, and all of the possible tags and definitions are given below.
Also available is a reference csv file of all the tags.
Obviously, the value of this namespace only comes about if I can convince podcast apps and similar to start interpreting it. That's going to be an ongoing effort. If you think you can help convince people, feel free!
Also, please point any errors in the format here - this is a very niche thing to do, and I'm happy to take any feedback.
<audiofiction:fiction>
This defines at the basic level that a podcast is fiction. It has the format:
<audiofiction:fiction>FICTION</audiofiction:fiction>
There are two possible values:
fiction
<audiofiction:fiction>fiction</audiofiction:fiction>
non-fiction
<audiofiction:fiction>non-fiction</audiofiction:fiction>
(this includes podcasts about fiction, eg book reviews or writing advice podcasts.)
<audiofiction:format>
This defines whether a podcast is an audio drama (performed script), audio book (read prose) or audio RPG/actual play (recording of someone playing a tabletop role-playing game). It has the format:
<audiofiction:format>FORMAT</audiofiction:format>
There are three possible values:
audio-book
<audiofiction:format>audio-book</audiofiction:format>
Audio Book: One or more people reading a novel or short stories.
audio-drama
<audiofiction:format>audio-drama</audiofiction:format>
Audio Drama: One or more actors performing or improvising a script.
audio-rpg
<audiofiction:format>audio-rpg</audiofiction:format>
Audio RPG: One or more players recording themselves playing an RPG.
<audiofiction:continuity>
This defines whether the podcast is all one story, lots of different stories, or separate stories joined by a serialised framing narrative. It has the format:
<audiofiction:continuity>CONTINUITY</audiofiction:continuity>
There are seven possible values:
serial
<audiofiction:continuity>serial</audiofiction:continuity>
Serial: One long story told over multiple episodes/seasons.
anthology
<audiofiction:continuity>anthology</audiofiction:continuity>
Anthology: Lots of different stories/dramas, typically one per episode, entirely unconnected.
serialised-anthology
<audiofiction:continuity>serialised-anthology</audiofiction:continuity>
Serialised anthology: One story per episode, but with an overall meta narrative.
standalone
<audiofiction:continuity>standalone</audiofiction:continuity>
Standalone: Only one episode in the RSS feed - typically feature length.
longform
<audiofiction:continuity>longform</audiofiction:continuity>
Longform: An RPG continuity - one long campaign.
oneshots
<audiofiction:continuity>oneshots</audiofiction:continuity>
Oneshots: An RPG continuity - each episode is a different game, or lots of very short runs.
mixture
<audiofiction:continuity>mixture</audiofiction:continuity>
Mixture: An RPG continuity - a mixture of longform campaigns and oneshots.
<audiofiction:writing>
This defines how the podcast is written. It has the format:
<audiofiction:writing>WRITING</audiofi ction:writing>
There are three possible values:
scripted
<audiofiction:writing>scripted</audiofiction:writing>
Scripted: The show is written before recording.
improvised
<audiofiction:writing>improvised</audiofiction:writing>
Improvised: The script is written as it's performed - usually the case for actual play podcasts.
machine-generated
<audiofiction:writing>machine-generated</audiofiction:writing>
Machine-generated: The script has been written by some form of generative AI.
<audiofiction:completion>
This defines how much of the podcast has been completed. It has the format:
<audiofiction:completion>COMPLETION</audiofiction:completion>
There are four possible values:
finished
<audiofiction:completion>finished</audiofiction:completion>
Finished: The podcast is fully finished, and will not release any more episodes.
partial
<audiofiction:completion>partial</audiofiction:completion>
Partial: The show has one or more complete seasons, but has more to release.
not-applicable
<audiofiction:completion>not-applicable</audiofiction:completion>
Not applicable: The show is an anthology, and so can be listened at any point with no expectation of continuity.
abandoned
<audiofiction:completion>abandoned</audiofiction:completion>
Abandoned: The show will never be finished.
<audiofiction:voices>
This defines how many speakers the podcast has. It has the format:
<audiofiction:voices>VOICES</audiofiction:voices>
There are three possible values:
full-cast
<audiofiction:voices>full-cast</audiofiction:voices>
Full cast: When a podcast has more than one actor, reader or player.
solo
<audiofiction:voices>solo</audiofiction:voices>
Solo: For podcasts that have only one actor, reader or player.
machine-generated
<audiofiction:voices>machine-generated</audiofiction:voices>
Machine generated: For podcasts where the majority or all of the voices are generated by text to speech or speech to speech engines like elevenlabs.
<audiofiction:narrator>
This defines the style of narration. It has the format:
<audiofiction:narrator>NARRATOR</audiofiction:narrator>
There are four possible values:
none
<audiofiction:narrator>none</audiofiction:narrator>
None: When there is no narration.
first-person
<audiofiction:narrator>first-person</audiofiction:narrator>
First person: The main character narrates, eg in internal monologue.
second-person
<audiofiction:narrator>second-person</audiofiction:narrator>
Second person: The show directly addresses the listener or players.
third-person
<audiofiction:narrator>third-person</audiofiction:narrator>
Third person: An omniscient external narrator.
<audiofiction:soundscape>
This defines what sort of soundscape the podcast uses. It has the format:
<audiofiction:soundscape>SOUNDSCAPE</audiofiction:soundscape>
There are four possible values:
voices-only
<audiofiction:soundscape>voices-only</audiofiction:soundscape>
Voices only: There are no sound effects or music used in the podcast.
music
<audiofiction:soundscape>music</audiofiction:soundscape>
Music: Music (above and beyond theme music) is used as backing to the podcast.
sound-effects
<audiofiction:soundscape>sound-effects</audiofiction:soundscape>
Sound effects: SFX is used to enhance the vocal elements.
sound-effects-and-music
<audiofiction:soundscape>sound-effects-and-music</audiofiction:soundscape>
Sound effects & music: A full soundscape is used to enhance the script.
<audiofiction:framing>
This defines whether the podcast uses a framing device. It has the format:
<audiofiction:framing>FRAMING</audiofiction:framing>
There are six possible values:
none
<audiofiction:framing>none</audiofiction:framing>
None: The podcast has no framing device.
communications
<audiofiction:framing>communications</audiofiction:framing>
Communications: The podcast is present eg as recorded phone calls or voicemails.
found-footage
<audiofiction:framing>found-footage</audiofiction:framing>
Found footage: The podcast is presented as if someone has recovered a collection of recordings.
journal-or-Log
<audiofiction:framing>journal-or-log</audiofiction:framing>
Journal or Log: The podcast is presented as if it is someone's audio diary or a corporate archive.
musical
<audiofiction:framing>musical</audiofiction:framing>
Musical: The story is told through lots of singing.
show-within-a-show
<audiofiction:framing>show-within-a-show</audiofiction:framing>
Show within a show: The podcast is presented as if it is an in-universe podcast, or a radio show.
<audiofiction:adaptation>
This defines whether the podcast is adapted from other material. It has the format:
<audiofiction:adaptation>ADAPTATION</audiofiction:adaptationg>
There are nine possible values:
anime
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Anime adaptation.
book
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Book adaptation.
comic
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Comic adaptation.
film
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Film adaptation.
manga
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Manga adaptation.
screenplay
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Screenplay adaptation (generally the creator's original).
stage-show
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Stage show adaptation (eg Shakespeare).
tv-show
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
TV adaptation.
videogame
<audiofiction:adaptation>none</audiofiction:adaptation>
Videogame adaptation.
<audiofiction:interactivity>
This defines how the listeners can interact with the podcast. It has the format:
<audiofiction:interactivity>INTERACTIVITY</audiofiction:interactivity>
There are five possible values:
cyoa
<audiofiction:interactivity>cyoa</audiofiction:interactivity>
CYOA: The listener picks what episode to play in what order to decide the path of the story.
immersive
<audiofiction:interactivity>immersive</audiofiction:interactivity>
Immersive: The listener takes the place of a character in the narrative.
puzzle
<audiofiction:interactivity>puzzle</audiofiction:interactivity>
Puzzle: The listener must solve puzzles to continue listening.
voting
<audiofiction:interactivity>voting</audiofiction:interactivity>
Voting: Listeners choose the direction the plot takes by voting.
not-applicable
<audiofiction:interactivity>not-applicable</audiofiction:interactivity>
Not applicable: Listeners only listen.
<audiofiction:genre>
This defines what genre the podcast is. It has the format:
<audiofiction:genre>GENRE</audiofiction:genre>
This is essentially a free for all option, but below I have provided the list I currently use - this can be expanded over time if needed/by convention. Multiple values can be specified, eg:
<audiofiction:genre>fantasy</audiofiction:genre> <audiofiction:genre>comedy</audiofiction:genre> <audiofiction:genre>pirates</audiofiction:genre>
List of genres:
Genre | RSS feed tag |
---|---|
Action | action |
Adaptation | adaptation |
Adventure | adventure |
Alt history | alt-history |
Classics | classics |
Comedy | comedy |
Crime and Mystery | crime-and-mystery |
Cyberpunk | cyberpunk |
Dystopia | dystopia |
Educational and Philosophical | educational-and-philosophical |
Erotica | erotica |
Experimental and Surreal | experimental-and-surreal |
Fables and Fairy Tales and Folklore | fables-and-fairy-tales-and-folklore |
Fanfiction | fanfiction |
Fantasy | fantasy |
Historical | historical |
Holiday-themed | holiday-themed |
Horror | horror |
Legal Drama | legal-drama |
Medical | medical |
Multigenre | multigenre |
Noir | noir |
Occult and Supernatural | occult-and-supernatural |
Old time radio | old-time-radio |
Pirates | pirates |
Political | political |
Post-apocalypse | post-apocalypse |
Realistic | realistic |
Religion | religion |
Romance | romance |
Satire and Spoof | satire-and-spoof |
Science fiction | science-fiction |
Slice of life | slice-of-life |
Soap opera | soap-opera |
Space opera | space-opera |
Sport | sport |
Spy-fi | spy-fi |
Steampunk | steampunk |
Storytelling | storytelling |
Superhero | superhero |
Thriller and Psychological | thriller-and-psychological |
Urban fantasy | urban-fantasy |
Utopian | utopian |
War and Military | war-and-military |
Western | western |
<audiofiction:maturity>
This defines the intended age of the audience for the podcast. It has the format:
<audiofiction:maturity>MATURITY</audiofiction:maturity>
There are four possible values:
children
<audiofiction:maturity>children</audiofiction:maturity>
Children: A podcast intended for children.
all-audience
<audiofiction:maturity>all-audience</audiofiction:maturity>
All audience: A podcast with no adult themes.
young-adult
<audiofiction:maturity>young-adult</audiofiction:maturity>
Young adult: A podcast for teens and over.
mature
<audiofiction:maturity>mature</audiofiction:maturity>
Mature: A podcast intended solely for an adult audience.
<audiofiction:rpgsystem>
This defines what RPG is being played. It has the format:
<audiofiction:rpgsystem>RPGSYSTEM</audiofiction:rpgsystem>
RPGs should be identified all lower case without ampersands and spaces - expand below to see the currently defined tags. (To come later.)
eg <audiofiction:rpgsystem>dungeons-and-dragons</audiofiction:rpgsystem>
If you play many different systems, use "multiple".
Example (basic) RSS feed structure
<rss xmlns:audiofiction="https://audiofiction.co.uk/namespace/audiofiction.php" />
<channel>
<audiofiction:fiction>fiction</audiofiction:fiction>
<audiofiction:format>audio-drama</audiofiction:format>
<audiofiction:continuity>anthology</audiofiction:continuity>
<audiofiction:voices>full-cast</audiofiction:voices>
<audiofiction:narrator>none</audiofiction:narrator>
<audiofiction:framing>none</audiofiction:framing>
<audiofiction:genre>crime-and-mystery</audiofiction:genre> <audiofiction:genre>noir</audiofiction:genre>
</channel>
<item>
<title>A terrifying story</title>
<pubDate>31 Oct 2024</pubDate>
</item>
</rss>
Original idea by ~Lj.